“I remember when Kenneth super glued the guy'stoothpaste and toothbrush together. I thought we were gonna have tobury Kenny somewhere.” Ryan laughed. His eyes were bright.
Kenneth laughed. “He was so fucking pissed atme. He couldn't even say my name he was so mad. I was almostscared. He kept clenching and unclenching his fists like he wasgoing to take my head off.”
“What was it that King called him?” Patrickasked.
“‘Angel’, ‘cause he was so purty. He looked likeone of the cherubs, but even King said he thought it sounded odd tocall him ‘Cherub’.” Kenneth snorted.
“Goddamn,” he muttered. “Fucking leaking.” Herubbed at his eyes and downed his mug of beer.
“Yeah. Me too,” Brendon admitted.
“Brendon, you fucking leak all the time,”Patrick said. His eyes were suspiciously bright too.
***
A few hours later they were back in the mood toparty. They had made several trips back to the bar to refill.Patrick brought out the tequila and Mark was keeping them in freshlemons and limes.
Kenneth was giggling like mad over a storyBrendon was telling and Ryan was just leaning back in his chairwatching them all. He loved when they all got together. It was atime when it didn't matter who they were, what they did. Theyunderstood each other better than most families did. Hell, hehadn't talked to his parents more than three times since he joinedthe Army, but he talked to these guys at least once a week.
The seven shot glasses remained untouched ontheir table. The place was picking up. A lot of off-duty guys camein and Patrick was up on the stage singing.
“Holy fucking Shit!” Brendon exclaimed. “He'sfucking bigger!” Kenneth and Ryan turned to see who Brendon wastalking about.
Ryan groaned and Kenneth giggled again.
Phillip had changed out of his uniform and toRyan's drink-hazed mind looked pretty fucking edible.
Tonight he wore another shirt that on the frontproclaimed him a ‘Cavalry Trooper’ and on the back, printed in bigblack block letters it read 'If you ain't Cav then you ain't shit.'It was a shirt guaranteed to cause a riot if any Infantry guys werein the bar. Of course, that was if they dared to attack a guy whowas six and a half feet of pure muscle and steel. Ryan sighed likea girl. He fucking sighed. It wouldn't have been so bad if Kennethhadn't chosen that exact moment to look at him.
“Dude...you are such a girl!” He laughed.“Gracin siiiiggghhhed.” He pointed at Ryan when Brendon turned tolook at him.
“Dude! You're macking on Drill SergeantGrabowski still?!” Brendon asked. “Holy shit!”
Ryan just ignored them. The best way to dealwith Kenneth and Brendon was to ignore them. They were both likepuppies. If you didn't give them any attention they would go awayand play with something else.
“Well shit. Looky at who the cat dragged in!”Kenneth said when Phillip strolled up to them.
Phillip had that picture-fucking-perfect smileplastered on his face. “Rosey-Ass and Furry. Damn, y'all arelookin’ good.”
“I don't swing that way,” Kenneth said primly.He ruined the effect he was going for by giggling. “But our boyRyan, nowhedoes!”
“Kenneth, if you don't shut your hole I'm gonnahave Mark cut you off,” Ryan warned.
“Now, Ryan! Don't be bitchy. This is anon-bitchy night!” Kenneth gave Ryan a look that dared Ryan to pushhim further.
Ryan knew Kenneth better than that. Even drunkRyan knew not to push. Kenneth would just tell Phillip to take himin the back room and fuck him senseless.
Brendon stood up and shook Phillip's hand. “Goodto know you made it back,” he said. He was much more relaxed nowthat he was drunk.
Phillip smiled. “Good to be back. Nice to seeyou guys. I'm gonna go over and hang with Mark.” He leftquietly.
Ryan blinked. Well...that fucking sucked.
“Don't pout, Freckles. We'll get him back overhere,” Brendon said, patting the other man on the shoulder.
“'M not poutin',” Ryan replied, pouring himselfanother shot.
Alexander Krutz strolled into the bar not longafter Phillip did. He waved to Patrick and walked to the table thatthe others were sitting at.
