“Kitchen!” Tanner yelled right back.
Lance put down his briefcase, slipped off his shoes and padded his way to the kitchen, where dance music was playing and lots of enticing smells were coming from the stove.
Tanner had three pans on the stove and was busy stirring something in a skillet.
“What’s all this?” Lance asked, unable to hide his amusement.
“Date night,” Tanner replied, spinning around to grin at him, bubbly with excitement. Lance chuckled and stepped closer, wrapping his arms around him and pausing to breathe him in. It was hard to describe how his world could tilt the right way on its axis when he was finally able to hold Tanner in his arms at the end of the day.
“Pretty sure it was my turn to make plans for date night,” Lance said, kissing his way up the side of Tanner’s neck.
“True—” he said, pausing for a moment to enjoy Lance’s kisses, “I was pretty sure you’d probably make reservations somewhere but—after the week we’ve had—I thought it might be a good idea to stay in.”
Lance soaked in the magic of this new domestic bliss and smiled. “Sounds perfect!”
Tanner chuckled, turning back towards the stove. Although he couldn’t see his face, Lance was certain Tanner had done a dramatic eyeroll.
“Don’t be so sure—I’ve decided to experiment with two new recipes, which might mean food poisoning for the both of us,” Tanner declared with a quick wink over his shoulder.
“I used to live on Hamburger Helper and microwaved Kraft cheese on toast—I’m pretty sure I can handle your cooking.”
Tanner snorted and kissed him before pushing him out of the kitchen, claiming he needed to concentrate.
Lance headed to the bedroom to change, and ended up raiding Tanner’s selection of lounge wear, which was way more comfortable than anything Lance owned. Just as he started to leave the room, he noticed something out of place.
Lance usually slept on the right side of the bed. Tanner preferred the left, so he’d staked his claim on the left side nightstand. The drawer was slightly ajar, and a familiar manila envelope was partially showing. Curious to see if Tanner had gotten a new missive from the Department of the Army, he reached for it. He hesitated, counseling himself that it was not his business. Was he turning into a Nosey Parker like Tanner’s sister? But he reached for it anyway and opened it to find a statement regarding a lump sum payment notice. Recalling that Tanner had been waiting on this for awhile, he scanned down the page to see that his back pay amount was $375,000.00. It wasn’t nearly enough. Not for everything he’d lost, but it wouldgo a long way towards helping Tanner get back on his feet financially. He knew that Tanner had barely been getting by since his return to the US. The notice stated the full amount was due to be deposited in his account by the first of next month. Lance slid the notice back into the envelope. Returning it to the drawer, he spotted an open notebook with some writing in it. He couldn’t recall seeing that before. Pulling the notebook closer, he skimmed the handwritten notes.
Hopes and Fucking Dreams
Lance Kingsley
Fly again
Get a real job
Move in with Lance
Lance’s heart pounded with excitement as he read Tanner’s list. Here was solid evidence that Tanner was not the same man Lance had first met on that fateful Sunday afternoon. Lance recalled how Tanner had looked that day, worn down and struggling on every level. Now, as Lance studied Tanner’s list, he could see hope for a better future. Lance briefly contemplated putting the notebook back and not saying anything about it. Hadn’t he been nosey enough for one day? But his excitement overcame his good sense, so he took the notebook and ran back downstairs to the kitchen.
“Hey, dinner’s ready,” Tanner said as soon as Lance walked in, but then he noticed the notebook in Lance’s hand and froze.
“I shouldn’t have looked—I’m sorry, but yes please. To all of it. How can I help?”
