“Okay. I suppose forwarned is forearmed,” Dade said. “I just don’t want anyone underestimating my father. And I’m sorry we’re even having this conversation. My father should not have any influence on your career. His is over and he’s retired. What I really wish is that he and Mom would go somewhere, just thetwo of them, and stay for a month. Travel and see the world. Do it for fun. Enjoy themselves. God knows Mom deserves it.”
“Then if I can make a suggestion, put a bug in her ear the next time you talk to her. She can’t want to just sit at home all the time.”
“Yeah. I do have to say that it was Mom who helped us make the most of my father’s postings. She made sure we saw the local sights and experienced more than what was on the post. My father could have cared less, but Mom was all about helping us make the most of a bad situation. When we were in Germany, Mom took us to Paris for five days, and she also showed us Madrid and Barcelona.”
“So, it wasn’t all bad,” Cliff said, and Dade had to agree. “I mean, you got to travel and see things most people never do.”
“That is true. But I remember a week after we got back from Paris, my father told us to pack again because he had been stationed on Okinawa. And we were off once more. I said goodbye to friends… again, packed my few things in my bags, and we were gone. I know most postings are three years, but my father was on the fast track and never turned down the chance for advancement. I really think it was a game to him. He found out what he needed to do to advance, created a list, and ticked off each of the tasks. It was that simple. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about this, not right now.” He went right into Cliff’s arms and stayed there.
“Do you see me as some kind of extension of your father?” Cliff asked. “I mean, I am in the army, and eventually I’m going to be relocated. I still have two years on my posting here. But after that….” He left the rest hanging in the air.
“I know. But no, I don’t see you that way. You aren’t my father. It took me a little while to see that. Everyone is different. Now, maybe I’m burying my head in the sand, because developing feelings for you means that I’m setting myself up fora big decision down the road.” He swallowed hard, because his father’s words had him unsettled. The general was like the devil. He didn’t like it, but he could use the truth like a hammer.
Cliff nodded and then turned away. “I’ll understand if you would rather not go down this road.”
Dade took Cliff’s hand. “You and I are already well down the path. It’s already happened, and yes, we could stop and decide to go our separate ways, but that isn’t what I want.” He blinked as he heard himself. “I know who and what you are. I know the man you are, and I’m grateful that you pulled me from the smoke and that you were persistent in trying to see me. I also know that I don’t want to turn around and just leave.” He smiled and rolled his eyes. “Damn it all, no matter how much I complain about him, I am my father’s son in that I’m stubborn, and I guess I don’t give up on what I want. Besides, it’s stupid to worry about something two years down the road. A lot can happen in that time.” And at the moment, he was happy, and he didn’t want to do anything that would mess that up.
“But your father is right. It’s only a matter of time.”
Dade knew he was. “But if we spend all our time worrying about the end, then we don’t get to enjoy the now, and that’s what I want to do. We don’t have to plan some grand future together. All we have to do is enjoy the now and what we have.” He was probably being naive. After all, change was inevitable. But the more he thought about it, the more the idea of letting Cliff walk away left him cold. When he wasn’t with Cliff, he looked forward to when he would see him. What Dade needed to face was that he was falling for Cliff, and his only choice was to walk away now. It would be harder on him later, and yet….
Cliff went to the window, peering out at the dripping eaves. “It looks like the rain has settled in for the duration.”
“True. But we can find something fun to do.” He took Cliff’s hand. “Let’s get our shoes on and jackets.”
“I take it you have something in mind.” Cliff did as Dade asked, and then they hurried out, dodging raindrops until they got in the car.
“The SportsEmporium?” Cliff asked as they turned into the lot.
“Yeah. Since its raining, the go-carts are out, but there’s lots of other things.” He grabbed Cliff’s hand and tugged him inside. At the desk, he signed them up for laser tag and got a card with money on it to play the games. “We have half an hour. Come on so I can beat you atMario Kart.”
“Oh really?” Cliff snickered as he took the seat next to him. Dade registered the card for both of them, and the game started. He chose one of the easier tracks, and once the game started, proceeded to leave Cliff in the dust. Every time he got close, Dade hit poor Cliff with a bomb, and he was out.
“You really are cutthroat,” Cliff said as Dade came in first, and he ended up third.
“You want to play again?” Dade asked with a grin.
“No.” He got out of the seat, and Dade followed him as a group of kids took their place.
“Skee Ball?” Cliff asked, and Dade got them set up. This time, Cliff was much better than he was, racking up over forty-five thousand. “I knew there was something I was good at.”
Dade leaned closer. “The only balls I’m good with are attached,” he whispered, and Cliff stumbled slightly. “Come on. I have a great game for you.” He took Cliff to the shooting gallery, where Cliff cleaned up, taking down everything and racking up a ton of tickets. He was in his element, so Dade had him go another round, and his score was even better, winning some kind of big bonus at the last second. The amazing thing was thathe just smiled and took Dade’s arm. Apparently, it was time for laser tag.
“What isit with you and games?” Cliff asked once their three laser tag games were over.
“It was fun, and we won,” Dade told him with a huge grin. “What are you complaining about? We were on the same team.” He hung up his equipment on the indicated peg and left the area.
“And you ordered everyone on the team around like they were in your squad. The thing is, they did what you told them, and we wiped the others out.” Cliff shook his head. “The other team didn’t stand a chance.”
“Yeah, we know,” one of the guys near them groused.
“I guess having a general for a father pays off eventually,” Dade quipped as they left the area. “Though you could say it helps that I’ve played this before. There was a place outside Amsterdam that had a great laser tag arena, and we used to go there whenever we were in the city. If you think I’m competitive, you should see Maria. She’d have wiped the floor with all of us.” He grinned as they stepped out into the games area. “What do you want to play?”
“Do you think I can beat my high score?”
He should have known. “I’d like to see you try.” He followed Cliff, and they had a ball the rest of the morning. Now that he had the hang of the game, Cliff figured out how to rack up multiple bonuses and a huge number of tickets. By the time they were done, Dade told Cliff he could pick out whatever prize he wanted. He ended up leaving with a Yeti mug that he handed to Dade.
“Now, you can have coffee at school and think of me.”
