Page 24 of Julian Shared
“Yes,” I admit. “I don’t like to lead. Besides, Joel is the best lead in the room.”
And he’s all mine, I can’t help but think with a swell of pride in my heart.
“Why are you even asking?” I confront Buddy directly. I stop favoring my plastic cup of water and look right at him. “Are you only asking so you can make fun of me?”
“No. Sorry.” Buddy finally loses that insufferable smirk on his face, but there’s still a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Yet it’s more boyish than malicious. He leans in close to whisper in my ear. “You’re kinda a hot commodity, Julian. You’re the only guy here who actually enjoys following. The rest of us are leads. Think I could steal a dance with you?”
I consider Buddy’s request. Despite the friction between us, I don’t dislike him. Not really. And he’s a…friend of a friend. One dance wouldn’t do any harm and it’d be the proper social thing to do.
Yet I hesitate. I can’t decide.
And more importantly — I don’t want to choose.
“Ask my husband,” I decided on the spot, nodding my head in Joel’s direction as he emerges from the restroom. Someone has intercepted him on his way back to me and he’s been pulled into a conversation.
“Oh, I gotta ask your daddy first?”
“Yes,” I say, flat and cold. No humor. No sarcasm.
“Damn,” Buddy says, all the humor wiped off his face. “All right. I’ll do that. Hey, you know I only mess with you ‘cause I like you, right?”
I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean by like?”
Buddy rubs the side of his neck. “All the homemaker shit you do is impressive. And how you’re not scared to do it even if you’re a dude. I don’t know. I’d never have the balls to live as openly as you and First Sergeant Flores.”
“Good to know,” I nod. “Thank you.”
I help myself to some more water while Buddy finds Joel. My husband glances over to check in on me. I keep my face perfectly relaxed and neutral, my mouth set in a line. While Buddy and Joel chat, I watch and sip. I only stop when I see Joel look toward me and watch as he nods his head at Buddy.
Permission granted.
???
“That was so fun.”
I drop into the passenger seat of the jeep with a happy sigh. My feet ache and I’m sweaty in all sorts of unmentionable places, but I feel…lighter.
Clearer. Brighter. Free.
The sort of release that only comes from heavy physical activity. Like a good workout. Or dancing. Or sex.
Not that that happened tonight. Though it might.
I watch out of the corner of my eye as Joel slips into the driver’s seat. Joel and I stayed until the very last song played. The evening is late now. Both the stars and street lamps are starting to flick on one by one, but Joel isn’t in any rush to drive us home. He hasn’t even put the keys into the ignition.
“Look like you’re wilting.” Joel chuckles and leans over to fasten my seatbelt for me. And then uses the back of his hand to brush my sweaty bangs off my forehead. “My overheated little rose.”
“I’m fine,” I protest with a smile. I’ve always adored all the nicknames Joel’s given me over the years. Both the ones in English and Spanish. “Just a little tired…and hungry.”
I chew on my bottom lip.
While I danced the most with Joel, he and Buddy weren’t my only partners this evening. I played follow for over half a dozen happy soldiers. But I made each and every one ask for Joel’s permission before granting them a dance.
And that’s…done something.
I can’t explain it.
It’s more than just a physical reaction. Far beyond the tightening behind my briefs. Something’s been stirred in my brain. And my heart too. I want Joel so damn bad, I don’t think I’ll be able to wait until we get home.
