Page 55 of Soaring and Saucy

“Same here, princess. Next Thursday can’t come soon enough.”

16

TROPHY

Lance hung up the phone and looked at the other guys in berthing, giving them a slow nod. He’d spent the last hour putting together a plan and didn’t want to tell Stephanie yet. He called in front of them, not bothering to hide how he felt anymore. He thought she was amazing and couldn’t bear to be without her.

“Thanks for staying quiet.”

“You bet,” Pasteur said simply. “You know we will have your back.”

“I need to talk to Orion and Memphis tomorrow morning when they show up for the meeting in the morning before we go through drills.”

“Speaking for those two twerps, I think you are probably good. They’ll be in on this, too.”

“Does anyone have any questions?”

Five sets of hands went up.

“Seriously?”

“When did you get so disgustingly romantic?”

“Shut up, Tic-Tak…”

“Who knew that ‘Trophy-the-panty-killer’ would fall…”

“Oh my gosh,” Lance exclaimed nervously in a panic. “First off, that’s a cool nickname but makes me sound like a real sleazeball. Secondly, nobody says that… right?” and he looked at them. “They don’t – do they?”

“You do have a reputation with the ladies – or at least you used to.”

“Well, I’m happily committed to my lady… so please do not call me that or even hint at it around her.”

“Commitment and Trophy – in the same sentence?”

“End of the world, yo.”

“I’m gonna buy a lotto ticket…”

“No kidding.”

“Guys? A little confidence – please?”

“Dude, we’ve all seen you in action. Heck, I walked in on you once at a party with two girls.”

“That was one time, and I’ll admit it. I was once a terrible person!” Lance exclaimed in a panic. “That’s the old me – the new me cannot wait to meet my child and hug my wife.”

“Hehe… he said ‘hug,’” Ohio teased, making air quotes with his fingers and rolling his eyes. Lance just glared at him hotly.

“Say what you want around me – but do not repeat it in front of my Stephanie.”

“Why?” Pasteur said softly, meeting his gaze. “Does she mean that much to you that you’ve become a changed man? People go on diets all the time, but they all fail unless it becomes a change in your entire mantra, a lifestyle change. Are you in for the long haul, my friend?”

“I am,” Lance said without hesitating… and smiled, closing his eyes. “Y’all just don’t understand. I mean, how do you even explain it? I walk into the room and look for her immediately. Holding her hand calms something in my soul. I could talk to her for hours about nothing, and her laugh brings a spark of joy that I’ve never felt before,” he opened his eyes, not bothering to hide any of this from his friends, his brothers-in-arms. They were practically his extended family, and he couldn’t wait to update his real one. Maybe they could all visit when the baby comes several months from now. “There is something that is so thrilling knowing her body is going to swell with my child, something we made together, and she’s going to be the sweetest mother I could imagine. I’m really in deep, fellas, and I don’t want help out.”

“You love her, don’t you?” Pasteur smiled, and Lance chuckled nervously.

“I really do – and I never thought I would find someone who just fits me, but man, she takes my breath away.”

---