Page 5 of Higher Notes

Before we’d finished packing our flights had been booked, along with a rental car and hotel room, and the email with all of that was in our inboxes. Fizzbo didn’t fuck around. Once he decided something it was done.

So it shall be written, so it shall be done. That was Fizzbo’s style.

“Looks like we’re ready to go.” We grabbed our bags, hopped into the waiting car and were off to McCarran to potentially begin the next and final chapter of our lives.

And hopefully that included Jason.

Jason had no clue if or when we were coming. We started the ball rolling with Deuce who thankfully asked no questions. He was far too excited for the break. But there was no hiding how Snipe and I felt for Jason and it would get back to Fizzbo in no time. The more we were around him, the harder it was to hide our feelings and fight the urge to touch him.

We’d kept watchful eyes on him throughout the tours and at Rocktoberfest. Always knew where he was. Always knew what he was doing. His infectious smile and bright attitude, the complete opposite of Snipe and me. Could he handle our grouchy asses?

“You okay over there?” Snipe asked. We talked at length about this before we even approached Jason for the first time in California. “Yeah, just nervously excited, if that makes any sense?”

“Sikes, you know me well enough to know we’re in the same boat. But the biggest question is what will this do to us?”

“What do you want it to do?”

“Bring back the excitement we once had. I’m not unhappy, don’t get me wrong, but I know you feel the same way. It’s like we lost something along the way but are hopefully on the verge of rekindling it.”

For hours at a time Snipe and I could remain silent and think nothing of it just as we had during this flight. We came fromsimilar “children should be seen and not heard”childhoods and exchanged those harsh upbringings at eighteen for a life in the military, never looking back. Hell, I didn’t even know if my blood relatives still existed.

“What if we’re too old for him?” was the first thing Snipe said right as we slipped inside the rental car at Seatac.

“Babe,” it was rare we used terms of endearment and usually only at times when the other required tenderness such as now. “We’re coming out here see if we even mesh. We’ll make sure he’s aware of our ages and the challenges dating us comes with.” He knew all too well what I referred to and grunted. I reached over and squeezed his thigh. “I love you, and no matter what we will always have each other.”

Fear of abandonment was a big one for Snipe. He’d bounced from one abusive foster home to another until he was old enough to enlist. I did much the same, though for me it was asshole parents who should’ve been struck with infertility genes right out of the womb.

“Yeah. Yeah. Okay.”

I couldn’t recall the last time I’d seen him this nervous. Possibly when we first interviewed with Fizzbo. These were the only jobs we were qualified for so if we fucked up, it would be huge. Plus, letting Max down wasn’t a path we cared to tread. Talk about double the pressure. Our friends could be counted on one hand because we trusted very few.

We met Deuce at a diner not far from the warehouse where Chaotic practiced. There wasn’t much to debrief us on and after a quick bite he headed to Seatac while we went to the nearby practice facility in Tacoma.

“Play it cool.” Though I said it aloud, it was meant to calm both of us.

“Play it cool. Check.”

The loud sound of the massive industrial door sliding open turned all four of their heads toward it. So much for a stealthy entrance.Note to self, grab rolling door lubricant and fix it.

“What brings two guards our way?” Nigel asked.

“We’re covering Deuce’s vacation.”

My eyes met Jason’s, and he smiled wide.

“Cool. Great to see you guys.” He bro hugged us as he would any other guy. I wanted more but now wasn’t the time.

“Two for one?” Josh questioned. “Has our status elevated?”

“We do everything together.” What was Snipe thinking sharing that? I’d never seen him this far outside of his comfort zone. He never overshared.

“That answers a lot of questions I’ve had,” Marley said as he continued tuning his base.

“A better question should be since when do we hug our guards?” Nigel didn’t miss a thing. Jason turned beet red, and I almost told Nigel to fuck off, but that would’ve been unprofessional.

“You stay here, and I’ll go check us in at the hotel and drop off our bags.” Snipe grunted then crossed his arms over his chest and stared off. The chance of any perceived threats here was next to none yet still he struck the familiar guard pose. “Deep breath,” I whispered, and his nostrils flared. “I’ll be back in an hour.” Thankfully the hotel wasn’t far, nor did I have to fight the Seattle traffic to get there.

Snipe and I weren’t heavy drinkers. It was too easy to become addicted just to shut the demons up. But he may need a shot or two when we got to Reagan’s just to take the edge off.

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