“Who are you asking?” Rick didn’t think Drew was seeing anyone, but he could be wrong.
“Eh, probably see if Julia wants to come.” Ahh, the opening that he needed.
“Why don’t you ask your parents? I’ll give you my guest slot.” Look at him being all nice and everything. Rick tried not to choke on his own thoughts. If Drew thought Rick was trying to hide something, he’d never get away with it.
Drew looked at him with narrowed eyes before shaking his head. “Nice try. My parents have been to so many balls in the close to thirty years they’ve been married, my mom would hit me if I asked. What are you trying to avoid? Maybe you could use my guest spot and ask your parents.”
Somehow, in all the years that they’d been friends, Rick had avoided this conversation. “I think they’re busy.” Maybe he could duck the discussion again.
“You haven’t even asked,” Drew pointed out. They sat there in silence for a minute before Drew asked quietly, “You don’t want your parents here, do you?”
Rick looked out his window, avoiding Drew’s eyes. And nodded. “It’s just…it’s not…” He wasn’t sure how to explain this to Drew. “They just wouldn’t fit in.”
Neither of them said anything. Rick’s phone went off again. A quick glance told him it was another text from Coop.
“Maybe you should ask the person on the end of that text. They seem to make you happy.” Drew stood and walked toward the hallway. “Since it’s my turn to cook, how about Uncle Siah’s Spaghetti Bolognese?”
Rick looked at his phone, then at Drew’s retreating back. “Not sure if he’d feel comfortable either but maybe…”
Chapter Six – Coop
Coop found his way up to the hotel’s third floor and stood in front of Rick’s door. How had he been talked into this? Oh, right, phone sex. He needed to get his hands on Rick again, and in person. They’d slowly become so much more than a hookup. Coop had to admit, he wanted to make Rick happy.
He knocked on the door, quelling his nerves. When Rick opened it, Coop couldn’t believe his eyes. There he stood, eye to eye, wearing his uniform. He looked stunning in the dark blue jacket and pants with a gold stripe down the leg, a white shirt, and a black bow tie. Gold cords hung over one shoulder and colorful pins lined his breast. Coop knew they were awards of some kind, but not what they meant, not really. “Wow.”
Rick lifted an eyebrow with the turn of his head. “You don’t look ready.”
Coop shook the hangar of his suit draped over his shoulder. “I need a minute to change.”
“Right. Come in.” He moved, and as Coop slid past him, Rick grabbed his shoulder and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Missed you.”
Coop smiled. That was everything, right there. It sent those butterflies into chaos. “Missed you right back.” He winked and entered the room. It didn’t take him long to change from jeans and boots to his dress clothes, including a pair of shiny new shoes. He shoved his casual clothes back in his duffle and tucked it under the bathroom sink, then looked in the mirror. He’d cut his hair the day before, but it didn’t look stylish, not like Rick’s, and he didn’t look nearly as good in his suit as Rick did in his uniform. Didn’t matter. He huffed and left the safety of the bathroom.
He held out his arms and turned around for Rick’s inspection. He whistled low. “You do clean up nice.”
“Whatever.”
“You blush nice, too.” He put his hand on Coop’s shoulder. “Hey, I’m really happy you came.”
“Well, you’re welcome. It’s lucky for you I was in town.” They had an off week for racing that coincided with this shindig of Rick’s.
Heading down to the event, Coop was uncomfortable. It wasn’t like he’d never attended formal events. His parents had made him dress up millions of times. He knew what fancy fork to use and everything, thanks to that country club upbringing. His mother never let him get away with simply riding bikes and running around like a heathen. Still, he felt unprepared. A country club soiree with his parents’ social circle was not a military ball. Rick was in ROTC and planning a career in the military, but it didn’t hit home until he saw him standing there in uniform. What would that mean for their budding relationship? He groaned a bit, unhappy that his thoughts sounded more like his mother than him.
“You okay?” Rick asked as they stepped off the elevator.
“Fine. A little nervous. I don’t know what to expect.”
Rick rubbed his shoulder and took his hand. “Don’t worry. There’s not much you have to do besides sit there and look pretty.”
“Pretty? What the—”
They were interrupted by a group of cadets, all dressed similarly to Rick, though they had different ranks and ribbons. They were jostling each other and cutting up like typical kids rather than the soldiers their uniforms indicated they were.
“Hey, guys. The ball will be starting soon. Go in and settle down.” Rick’s command went right to Coop’s balls. He swallowed hard to stifle a moan.
The cadets listened to him; some might have rolled their eyes, but they went into the ballroom. Coop was impressed. “That was sexy as hell,” he whispered in Rick’s ear after the others had left.
“Think so?”
