Panther: We could go to the cliffs instead.
Panther: Or we could stay here. No one will be around…
Panther: Fine. I’m showered.
Panther: Houdini said the limo will be here in an hour. You sure you don’t want to ride together?
Panther: I bet you look sexy as hell in your whites.
Panther: I’ll try not to stare too much, but no promises.
Panther: Your shower has been on for 30 minutes. Did you pass out in there?
Panther: If you don’t answer in five, I’m breaking down your door.
I chuckled as I read through the messages and then sent one back.
Solo: Damn, P. Sounds like you miss me.
Panther: Not a bit.
Solo: Liar. Wanna see me without my dress whites? I’m still naked.
Panther: Fuck. You.
Solo: That’s the idea.
Panther: ………
Grinning, I tossed the phone on the bed and got rid of the towel. While Panther would be riding with Houdini, Whiplash, and half of the trainees, I’d decided to go in the other limo with Gucci and the other half. It would be too much temptation to ride with Panther, and I needed to get this night over without him in my face to show me what I couldn’t have.
I took my time getting dressed, making sure my uniform was perfectly pressed and my shoes were polished to a gleaming shine. Every event in the military meant looking your best, but tonight there would be even more scrutiny. Being part of the Elite program was no small honor, and that meant every eye in the place would be on us.
Guess I’d have to forget walking out there doing the robot.
Another message pinged on my phone just as Panther pounded twice on the wall that separated our rooms.
Panther: Miss you already.
As a series of obnoxious honks rang out from the parking lot, I heard Houdini yell out, and then Panther’s door slammed shut.
Fuck,I thought, dropping my phone.I guess we’re really doing this.
35Panther
“YO, PANTHER! GET your ass out here,” Houdini hollered. “We got two other bodies to pick up besides yours, you know!”
I glanced at my phone one last time to see if Solo had responded to my last message. But when all I saw was myMiss you already,I let out a sigh and slipped it into my back pocket.
There was no more putting this thing off no matter how much I wanted to, and as if I needed a further reminder, another round of honking horns started up. Jesus, seemed like someone was in a hurry to get his dance on, but then again, Houdini got to dance with the person he wanted tonight, didn’t he?
With one last look at myself in the mirror, I made sure all of my medals were straight, my buttons were fastened, and my shoes were so shiny that I could see my reflection in them. This wasn’t my first ball, but it was the first time I’d be in attendance with my father as part of the receiving line.
Happy I passed muster, I picked up my hat and headed for the door, wondering what the man on the other side of the adjoining wall was thinking. Did he wish he was walking outside to meet me? Did he wish we could stay in tonight, and say to hell with all the pomp and circumstance?
All I knew was that if he was feeling anything like I was, his stomach would be tied up in knots. Because while I wanted nothing more than to see Solo decked out in his full dress whites, I wasn’t quite sure how I would control myself when I did.
Steeling myself against thoughts of that nature, I took in a deep breath and headed for the door, and when I pulled it open I saw Houdini hanging out the limo’s back window with a goofy smile on his mug.
