Kit blinked at him. “I am as well!”
“But you didn’t say what he just did.”
“Well, I agree with him completely.”
“Okay, you’re both my favorites now, and definitely my perfect matches.”
“And here’s your cannoli!” our waitress chirped, appearing with the dessert in question. “With a candle in one for the birthday boy!” She began to sing, Kit and I joining in as well as the other patrons and wait staff. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Carl, happy birthday to you!”
Carl laughed in delight, filling his cheeks with air before letting out a mighty puff that extinguished the candle.
“Yay!” I cheered along with everyone else, applauding.
“Can’t believe you guys arranged that.”
Kit beamed. “I remembered you loving the sparky crown at the sushi place we went to last year, and the robot waiter singing.”
Carl leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.”
“I did. You know me so well.”
“Aww,” the waitress said, hearts practically popping out of her eyes at the sight. Then, as Carl turned my way to give me the same, she let out a soft squeal. “You guys are too cute! Enjoy the rest of your meal.” She scurried away, no doubt going into the back to tell her friends there how adorable we all were.
Instead of feeling embarrassed or on guard about that, I felt really good. Here within the Fleet, there was no need to fear homophobes lurking among everyone else. We were safe to be gay and poly. It was a very freeing feeling and I thanked my lucky stars that I went to the job fair that day and took the job recruiter up on his offer.
“This looks delicious.” Carl cut a piece of cannoli and placed it on his fork, taking a bite. “Mmph…” he closed his eyes and damn if the sight and sound didn’t have my dick hardening. If he kept that up, we’d have to stay for coffee just so we could leave without making a spectacle of ourselves. This was a family restaurant, after all.
My wrist comm chimed, and I glanced down.
“My mom is calling, I better take this.”
Both of my men’s eyes zoomed in on me immediately, both nodding in agreement. I tapped to accept the call.
“Hi, Mom!”
“Hey, baby! Just checking up on you, as I hadn’t heard from you in several days. Everything still good with your job? How’s the training going?”
“It’s great, but umm, I’m currently on leave.” I winced, realizing I should have called her once I knew I’d been matched, and definitely once I’d had the micro-nanite treatment.
“What’s happened? Is it your heart? Did your blood pressure go crazy and give you another mini-stroke?” I hated the sound of panic in her voice.
“What’s wrong?” I heard my dad say. “Put him on speaker.”
“Nothing’s wrong. Umm, actually, about my blood pressure - the Mylos gave me one of their advanced treatments and I’m basically cured. “
“Oh baby! That’s wonderful!” My mother sniffled.
“What kind of treatment?” my dad asked.
“I’ve got micro-nanites in me that do whatever it is my body is supposed to be doing but isn’t. He explained it but it was way to sciencey for me to understand other than they’re there, they do all the things, my blood pressure is kept normal, and always will be unless I get caught in an EMP blast.”
“Which sounds highly unlikely,” dad drawled, “but let’s say you did. Then what?”
“I have to go see a doc without delay and get new ones. That’s it.”
“Hmm. I’m sure glad you took that gig up there then. I had my doubts, in case you found yourself insta-married like some guys and gals do, and it didn’t work out.”
I cleared my throat, my eyes darting nervously towards my mates. “About that. Kind of a funny story.”
