Step Up with Me

by Kris Jacen

  § § § §

  Jack was beyond stunned. Tank had kissed him. Granted it wasn’t a full-blown, give-each-other-tonsillectomies but it rocked Jack’s world. I think a few others were shocked, too. Guess he had his answer to whether or not Tank liked him that way. Now to see where they would take this. First, they both had best man duties to see to.

  The back dining room at Mama’s was pleasantly full. There were a few here that hadn’t been at the ceremony but they still numbered under twenty. Two of the men sitting toward the edge of the room looked familiar, they had the same presence as Sergeant Major Luna, but Jack couldn’t place them. He’d have to ask Randolph or Carter.

  Looking around at the other tables— wait, was that Neil sitting next to Bree? When had Briar’s nurse gotten together with Bree? He didn’t remember them ever meeting when she visited Briar since Neil worked days and the crews visited at night. Was he that clueless or was it something new? Either way it looked like Bree was going to be in the hot seat next movie night gauging from the looks on the other crew members’ faces. Seeing that it looked like everyone had something to drink, Jack stood up and cleared his throat.

  “Excuse me, may I have everyone’s attention for a minute? As one of the best men today, it’s my privilege to welcome you to the reception for Staff Sergeant and Mister Randolph. They’ve asked me not to embarrass them and I think I’ll be able to do that. I’ve only known both of them a few years and while it’s been eventful, I’m not sure any of it is embarrassing unless you count when Briar flashed his nurse and me the first time he got a shower in the hospital.” Jack paused to let the chuckles subside before continuing. “From learning all about Ranger School and Firing Batteries…thanks to the mil crew… and learning even more about how the military is taking care of returning soldiers. It’s been a pleasure to be by their sides, today as much as others. Please join me in raising your choice of drink…to the happy couple. May this be the stepping stone that begins an amazing journey through life.” Jack took a sip of his drink before Briar threw himself at Jack.

  “Jack…I…how…” Oh, yeah, Jack was feeling good. He’d rendered Briar speechless. Randolph was standing behind Briar and reached around to grasp Jack’s shoulder before nodding with a smile on his face.

  Jack sat back down and Tank leaned close to whisper in his ear, “Thanks, thanks a lot.”

  “What?” When Jack turned his head; he was close enough that if he just moved a tiny bit, they’d be lip-locked.

  “There is no way that I can speak at that level. I had a semi-idea of what to say before you spoke. Now? Yeah, abso-frickin-lutely no idea at all now.” Tank looked really upset. He had put himself out there earlier, maybe it was time for Jack to do the same. No time like the present right?

  “What if you had an incentive?” Jack teased.

  Tank’s eyes narrowed as looked at Jack. “Incentive? Do I look like a dog that’ll work for a bone?”

  “I’ve got a bone for you if that’ll work.” Jack paused as he realized what he’d said and groaned. “That was the worst pun I’ve ever used in my life. I was more thinking of inviting you back to my house and we could see if that slight brush of lips was an accident on both our parts or the start of what could be amazing.”

  Jack didn’t look away from Tank as he waited for an answer. It seemed like decades but could’ve only been two minutes tops before Tank smiled and brushed a kiss over Jack’s cheek, murmuring, “I like that idea a lot. I’m not sure what I did to get so lucky but I’m not ignoring this chance.”

  Chapter Eight

  Tank couldn’t believe he was following Jack to his house right now. He’d thought that maybe there was some attraction between the two of them. Thought he’d caught Jack looking at him as something other than a friend but he hadn’t been sure.

  But then… today… he had no idea where he’d gotten the balls to lean over and kiss Jack before they walked down the aisle. Wasn’t like he was one to put himself out there for a relationship. Tank wasn’t the most experienced at relationships, or even sex.

  He pulled up in front of the house while Jack pulled into the garage and stood there waiting for Tank. Giving himself a quick pep talk, he got out of the Camry and headed toward Jack.

  “Hey stranger,” Jack said as Tank got close.

  “You look a bit familiar. Do I know you?” Tank teased back. Jack chuckled as he hit the button for the garage and led Tank into the house. They both stopped and kicked off their shoes.

