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“What was the food like?” Hunter asked. With the giant plate of breakfast foods in front of him, his mind was clearly focused on eating.
“Most of the time, it wasn’t bad,” Garrett said with a far-off expression, like he was remembering their time in the base dining facilities. “If we were at the base, we had access to plenty of decent food. Buffet-style too, so we didn’t go hungry.”
“Not to mention all the care packages we got from civilians back home,” Rafe added.
“So many people sent food care packages to the troops, but we really didn’t need them at the time. We enjoyed them, though. We always hoarded all the sour candies.”
“You guys have a sweet tooth?” Chase asked as he eyed the half-eaten egg white omelet in front of Garrett. “You wouldn’t know it by your diet.”
Garrett simpered. “They were a novelty. And the sour taste helped take my mind off things I’d rather not think about.”
“I’ve read about that,” Tobias said, his blush rising when everyone’s attention was on him. “It can work like a distraction for anxiety. Sometimes, anyway.”
Chase gave Tobias a sympathetic smile while his hand disappeared underneath the table. Rafe guessed he was touching Tobias’ thigh to ease the darkness filling his eyes. There must have been a story there, but it didn’t look like Tobias wanted to talk about it. Rafe knew better than to push, especially a big guy like Tobias. Despite the blush, he still intimidated Rafe. Who wouldn’t be intimidated by a future NHL Hall of Famer?
“I’ve read that too,” Chase said as he turned to the group, taking the attention off his boyfriend. Despite Chase’s smaller stature, he was the protector in their relationship. “The sour taste tricks your brain and can distract it from the anxiety and nerves taking hold over you.”
“That’s pretty cool,” Hunter said. “I should stock them for my students when they need it. Doesn’t happen often, but it could be helpful.”
“You’re a teacher, too?” Rafe asked. Between him and Cole, the local schools were full of hotties.
“Nah, I’m an athletic trainer. That’s why I didn’t have to run off to work like Cole. I work a later shift so I’m there for all the practices and games.”
“Do kids ever make up injuries to visit you?”
Hunter narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, they do. They’re always trying to get out of practice, I guess.”
Rafe snorted. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s why.”
“Why else would they do it?”
“Um, hello?” Rafe said as he gestured at Hunter like Vanna White revealing a word.
The guy cocked his head in confusion.
“He’s saying the kids visit you so they can appreciate your… aesthetic,” Carson said, a flush rising in his cheeks as he coughed and returned his attention to his meal.
“My aesthetic?”
“Your hotness,” Riley said. “A bunch of kids probably have crushes on you.”
A wide grin took over Hunter’s face as he turned to Carson.
“Do you like my aesthetic, Carson?”
“It’s… okay,” he answered, his head still down while he busied himself with what remained of his biscuits and gravy.
Hunter seemed pleased with himself as he returned his focus to his food.
“Speaking of that… sort of, was it hard being… not straight while you were in the Navy?” Josh asked.
Garrett’s gaze hit Rafe before he answered Josh. It held a tinge of sadness.
“At the time, we were working under DADT policy, so everyone kept it quiet.”
“Wait, you didn’t even talk about it with each other?”
Garrett’s face hardened, his gaze dropping to his coffee. “No.”
