Patrick laughed so hard Ryan thought he wasgoing to fall off his motorcycle. “I keep telling him that but youknow our Ryan. He's waiting on his prince to come.”
“You both can kiss my ass. I have an hour lunchand would like to eat if y'all don't mind.” Ryan left both menthere. He heard Phillip's truck roar into a parking spot he wouldhave sworn was too small to fit that huge-assed truck into, thentwo sets of feet pounding behind him.
“Aww, come on Ryan. We're playin' with you. Youknow you love me,” Patrick said.
Ryan turned and thanked whatever God it was thatmade him able to look at Grabowski, all six-foot -four inches ofhim in ACU's, black Stetson and gold spurs and NOT make an ass outof himself. It seems that not only did the man age well, but hefucking looked hotter.
Ryan turned and flipped Patrick off.
“Damn, he's gotten bitchy,” Phillip said with agrin.
***
They sat at the food court at the PX. Ryan washappily munching away at his Subway Foot long while Patrick atePopeye's. Both of them were looking at Phillip like he had grownanother head.
“Seriously? You're gonna eat all of that?”Patrick blinked.
Phillip had gotten something from just aboutevery fast food place in the joint.
“I'm hungry. I had to get Katie off to schooland didn't eat breakfast.” Phillip defended himself as he tore intoa Wendy's cheeseburger.
“How in the hell do you eat that shit and notweigh five hundred pounds?” Ryan asked.
The former Drill Sergeant shrugged. “Dunno, goodgenes I guess.”
“I can't watch. My arteries are already cloggingjust from being so close to so much grease,” Patrick said as hestood up.
“Mark said y'all were having a reunion thisweekend,” Phillip said.
“Yeah. Kenneth and Brendon are coming in.Brendon's on leave and Kenneth comes up about once a month.” Ryananswered for Patrick. “Mark said that King was doing well.”
“Yup he and Jamie had their fifth kid lastyear.” Phillip smiled widely. “They named him Phillip. How fuckingcool is that?”
Patrick snorted. “Don't feel all superior, theynamed their daughter “Marcy”, he reminded Phillip.
Phillip just grinned.
“Anyways I'll catch you both later. Coming tothe bar tonight Phil?” Patrick grinned when Ryan blinked.
Ryan wished he could be as easy with Phillip asPatrick seemed to be. Even fucking the guy the last day of BCTdidn't ease Ryan. The man was still the bastard that had fuckedwith him so hard he still winced whenever someone said they were aDrill Sergeant. He was twenty-seven years old but around Phillip hewas back to being twenty-two.
“Probably not. Sandy's coming to pick upKatie-did. She lives over in the Cove.”
Patrick nodded. His phone rang and he smiled.“Awww, I tell ya Mark is like fucking clock work. I'll see y'alllater.” He flipped the phone open, carrying his chicken and walkedout the door, leaving Phillip and Ryan alone.
Ryan ate quietly, unsure what to say. This wasridiculous. “So, five years,” he said stupidly. He NEVER had issuestalking to men, not even men he’d slept with on one occasion.
Phillip grinned at Ryan. He wiped his mouth andnodded. Ryan figured he really shouldn't be staring at the man'smouth. “Five years.”
“What have you been up to?” Ryan asked. Could itpossibly get any weirder than it was right now?
“Aww, Freckles, small talk? Really?” Phillipchuckled huskily. “I went off the trail about a year after yourclass. Went to Lewis and ended up in Iraq twice before I gotassigned here. I PCS'ed a month ago.”
“Wow. Did you know Mark is around?”
“Yup. I called after I got my orders,” Phillipsaid.
Ryan felt like choking Patrick. If Phillip hadcalled Mark then Mark would have told Patrick, and it fell toPatrick to fucking tell him these things.
