Sam groaned, and the rest of his teamlaughed, which meant the story wasn’t a story Aiden wanted to miss,so he made a mental note to ask about the RPG incident at a laterdate.
“Goddamn you, Finn,” Samgrowled.“I really am going to shoot you one of thesedays.”
Finn batted his eyelids at Sam.“Weneed to talk about your obsession with shooting me, but for now Ithink Aiden and Nick would both like to hear that story.So I’llstart.”Finn leaned forward on the table toward him and Nick andgrinned.“Sam didn’t start the week off well.In fact, he was latefor everything, and—”
“Not everything,” Samprotested loudly, “just the first two muster calls.Dev wasoverreacting.”
“Like fuck I was,” Devsaid in a dry tone.“I told you after the first time that I wouldthink of a better punishment than something physical if it happenedagain.And when it did, I made good on my promise.”
Sam crossed his arms over his chest,but humor flickered in his eyes.“I wasn’t late the secondtime.”
“But you were last,”Marcel pointed out.“Granted, the rest of us decided to get therefive minutes early to ensure you were last, but the fact remains,you were the last one to report.”
“Fuckers,” Sam muttered,and the table laughed.
“Sam turns up, andeveryone has fallen in,” Dev continued the story.“The fucking lookon his face was classic.But he falls in and looks at me with alook that could only be translated as ‘oh fuck!’”
“Sam then starts tosplutter an explanation,” Glenn took over the story, “Dev walkedright up to him, gets right in his face, and Sam’s voice disappearson a squeak.”
Aiden grinned when Sam cursed underhis breath.“Fuck you, Glenn, it wasn’t a squeak.”
“Sounded like a squeak tome,” Glenn continued.“Anyway, Dev starts talking in this deepvoice he has when he gives orders,” Aiden knew the tone becauseNick had the same one, “and he says, ‘Stay right here.Don’t goanywhere.’Dev storms off into the company building he was using asan office.Now, we all know that when your LT says, ‘stay righthere, don’t go anywhere’ that something shitty your way cometh.Hecomes back with this potted tree, which he all but threw at Samhere.
“Dev told him that he hadto keep that damn tree alive and he had to carry it with himwherever he was in uniform for the entire week.He had to take itto PT, he had to take it to chow, and he had to train with thefucking thing all week.He told him that if anyone asked why Samwas carrying that fucking tree around he had to answer—”
“It’s to replace theoxygen I stole from my LT when he gave me an order I didn’t complywith it,” Dev took over and delivered the punchline that had thetable erupting into laughter.
“Did you make it theentire week with the tree?”Aiden couldn’t help but ask when thenoise quieted down a little.
Sam nodded with an embarrassed grinthat endeared him to Aiden even further.“I did.I carried thatdamn tree and gave that answer when anyone asked.And then when Devchose me for the team, and the ink was dry on the contracts, I gotrid of that tree.”
From the evil glint in his eye and theway the rest of the team all grinned, Aiden knew there was more tothe story.“How?”
“Wood chipped that bastarddown to nothing but dust.”Sam suddenly smiled huge and looked overat his CO.“Then, for the next three weeks, I slowly fed it to Devin his food.”
Dev’s eyebrows shot up, and shockfilled his face.“The fuck you say!”
Sam nodded his head.“I figured if Ihad to carry the oxygen I took from you then it was my duty to payyou back for it.”
Finn threw his head back and roaredwith laughter, reaching out to stop Dev from leaning over the tablein Sam’s direction.“Damn, Pretty Boy!You got a vindictive streakin you that I never knew about!”Finn turned to him and Nick.“Youboys had better watch out.You make one wrong move, and God knowswhat he’ll do in retaliation.”
Aiden watched as the smile left Sam’sface and he turned to look at him and Nick.“They already know whatmy modus operandi is, Finn.I run.”
The table was suddenly plunged intosilence, and despite their audience, Aiden knew now was the time torevisit their earlier conversation.“The question is,” Aiden askedquietly, his gaze locked to Sam.“Are you going to go down the samepath again, or are you able to answer my earlierquestion?”
****
Sam gaze flicked between Nick andAiden’s as his mind whirled.This was one of those crossroadmoments in life.Turn to venture down any of the roads that laybefore him and the outcome would be different.
Seems to me that the thereare two men in this town who want to be a part of your future.Thequestion is do you see yourself as part of theirs?Dev’s words from a few days ago echoed in Sam’smind, and he was suddenly able to answer that question.At the timehe’d been asked, the answer had proved elusive, but now, looking atthe two men in question, it was pretty damn easy.
“Why don’t we head out ofhere and we can talk about that,” Sam said quietly as the rest ofhis team started talking among themselves, in an obvious attempt totry to give the three of them the smallest illusion ofprivacy.
Aiden smiled a knowing smile, and Nicklooked excited, if somewhat confused.Of course, he would have noidea what question Aiden had asked while he’d been dealing with thetwo punks from before, but he’d figure it.
The three of them stood and saidgoodnight to the group, and headed out.Sam turned back when Devcalled out his name.“Despite the fact, I will get you back formaking me eat wood—shut up, Finn,” Dev said quickly and held out ahand when his quick-witted lover would have no doubt slammed thatopener for a home run.“Let me finish.Despite all that, you werethe first person I chose for the team.”
Sam jolted with shock.“What?”He hadalways thought that Glenn and Maddox must have been the firstchoice.After all, they were the best spotter and sniper team inthe service.
