Page 23 of Forever Flirting

“Knock it off – NOW!” Reaper said bluntly, appearing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. “I don’t want to know what happened, nor do I care, but I will tell you this much – ifIlose my computer privileges and cannot talk to my Sophie? I’ll put you both in the clinic with blunt force trauma… am I clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I can’t hear you…” Reaper whispered, cupping his ear pointedly.

“SIR! YES, SIR!” All five men shouted in unison, snapping to attention.

“Good…” Reaper acknowledged. “Now, Maestro - not sure if you have heard, but Reilly is a real piece of work. That miserable man will cancel your leave at the drop of a hat if he gets mad. So, try not to act up before you fly out Friday? Ricochet, you too. Your vacation starts in two weeks, so try not to blow it before you get a break from the worst sandbox in the world… okay?”

As the men filed out of the computer room, Ricochet stopped him, pulling on his shoulder and turning him around. Alex glared openly at the other man.

“Round two?” Alex said simply.

“I’m sorry,” Ricochet said quietly, extending his hand towards him. “It was a cheap shot, and I took it. Family means a lot to me, and mine has fallen apart. I guess I’m kinda jealous that you have someone to call your own, and… it’s just been really tense lately around the barracks.”

Paradox walked backwards right between them and pretended to silently play a violin on his shoulder, smirking at the two men.

“He’s a piece of work…” Ricochet muttered.

“No kidding,” Alex agreed. “And I’m sorry too. No hard feelings?”

… Only to have Sparky follow behind Paradox, playfully playing ‘drums’ loudly on the wall with his palms and fists - causing a few heads to pop out to see what the commotion was.

“Concerto-time… Signore Maestro y Ricochet!” Sparky sang out, causing Alex to roll his eyes at the wild man. That dork was going to get them all in trouble. “Arrivederci! Ciao! Molte belloooo…. Ayeeee-ya-ya-yaaa! Cielito lindo, que a mi me toca! Sing it with me, boys!”

Maestro and Ricochet looked at each other – laughing as several voices began to sing, making up words, recognizing the lilt of the tune.

“Did that big goober just go from speaking in really bad Italian to singing a Mexican folk song?”

“Yes – and yes,” Inferno quipped, walking between them as well, putting his hands above his head and pretending to conduct the warbling voices that were still going as a couple of guys walked out into the shared hallway.

Some were enthusiastically singing, and Sparky had one hand over his heart and the other flung into the air, serenading anyone who would listen.

“That man’s not right in the head…” Alex smiled at Ricochet, who nodded in agreement.

“I think the dude has a crush on whoever he’s talking to online.”

“Must be nice,” Alex muttered, staring down the hallway watching the thin man’s antics as he accepted a hairbrush to use as a microphone, still belting out the lyrics… only to hear a few men hollering ‘shut up’in the distance.

“Must be,” Ricochet said quietly.

CHAPTER8

EVERLY

“Hey Dr. Briscoe…”Everly heard the moment she walked into the examination room to see the couple waiting there with their twins in a stroller.

“Mrs. And Mrs. Petersen,” she smiled congenially. “How are you all doing?”

“Good,” the woman smiled openly, glancing up at the man who was standing there in coveralls. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought Hunter with me today. I usually come to these checkups on my own, but we are going for a picnic this afternoon, so I thought I’d drag my stud-muffin with me…”

Everly chuckled and felt herself blush as she looked away from the guy, hating that she immediately went to ‘check him out,’and didn’t find anything remotely ‘stud-muffin-ish’about him.

Yeah, he was alright, but nothing set her blood to boiling… except a man in an Air Force uniform that smelled like heaven, had the most enchanting hazel eyes, and spoke directly to her soul.

“And how are Michael and Madison?”

“They are doing great.”

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