Page 83 of Chief

Fury contorts her features. When she reaches up to slap me again, I block her arm.

I haveneverdefied her before.Ever. I’ve never tried to block a hit, or refused an order.

“Get out!” she yells. “Now! Don’t youdarecontact me again, either! You and I are finished!”

My gaze meets Eddie’s and I pause when I see the tears in his eyes. I want to hold him, comfort him.

Ask him to come with me.

Tell him we don’t fucking need her.

I also don’t want to get him in trouble with her.

And I know that while neither Eddie nor I have acknowledged that, yeah, what we have is arelationshipwith each other, we also know for various reasons that being “gay” probably isn’t a viable option. Not with him wanting to stay in the military and with my family. If I tried to introduce him as anything other than a friend, I would catch a ration of shit and probably be cut off from them.

Before I walk out, though, I lean in, grab him by the head, and fuckingkisshim. “You’re agoodboy,” I whisper with my forehead pressed against his. “My door’salwaysopen to you.”

“Get out!” she screams.

Then I leave, slamming the door behind me.

Well,thatcould’ve gone better.

I wander around on foot for a while, debating whether or not to toss my burner cell. But Eddie texts me on it, too, so I opt to hold on to it.

I wonder if this means my friendship with Eddie is over.

I hope not, because I realize that, somewhere in the middle of all this, I love the guy. I feel…responsible for him.

I’m worried about him and what will happen to him now without me around.

But he’s an adult. He can make his own choices, I suppose. I’m not going to beg him to leave her, because I’m no pity fuck.

I make my way back to base and sit up in bed, reading, my door cracked open and hoping Eddie will come talk to me when he returns.

He doesn’t. In fact, I know he’s somehow managed to sneak in without me hearing when I see a light on under his door when I make a trip to the bathroom.

Okay, then.

* * * *

Monday morning, I’m summoned to the colonel’s office. Eddie didn’t join us for PT or chow, and he wasn’t in his room when I went looking for him to talk.

He won’t respond to my texts, either.

I stand at attention, even after the colonel locks the door behind me.

From the stony mask he wears, I know I’m in trouble.

“Worship.”

I remain standing at attention and keep my voice down. “Sir, I don’t understand, sir.”

I don’t move.

Not a fucking muscle.

He stands in front of me, his gaze narrowed. “Is that the way it’s going to be? I heard there was an…issue.”