  “Speaking of familiar, there were two men sitting against the wall that looked familiar but I couldn’t place them. Do you know who they were?” Jack was heading down the hall to the master bedroom as he asked. “Let me see if I have some sweats that’ll fit you.”

  Jack ducked into the bedroom, leaving Tank to stand in the semi-dark and try again to calm his nerves.

  “Aha! I don’t have any sweats but I think this set of scrubs should fit you.” Jack came back out with his jacket gone and shirt unbuttoned half way down his chest. Tank lost track of what he was saying. Distracted knowing there wasn’t much between him and Jack’s flesh. “Tank?”

  “Huh?” Ideas were floating around Tank’s brain but he wasn’t sure if he had the courage to take that step. Sure, he’d kissed Jack earlier but this was in a totally different ballpark.

  “Tank? Eyes up here?” Jack’s voice had hidden laughter in it, making Tank break his gaze away. When Tank’s eyes met Jack’s, he saw a simmering heat that made him whimper. At the low sound, the heat in Jack’s eyes flared red hot and he said, “Fuck it” before pulling Tank to him and claiming Tank’s mouth.

  This? Tank knew and he was a full participant in the kiss. Jack pushed him against the far wall while his fingers went to the buttons down Tank’s jacket. Once it was unbuttoned, Tank found some sense of clarity and pulled back from the kiss, licking his lips.

  “Wow. I didn’t— I was hoping— ummm…” Tank wasn’t sure he could talk coherently. Trying again he said, “Need to hang up my uniform. Can I—” He pulled on the bottom of his jacket and shifted his weight from foot to foot.

  “Yeah… umm… why don’t you head into the guest room and change. There should be some hangers in the closet to use. I’ll change and meet you in the living room?” Jack didn’t wait for an answer before he walked into his room and closed the door behind him.

  Tank looked at the bundle of cloth in his arms. Might as well change. Sitting around any longer in his uniform wasn’t going to be comfortable. He went into the guest room and found a hanger in the closet. He threw in on the bed and pulled off his jacket and tie before just standing there, staring off into space.

  § § § §

  Jack sat down on his bed. How the hell had they gotten here? And why the fuck was he so nervous? This was Tank. They’d spent an untold number of hours together in the past few years. Movie nights, dinners out, grappling on the mats. It’s not like they were strangers. He scrubbed his hands over his head before pushing to stand and walk out the door.

  Walking into the living room, Jack found it empty and turned around. When he got to the guest room, he knocked on the door. No sound? Did Tank leave without saying anything? Jack pushed open the door and found Tank standing there with a look on his face that Jack wasn’t sure he was happy to see. Tank looked terrified. Calling out to Tank softly, Jack approached him.

  “Tank? Are you okay?” He stopped just short of Tank. “Tank?”

  Tank looked at Jack and it was almost as if he didn’t know who Jack was for a minute. “Jack? What are you doing here?” He glanced down and around the room.

  “When you weren’t in the living room, I came looking. Are you okay? Didn’t have too much to drink, did you?” Jack was really concerned.

  “No, I didn’t have too much to drink. Actually, I didn’t have anything other than seltzer water. I’m fine. Just—”

  “It’s okay. You can talk to me. Are you nervous?” Jack wasn’t sure what was going on but he was hoping that Tank
was just nervous about them changing dynamics like he was.

  “Maybe a bit,” Tank said sheepishly.

  “How about you take a deep breath, change and then we sit down and just talk?”

  Tank started nodding about half way through Jack’s sentence. “I like that idea. I’ll be right out.”

  Jack stood there, searching Tank’s face for a minute before he smiled and leaned in to brush a kiss on Tank’s cheek. “I’ll grab us something to drink.”

  § § § §

  How did he get himself in this position? He never thought he’d be here. Always thought when it came time for him to lose his virginity it was going to be a quickie with some unknown person. He never thought it would be with someone that he actually cared for. Now he was going to have to admit to the guy he’d been attracted to for months that he was a virgin and had no idea what to do. Oh, he’d watched porn; read the romance novels; rom-coms and chick flicks were some of his favorite movies but he knew that they were nothing like reality.

