“Texas,” Bowie said.
“You get homesick?” Savage questioned.
“Naw,” Bowie admitted. “Like I said, I still haven’t come out to my family, and keeping a secret like that weighs on a person.It’s easier being away from home and not having to worry about watching my back or saying the wrong thing.”
“I get that,” Savage said. “I haven’t exactly been forthcoming about my sexuality with my friends or family either.” He had a few close buddies in his club that knew the truth, and he trusted them not only with his secret but with his life.
“I’d like to blame my military background for all the secrecy, but that really isn’t an issue anymore,” Bowie said.
“Yeah, that wasn’t the case when I enlisted.” Savage had served under the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” era, and he had to admit, it had its pros and cons. Not having people dive too deep into his personal life was always a plus. He valued his privacy over everything else.
“You originally from Huntsville?” Bowie asked.
“Yeah,” Savage said. “My family was from here, but they’re all gone now. Well, everyone except Chloe and me.” Savage mentally kicked himself for talking about his daughter. It wasn’t something he did with complete strangers, and he was starting to worry that asking Bowie out might have been a bad choice. Sure, the guy was the sexiest man he had seen in a damn long time, but he was completely blowing his rules out the fucking window with Bowie, and that usually didn’t end well for him.
“Who’s Chloe?” Bowie asked as if he were able to read Savage’s mind.
“My kid,” Savage admitted.
“You have a daughter?” Bowie asked.
“She’s six, and I adopted her when she was a baby. Chloe is my sister’s kid, and when she and her husband died in a car accident, I took Chloe in.”
“Wow,” Bowie breathed. “I’m sorry about your sister and brother-in-law. But Chloe is lucky to have you, man.”
Savage shrugged, “Thanks. And, I’m the lucky one. She came into my life when I was in a dark place, and she gave me a purpose. She’s a great kid.”
“That makes sense,” Bowie said. “She seems to have a pretty awesome dad.”
BOWIE
Bowie wasn’t sure how the hell he had ended up in the sexy stranger’s pick-up, agreeing to go for a few beers with him. He had been watching Savage for weeks now, not that he’d ever admit to it. Bowie had always been attracted to older men, and Savage was his type, right down to his salt-and-pepper beard that made him want to give it a tug.
It had been a damn long time since he found anyone interesting enough to go out for a few beers with. When Savage first asked him out, he wasn’t sure he had heard him correctly. He usually had a pretty good idea when a guy or woman, for that matter, was interested in him. But Savage didn’t give him anything to go by. It was hard to get a read on the guy, and that made Bowie want him even more. He always liked a challenge.
Honestly, dating men was kind of new to him. He wasn’t lying when he told Savage that he hadn’t come out to his family yet. It was one of the reasons why he jumped at the chance to be transferred to Huntsville from Texas when the opportunity arose. He hated that he was taking the coward’s way out, but that was easier than admitting that he was bi. He was even beginningto avoid his weekly calls home to his parents because he got sick of dodging their questions about whether he had someone special in his life. Even if he had, he wouldn’t be able to admit it because that would mean telling his parents who he was.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Savage said. “You having second thoughts?”
“About beer—never,” Bowie teased. Savage shot him a smirk that told him he wasn’t buying him using humor to hide from the question.
“You always a smart ass?” Savage asked.
“Most of the time,” Bowie admitted. “I use humor to mask what I’m really feeling. My therapist says it’s a way for me to hide my true self because I’m afraid that if people get to really know me, they won’t like who I am.” Bowie looked at Savage and almost made it through without busting up laughing. Savage looked about ready to pull to the side of the road and kick Bowie’s ass out of his pick-up.
“Really, man,” Savage grumbled. “I’m not sure if you’re kidding or not.” He shook his head at Bowie and smiled.
“Your face, man,” Bowie said between fits of laughter.
“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up,” Savage griped. “Was any of that true?” The sad fact was that it was all true, but Bowie wouldn’t admit that to Savage on what could potentially be their first date.
“Naw,” Bowie lied. “I just like yanking people’s chains.” Savage looked at him as if he were trying to decide if he wanted to believe him or not. He seemed like a smart guy, and if he was telling the truth earlier, a literal rocket scientist. Bowie worriedthat Savage would be able to see right through his facade, and that scared the hell out of him.
“I mean, I’ve been to a therapist, but that was to work a few things out after I got back from active duty,” Bowie admitted. Giving the guy some truth might throw him off the scent. It would be best to get through the night together without Savage finding out just how messed up he really was. That was another one of his secrets he didn’t share with anyone—well, besides his therapist.
“Yeah—happens to the best of us. The Air Force shoved my ass into therapy after I got shot down, not that it helped much.” Bowie knew just how a tragedy like that could affect a guy. He watched his best friend die after their Humvee was attacked. It should have been him who was lying on the side of the road, bleeding out, but instead, it was his best friend, Drew.
They pulled into one of Huntsville’s dive bars, famous for its customers being a little on the shady side. It was a perfect spot for two guys who didn’t want to be seen out together to grab a few beers. No one got into anyone else’s business in places like the Voodoo Lounge, and that was just the way they both seemed to want it. He knew that score—Savage didn’t look like the type of guy who did long- term relationships, and that was fine with Bowie. He wasn’t sure where he’d be tomorrow, and settling down with someone like Savage seemed like a pipe dream. He never let himself imagine his life with a man. Hell, he never imagined settling down with anyone, if he was being completely honest.
