“You can't. He's family.” Patrick said.
“My sister!” he wailed, to general laughter.
***
Over the next two months things slid into aroutine. Ryan would go to PT and flirt with Phillip, who wouldflirt with him. Alexander would tease them both. They would go outafter work. Dinner. Hang out with the guys. Phillip had started tospend a lot of time with Kenneth. They would go for runs. ThenPhillip would take him onto post.
Ryan never asked what they did and they nevertold him.
Mark took Kenneth home and they packed his stuffup. Two weeks later Kenneth was a permanent fixture in Ryan'shome.
It was two weeks before the start of the springthat they got the news. In August they were headed back over toIraq.
***
In between training and going to NTC inCalifornia they spent time with each other. Phillip and Ryan wentout a few more times but spent a lot of time at his house or Ryan'sapartment. Ryan met Katie, who loved him. Sandy had become afixture in his life as well as Phillip. He was as likely to findher in his apartment as Kenneth.
He had just gotten off work and into hisapartment when Sandy came bursting in.
“Katie wants you and Phillip to take her to see‘John Cena’,” she said.
“Uh huh, and you came here why?” Ryan said, ashe pulled off his boots.
“Because she's driving me insane. She has herfirst crush-- she's with Phillip telling him about it. I thought Ishould warn you.” Sandy grinned and walked into his kitchen. Shegrabbed a soda as Kenneth came out of the shower.
“Hey ya, Kenny. Still on for tonight?” sheasked.
Ryan blinked and wondered if he was in the rightapartment.
“Yep, I just have to clean up my car.” Kennethwas doing better but still wasn't 'fixed'. Ryan knew he probablywouldn't ever be fixed. But he was functioning a lot better. Hestill drank, but it was only at ‘FUBAR’ and only when all of themcould keep an eye out on him. He was going to AA meetings andtalking to other Combat Medics.
All in All Ryan was happy with what was goingon-- except for the part where it sounded like Kenneth had a datewith Phillip's ex-wife.
“So, anyone tell Phillip about this?” he asked.“I don't wanna piss on anyone's parade but...seriously...”
Sandy burst into laughter and Kenneth sent Ryana cocky smile.
“We're going to the Ball. Phillip's 'taking' meand you're 'taking' Kenny.” She smiled. “But Kenneth and I arearriving together.”
Ryan felt relief. He wasn't sure how Phillipwould take Kenny and Sandy dating.
***
That evening Ryan got dressed in his dressblues. He was slipping the cuffs on when he heard the bell ring. Hecursed when he stubbed his toe on his way to open the door. Phillipstood behind it, looking like home-made sin.
His uniform was fitted flawlessly to his body.The black stetson on his head just made him look like perfection.Ryan felt his mouth watering. He had always thought Phillip was hotbut in dress blues, he looked...like sex personified.
“See something you like?”
Ryan slowly nodded his head. “We could alwaysnot go...”
“No way. Sandy will be pissed. She's got thehots for Kenny.”
Well, that answered Ryan's other question. Notthat he cared about it anymore.
“Give me a minute. I need to find my shoes.”
“How you find anything in here I'll never know,”Phillip teased. He took great pleasure in giving Ryan hell for hislack of cleaning ability.
