Page 37 of Higher Notes

“A couple years later. Saved my ass. I nearly got taken down on my first tour in Afghanistan.”

“First tour?”

“Yup. We did three in total. Hadn’t seen him before and yet we’d been in the same battalion. After that it seemed like we were on the same paths all the time. Next thing you know we were on the same fire team. Having a dead aim is both a blessing and a curse.” Snipe silently finished off his water as he once again stared off. Not so much in distress this time but deeper in thought. “That was that.”

What did one say to something like that? Were words even necessary or was I just the ear he needed to bend? I was good with that, just didn’t want to say or do the wrong thing.

“The first couple of years out, adjusting to civilian life was hell. More than once I wondered if we’d done the wrong thing by retiring. It was all I knew. The only job I ever had and with a regimented discipline it was like being tucked in nice and tight. No room for error or you lost your life. Sikes keeps me that way. That amazing man handles everything for us. He barks and I stand at attention. He’s everything I’ve ever needed without knowing I needed it. Does that make sense?”

“More than you know. I’m beginning to see the same in both of you. I thought I was good to go, just living and waiting for the break. I knew what I wanted for my family but no clue where to start. Then you guys came along and made the decisions for me.”

“That’s not necessarily a good thing.”

“In this case it is. I’ve been working forever just for us to survive. No time to focus on what I wanted out of life aside from the band. I’m not shopping for a daddy, but I do like not having to worry about making so many decisions anymore. I want to focus on the music and know that everyone I love is safe and taken care of. That’s hard to do while juggling a career.”

“Well, Sikes is the right one to keep us both in line. Between you and me, he’s always wanted a family of his own and he’s definitely the alpha in our relationship even though we both look the part.”

Note to self, not all that appeared to be alphas were alphas.

“Well, I think the three of us bring a nice balance to the trio. Watching you guys with my brothers and sister really struck me hard. We may be moving fast but it works for everyone, and I love how we all fell into place. Know what I mean?”

“I do,” Sikes said as he walked up to us. “We all good?”

“Yeah, we’re good. Is it time to board?” I was glad Snipe answered, that was really who Sikes wanted to hear from.

“Just about. They’re sending a cart to take us to the gate. Jason, you’re beside Snipe seat wise and I’m across the aisle from you.” Sikes didn’t need to say any more. He wanted to be on guard while Snipe hopefully relaxed.

“Sounds good.”

Chapter Eleven

Sikes

“Home sweet, temporary home.” Oddly enough, the apartment we’d lived in for years had never truly felt like a home. More of a stop along the way only since we didn’t know what the future held. Now we had everything to look forward to.

“Hey, it’s a roof over your head and very clean.” Jason was spot on with that assessment. Given his home life I felt like a jackass for saying what I did.

“You can take the men out of the military but it’s hard to take a twenty-year regimen out of the men.” Glad to see Snipe lighten up. It was a bit touch-and-go at the airport but when I came back after notifying our therapist he and Jason were talking, and the tension had left his body. Sikes and I had a direct line to the doc, a way to keep each other in check and her notified of any challenges that arose.

I couldn’t remember the last time something triggered Snipe while awake let alone in an airport. Maybe all these changes at once overwhelmed him more than he let on.

No time like the present to get down to it while in the privacy of our place.

“Wanna tell me what happened back there?”

Snipe plopped down on the sofa and sighed.

“Fuck, man, I wish I knew. I mean, we’re around crowds all the time with the principals but yet we’re not, ya know? The civilians are away from the guys and when they sign after the shows they’re kept in an orderly, uniform line. Rocktoberfest we’re surrounded by other guards and bands and the way the tents are set up it reminds me of the barracks, so it’s familiar.”

“We’ve been in airports a million times and you’ve never had this reaction.” At least not to this extent.

“I don’t know. What did the doc say?”

“She’s increasing your med slightly. She called in a new Rx we can pick up tomorrow before we leave. Once we’re settled at Mickey’s she wants to do a zoom call.”

“Can, um, can Jason be on it, too?”

“I think that’s a great idea. We’ll work it around his band’s schedule.”

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