Page 18 of Decorated

“If you were in the office today, I would sit down and discuss it with you now, but I respect your time off. We need to talk first thing tomorrow morning, though.”

“I can manage that,” Alfie said, frowning a bit. His insides suddenly felt tight and fluttery.

“The commission I dangled in front of you might be available sooner than I anticipated,” Parker went on. “You would need to be available to report for duty in Cyprus early in the new year.”

Alfie hesitated, the fluttering in his gut starting to spread. “I see, sir.”

He turned to watch Blaine continue with the decorations as Parker went on with, “This would represent a significant promotion,LieutenantSpears.”

Alfie blinked. That wasn’t a slip on Parker’s part, it was a carrot he was dangling in front of him. After all the hard work Alfie had put into his career for the last ten years, a commission and promotion to lieutenant would be a big deal. But was it what he really wanted now?

He’d stayed silent too long.

“Anyhow, think about it and we’ll talk tomorrow, if not before,” Parker said. “I’ll fill you in on all the details then.”

“Thank you, sir,” Alfie said.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Parker ended the call. Alfie took a deep breath as he stared at his phone, then slipped it back into his pocket.

“What was that all about?” Blaine asked, genuine concern in his expression, as Alfie returned to the tree. “You look unsettled.”

“I’m—” Alfie stopped himself from saying he was fine.

He stared at Blaine for a moment, then took a deep breath and made a decision, potentially a big one.

“Last year, I put in my notice to leave the RAF,” he said, taking up another handful of tinsel to drape over branches, even though Blaine had the whole thing mostly covered.

“Last yearlast year?” Blaine asked, following him as he traveled around the tree.

“The RAF requires one year’s notice from all personnel wishing to transition back into civilian life,” he said. “I gave that notice last year, effective December thirty-first this year.”

“Oh,” Blaine said, looking surprised, and maybe excited. “So you wouldn’t be a soldier anymore?”

“I’d be in the reserves for a while, but to keep things simple, let’s say yes.”

He finished with the last of the tinsel and didn’t have anything else to do but face Blaine and explain more.

“What would you do instead of serving?” Blaine asked before he could get there.

“I don’t know,” Alfie admitted. “I’ve spent the last year trying to figure that out. I haven’t come to any conclusions.”

“Could you become a commercial airline pilot?” Blaine asked. “You flew those big planes, after all.”

“I definitely could,” Alfie said. “A lot of former RAF pilots do just that. But I don’t know…I feel like I want to go in a completely different direction. There were things that happened in my time in service, things that happened in Afghanistan, that I’d rather move away from.”

“Shit,” Blaine said, looking suddenly panicked. “Do you have PTSD or something? Does flying trigger you now or some shit like that?”

“No,” Alfie laughed, appreciating Blaine’s concern for him. “I did see things that I can’t unsee. It wasn’t all just a bed of roses during my service. But I’ve been in therapy over it all, and I’ve learned how to cope with it. Better than some, at least.”

“So what do you want to do, then?” Blaine took a small step closer to him.

Alfie shrugged. “That’s what I have to figure out. I thought I had time to plan the rest of my life, but December thirty-first is just around the corner, and…and now my commanding officer has come to me with an offer to accept a position as a commissioned officer instead of leaving.”

Blaine settled his weight on one hip in that way he had that made him look younger than Alfie thought he was. “But that would mean staying in the RAF, right?”

“And accepting an assignment in Cyprus,” Alfie said with a nod.

For the briefest of seconds, Blaine looked bereft. It was adorable and flattering.

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