  Tank finished undressing and hung up his uniform. One thing he’d learned being assigned here was that a few seconds here or there taking care of his uniform saved him a lot of panic prep when he needed to be “on.” He grabbed the scrubs and pulled them on. Jack was right, these were pretty comfortable and whatever this size was couldn’t be Jack’s since they weren’t tight on him.

  He headed to the living room and stopped just inside the room, looking around. Tank had never appreciated the open space before. Jack had put two oversized sofas and a double-wide recliner in the room. There were accent tables scattered between them. The area was set up so that the opening to the hallway was behind the sofas and enclosing the space. There was a 60-inch TV mounted on the opposite wall with shelves floating on the walls on either side with the different game consoles and cable box.

  Jack was sitting on one of the sofas half turned so he could see when Tank entered the room. Tank watched as a smile crossed Jack’s face.

  “Come on in. It’s not like you haven’t been here before,” Jack said as he patted the couch beside him.

  “Yeah, I know but as I got here, I realized that I’d never noticed how you’d decorated.” Tank shrugged and mirrored Jack on the couch.

  Jack looked around and chuckled. “Well, Briar kinda made me. Said I had to start setting a good example for his bugs. Apparently, according to Briar, having nothing in the living room except a recliner, a ratty couch and a TV is against everything.”

  “Briar said—” Tank’s laughter couldn’t be held off and he burst into laughter. That seemed to break the uncomfortable silence that had been between them.

  “So… can I guess?” Jack asked once their laughter subsided. Tank thought about it for a minute and nodded. “You don’t have much experience, do you?”

  Tank sat there blinking for a minute. He shrugged and reached for a bottle of water that was sitting on the accent table. “How’d you guess?” Tank was mumbling, he knew he was but it was a habit he’d had from childhood and had never been able to break it. He was studying the label on the bottle like it was the most important thing in the world.

  “Not really sure. But… could you look at me please?” Tank’s head snapped up at the tone of Jack’s voice. “Listen, I’m not going to pressure you into anything. I had thought that… never mind. Let’s just watch something.”

  Tank couldn’t let Jack feel like he sounded. He sounded embarrassed and a bit sad. “Wait!” He stopped Jack from reaching for the remote. “You thought right. It’s just… I’m twenty-five years old and I shouldn’t be a virgin still. I should know how things really work in life. Not what I’ve learned from porn or a movie or a book. I just…” Tank wasn’t sure what to say next so he leaned over and kissed Jack gently. Jack must have been holding his breath because Tank felt it brush across his face.

  When they pulled apart, Jack said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed anything and yeah… so movie or binge a show?”

  “One thing first, I know I probably ruined any and all plans you had for tonight but…” How to finish that sentence? “But I’d like to see what we could become. I really like you, Jack. And I’d really like to take this next step with you.” Tank stopped talking for a minute before adding, “At some point.”

  He knew he’d just laid part— if not all— of his heart out there for Jack to squish.

  A bright glow appeared on Jack’s face. It was like something was beaming from inside of him.

  “At some point.” Jack pulled Tank to his side and cuddled in. “Now, binge or movie?”

  Chapter Nine

  Jack woke up to a bright light shining in his eyes and a crick in his neck. He was jammed between two objects and wasn’t exactly sure where he was. Jack knew he’d not had a lot to drink at the wedding and had— Holy shit! Last thing he remembered was watching Luke Cage curled up with Tank. He slowly opened his eyes and looked down. Yup, there was Tank, head on Jack’s chest.

  To say that Jack was a bit surprised by Tank’s revelation last night would be an understatement. The only time that Jack had had sex with a virgin? Yeah, Jack was the virgin. The trust inherent in everything Tank had said last night touched Jack to the core. Before he could get wrapped in his head much more, Jack watched as Tank smacked his lips and frowned.

  “Hey sleepyhead,” Jack whispered, just in case Tank really wasn’t awake.

