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“Yes, sir?”
“Senior Chief told me you’re bringing Bryant today.” The LT looked him up and down like he was expecting to have to correct Bacon’s gig line or the polish on his shoes.
“Yes, sir.” Bacon had called the senior chief the same day he’d told Curly, told him he was planning on telling the team. After chiding him for not listening to his “stay out of trouble” lectures, the senior chief had said he’d handle the XO and the LT, which Bacon really appreciated. But he’d known he’d have to face a conversation like this one sooner rather than later.
“Naval PR is undoubtedly going to want a few words with you.” The LT shook his head, heavily gelled hair gleaming in the sunlight, as he sighed. “However, I’m prepared to tell them that nothing untoward happened during your assignment as Bryant’s liaison. That you comported yourself exactly how we’d expect. Senior Chief says your...friendship happened after, and I’m going to take both your words on that.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it more than I can say.” He really did. He’d been prepared for an argument with the LT, maybe even getting written up.
“I also hear you and Bianchi both had similar news to share yesterday. I hope you know that your personal lives are just that—yours. I know I run a tight team, but anyone gives you any guff about that, you can always come to me or the senior chief. We won’t tolerate any harassment.”
“Understood, sir. And I know Rooster—Bianchi—will appreciate that too. I’ll pass it on to him.” He’d seen Rooster earlier, and Rooster hadn’t been kidding about his date being a cutie.
“See that you do.” The LT turned to head into the church. “And, Chief, see that you stay out of trouble? We’re counting on you to be a good example, and our team needs more leadership like yours. I don’t say it often, but you’re one of the best the navy has.”
“Thank you, sir. Will do.” Bacon felt like his relief and pride might burst the seams of his jacket. And then he caught sight of Spencer near the church entrance and it was a wonder he wasn’t floating. Heart surging, he hurried over.
“You made it.”
“I did.” Spencer in a suit was enough to make it hard to breathe. The gray fabric looked expensive and was perfectly tailored to Spencer’s lean frame. He’d paired it with a light green tie and pocket square and looked incredibly dapper and polished. They didn’t kiss but they did look into each other’s eyes an extra-long time until finally Spencer squeezed his hand. “You better go do your best man thing, Chief.”
“Okay. You gonna dance with me afterward?”
“Absolutely.” There was so much promise and hope in his smile that Bacon had to struggle to let go of his hand. As hard as it was for him to open up and fully trust in a future together, he was so damn grateful for all Spencer’s patience. His optimism powered Bacon, brought him closer to the place where he too believed.
* * *
The newly married Rachel and Curly—whose real name was Karl and who had a lot of similarly burly male relatives populating the reception—had truly terrible taste in music. Like every cheesy wedding song imaginable terrible. The reception hall was a country club, and the event space reminded Spencer of the airplane hangar where Del had had his pinning ceremony, which probably wasn’t the ambiance the bride was going for, but all the yards of tulle did little to soften the exposed white beams of the high ceiling or the cavern-like qualities of the large room.
Still, cheesy music and bad acoustics aside, Spencer was happy to be there, happy to watch his guy accept congrats on making chief and for a toast well done. Del had said all the right things—he’d practiced on him on the phone last night and he’d managed to be smooth and charming in his delivery without being too rehearsed. He’d made all the military guys crack up with a funny story from training. And those same guys were all pretty decent to Spencer too. Hell, he would have settled for just not getting the evil eye from the guys he’d been embedded with.
A few had made a point of saying hello, like the senior chief and Rooster and Shiny, who was now dancing with the most earnest young woman Spencer had ever met. Spencer wished he was good at the whole surreptitiously videoing thing because they might just break the internet and become a meme.
“So far there hasn’t been a single song I wanna dance to,” Del observed as he came over bearing drinks.
“Shiny keeps stepping on feet that are neither his nor his date’s,” Spencer observed as he took a sip of his sparkling water. “It’s dangerous out there.”
