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“Talbot… “
“’Sup, Selkirk…”
“Have a good little ‘chitty-chat’ with your pen pal, mybestestbuddy,” Ian taunted, grinning and wiggling his fingers at the guy who was always picking and teasing him.
“Dork,” Talbot laughed, plopping down into the computer chair comfortably.
Still smiling, Ian walked off whistling to himself, feeling extremely satisfied with his email, the fact that he was trying to surprise her, exceedingly proud of how driven and dedicated she was, and realized that maybe this ‘Romeo curse’that was whispered among the troops might not be so bad.
Browsing the exchange, he found a shelf full of local goodies that had been brought in. There were a few guys already there, picking through things to send back home, and more were walking in.
Reaching over, he plucked a scarf off one of the shelves – immediately spotting the hot pink shades and thinking of his own little Barbie doll online. Yeah, she’d definitely wear a scarf, probably knotted once at her neck like some fifties pin-up.
He closed his eyes for a moment, composing himself, as he thought of other things that came with fifties pin-up girls. Corsets, busty bras, stockings, red lipstick, crinoline skirts, dressy pumps that made those shapely legs look soooo good.
“Man, I was born in the wrong era,” he muttered, and folded the silky scarf gently to keep it from getting destroyed by his grubby, calloused hands.
Looking in another case, he spotted a hand-held mirror that screamed ‘classy’ yet modern. It was a twisted metal and copper-looking creation with leaves all around the face of it. He could see a woman holding it up, patting her hair, or putting on lipstick, and immediately felt something shift inside of him.
“I’m gonna take that,” Ian blurted out to the clerk walking past him. “Do you have bubble wrap, so it doesn’t get busted in shipping?”
“Yeah – and the box it came in too, ya’ pretty dandy.”
“Shut up, Lewis… it’s not for me, but for my girl.”
“Ahh yes,” the clerk grinned. “Another has fallen, huh?”
“Not necessarily.”
“Romeo squad,” Lewis chuckled. “Give it time. You boys are making a name for yourselves. Did you hear that one of the Zoomies was talking to Logan at the fence a month or so ago?”
“No way – really?”
“Yup. That’s the rumor I heard…”
“I doubt it,” Ian muttered, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t be caught spreading that one either. Logan’s got a temper and I do my best to stay away from having it directed at me.”
“Smart man,” a voice said behind him – and Ian froze, meeting Lewis’ eyes and seeing the answer in the other man’s face before he turned.
“Afternoon, Captain Logan.”
“Selkirk,” he said coolly, watching him with these cold eyes that seemed to look right through you. “I do have a temper when it comes to certain things… such as disrespect or not following orders.”
“Both of which are not happening, sir,” Ian replied, feeling a sinking sensation inside, knowing by the end of this conversation he was gonna be running laps in the heat or cleaning latrines. It was never a great thing to have your commanding officer sneak up on you – especially when you were talking about him.
“Whatcha doing?” Logan asked in a matter-of-fact voice.
“I… ah… well, honestly?”
“Preferred,” Logan interrupted, crossing his arms.
“I was sending my pen pal a package,” he admitted, hearing a few cat calls and whistles from the other men inside the exchange – and really didn’t care. He held the captain’s gaze and continued talking, not backing down. “I was buying June that mirror and picked out a scarf for her. This looks like a feminine present, doesn’t it? I’m from a family of all boys, and…”
“Selkirk?”
“Yes, captain?”
“Relax and pay for your junk. It’s pretty, and I sent my wife a purple scarf last week when the order came in. Your girl should like it.”