  “Hey,” Tank murmured before he leaned up then abruptly pulled back.

  “What’s wrong?” Jack had thought that Tank was going to give him a good morning kiss. Tank covered his mouth and said something that Jack couldn’t decipher. “What?”

  “Morning breath,” Tank said again and that sent Jack falling off the couch in laughter. It took a minute but Jack got himself under control and stood up.

  “Let me find you an extra toothbrush. Then maybe I can get a good morning kiss?” Jack asked as he left the room, returning after he’d brushed his own teeth and found the extra brush. “Go brush. I’ll start the coffee.”

  Jack was watching the coffee drip into the pot when he heard Tank come up behind him. Then he felt Tank pressed up against his back. Oh, yes!

  “You were saying about a good morning kiss?” Tank asked as he scattered kisses along Jack’s neck. If Tank kept that up much longer, Jack would be in a puddle at his feet.

  “Umm, yes, please?” Jack managed to turn in Tank’s arms and slide his hands up to Tank’s shoulders. Just as he leaned close, his phone went off. Jack dropped his head to Tank’s chest and started swearing up a storm. “Shit, shit, fuck, damn.”

  “Guess you need to answer that?” Jack could tell that Tank was trying valiantly to hold in his laughter.

  “Go on, laugh it up.” Jack pulled away and reached for his phone. “Doctor Dillon… I’ll be there as soon as possible.” Jack pressed the end on the phone and let out a sigh. “I am so sorry that I have to leave. It’s my weekend and a dog’s been… Rain check?”

  “Jack? Don’t feel sorry. It’s not like I don’t know that you can be called away. How many times have you had to leave movie night or dinner? You get ready and go. I’ll straighten up and lock the door behind me. Give me a call and let me know that you and the dog are okay later.”

  Jack looked at Tank from head to toe and seeing the bulge in the scrubs couldn’t believe he was being so understanding. Tank must have felt his gaze since he reached down and adjusted himself. Jack looked up and Tank winked at him.

  “Maybe next time?” Tank teased. Jack reached over and yanked Tank close before sealing his lips over Tank’s. After a quick, but thorough kiss, Jack pushed away and headed down the hall, calling out.

  “Definitely!”

  Chapter Ten

  December

  Tank was standing in the bag claim area of Washington National trying not to fidget. It drove his mother crazy. And since he was waiting for her to appear around the corner, if he moved a finger without a purpose, with his luck, she’d walk up mid-shift. Time to dist
ract himself. Finals had kicked his ass, but he thought he’d done well. Mrs. Luna—yes, he still couldn’t call her Debbie— had been an amazing teacher. He’d learned so much and could see how her ideas on the nutritional needs of children worked with how the twins ate.

  He needed to set his schedule for next semester in the next few days. His mama came a few weeks early for Christmas instead of closer to the holiday. Said she knew he needed his mama. How she knew this across the miles, he wasn’t sure.

  As Tank reached for his phone to check the time, it rang. Looking at the screen made him smile. Jack. “Hey, you. What’s up?”

  “You’ve got to save me. I’m in deep. Please? I’ll owe you favors,” Jack begged.

  “Of course, I’ll help you even without the favors, but I might hold those in reserve for a later date. What’s the emergency? I’m standing at National waiting for Mama—”

  “She’s gotta help, too! Please? Anything.” Okay, now this was strange. Jack had never met his mama so why would he need her help?

  “I can ask. Mama’s going to have some free time and I’m sure she’s not going to want to sit around the hotel room all day. She’s an active woman so—” His mama’s voice cut him off from behind him. When had he turned his back to the conveyor belt?

  “I am an active woman. What are you arranging for me?” Mama asked.

  “Mama! You’re here!” Tank grabbed her up in a big hug and felt something just release inside him.

  “Richard! Put me down and maybe hang up your phone?” Mama suggested.

  “Shi—crap! Jack, let me call you back once I get everything settled. I’ve got to take Mama to the Homewood—”

  “Don’t! Come to my house. Bring her there, please?”

  “Are you okay? The crews? The bugs?” Tank had thought Jack was just being dramatic but something…