Page 5 of Point of Contact

“Trev?” The sound of Carl’s deep, sleep-roughened voice brushed along Trevor’s skin, and he couldn’t resist perching next to him to run his hand over Carl’s warm back.

“Gonna get up and make the boys breakfast. Go back to sleep, babe.”

Carl mumbled something into his pillow and turned his head away, his breathing rhythmic and even as he drifted back off again. Trevor kissed his shoulder and reluctantly got up, heading into the bathroom to shower and brush his teeth before pulling on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

All was still quiet in the family room, but as soon as Trevor put on a pot of coffee, he heard some sleepy grumbling, and yawning young men in underwear soon started straggling in to snag a cup, some of them heading out to the backyard to smoke.

“Why we up so early? What time we gotta be back?” Smitty asked Riley in a slurred voice. He scratched his balls through his boxers as he chugged a bottle of water before giving a loud belch.

“0900.” This came from Jesse, who appeared in the kitchen already dressed, his still-damp beach towel over his arm.

“Aww, shit. Only a few more hours of freedom.” Smitty grabbed his pack of cigarettes from the counter and he and Riley disappeared outside with the others.

“May I have my keys, sir?” Jesse’s voice was quiet, subdued. His eyes had dark circles under them, as if he hadn’t gotten much sleep either. Studying him, Trevor thought, This kid—this rude, bigoted kid—is still a guest in my home, and he’s shortly going to war for me.

“You’re welcome to stay for breakfast, Jesse,” he said. “I’m making blueberry pancakes and bacon.”

“Thank you, sir, but no. I have some things to do.”

“Of course.” Trevor grabbed the key bucket and handed it to Jesse before turning back to his bowl of pancake batter. He could hear Jesse rooting through it, keys jangling, then a sudden curse as the bucket slipped out of his hands and crashed to the floor.

Trevor knelt to help, and when their hands brushed while reaching for the same set of keys, Jesse jerked away like he’d been burned.

Oh, for fuck’s sake. “The gay won’t rub off on you, you know,” Trevor murmured sardonically. Jesse scowled, then snatched his keys up from the floor and stood.

“Tell Riley I’ll see him back at the room at 0900,” he said, grabbing his towel and heading for the front door. At the last minute he stopped, took a deep breath, and turned.

“Thank you for the party, sir,” Jesse said with exquisite, insincere politeness. Then he was gone.

Trevor blew out a breath and finished picking up the rest of the keys, watching through the window as Jesse climbed into a battered old truck and drove away. He shook his head, wishing he could tell the kid that life was too short for hate. He hoped all this wouldn’t change Jesse and Riley’s relationship too much; as Smitty had said, over there in a war zone, they’d all need each other.

A war zone.

At the thought of the next few hours to come, the goodbye, Trevor pulled the batter bowl to him and stirred the contents violently.

Maybe I can’t protect him from war, but by God I can send him off to it well fed.

Before long Trevor had a huge stack of golden brown pancakes, crispy bacon and fresh coffee on the table, and at his shout the young men came thundering in like a herd of elephants. They attacked their breakfast, and all too soon they had finished and were out the door themselves. Every one of them shook Trevor’s hand and thanked him before leaving, and Trevor basked in Riley’s approving smile.

“Thanks, Dad,” he said as he got ready to leave. “You and Carl were fucking awesome about this.”

“You’re welcome.” Trevor pulled him into a rough hug, and they slapped each other’s backs before pulling away.

“See you on the field today at 1400?”

No, I don’t want to see you on that field. I want you home. Safe.

“Wouldn’t miss it, Riles,” Trevor said quietly.

“I know. Love ya, Dad.”

He breezed out the door, and Trevor blinked back the sudden tears that stung his eyes at words he didn’t hear all that often anymore.

“Love you, too.”

* * *

“Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for our National Anthem.”