All the Right Moves(44)

“Already forgotten.”

Mike quietly cleared his throat. “The reason I called, some of us—Towlie, Rufus and maybe Waldo... We’re planning an Alaskan fishing trip. We figured we’d hop a transport to Seattle, rent a plane and then fly to Seward. Book a few one-day charters. My neighbor went last year. He said the halibut and salmon fishing is unreal.”

“When?” John wasn’t into standing around holding a pole, but he knew that bunch. There’d be more to the trip than fishing. “I don’t know when I’ll get more leave.”

“Not right away. We’re in the planning stages.”

“How long a trip?”

“Personally, I’d like to go for ten days, minimum. But Gwen would bitch. But then she’ll complain even if I take off for a week.”

“Ah...come on. You’re still newlyweds.”

“Screw you, Devil.” Mike laughed. “Wait until it’s your turn. Let’s see how you handle being on a short leash.”

“Never happen, buddy.”

“Marriage or the short leash?”

His knee-jerk response was to say both. But that wasn’t true. “Nothing’s slipping around this neck.”

“We’ll see. Half my damn reenlistment bonus is gone, and I only got the check three months ago.” Mike kind of laughed again, but he wasn’t fooling anyone. “Hell, I’m not sure where the money all went.”

John hoped he was exaggerating. They were talking six figures.

“Don’t think I’m complaining about Gwen. I’m not. She likes to look good, and I want her to. It’s just—” His sigh was pure frustration. “I figured I’d better grab some of that bonus for the fishing trip. I can’t remember the last time we all got together. Been a while.”

There was a good reason he couldn’t remember. The five of them had never gone out of town as a group. But John knew the chatter was more about steering the conversation away from Mike’s wife. “Yeah, sounds good,” he said, wondering if he’d still be around. “Let me know once you guys work out the details, and I’ll find out if I can get leave.”

“You’re coming up on reenlistment soon, right?”

John briefly closed his eyes. Why had he thought for one second that it wouldn’t come up? “Yep.”

“Don’t sign until they give you a week off for Alaska.”

“Right.” John knew everyone assumed he was staying put. And why not? He’d be crazy to give up his air force career. He knew that. Trouble was, it didn’t make his decision any easier.

“You got plans for the money?”

“What? I go on leave and everybody slacks off? You have nothing to do but talk on the phone all day?”

Mike told him what he could do to himself, then exhaled into the phone. “That’s right, you’re still single. You don’t have to think one step ahead.”

“I’m single, yeah, but I’m not twelve. I’ll invest.”

“Attaboy, Devil. You always were the brightest of the bunch. Just remember, though...before you buy that diamond ring, choose carefully, my friend. Find a woman who won’t embarrass you, makes you look good, but can stand on her own. And make sure you have a secret bank account,” Mike said, pretending that last part was a joke.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He sure as hell wouldn’t marry someone like Gwen. Or any woman who expected him to toe her line, or begrudge him a trip with the guys. But then being with the right woman meant John would rather stay home with her.

“This Cassie...anything serious there?”

“I haven’t known her long enough.”

“How’d you meet?”

“A bar.”

“That’s where I met Gwen,” Mike said, though he knew that wasn’t news to John. “You meet her parents yet? The bikers?”

John didn’t like where he thought this might be headed. “Did you always meet your dates’ parents when you were single?”

“Hey, I was just curious. You gotta admit she’s not your usual type.”

“No.” He’d give him that much. But then he had to add, “She’s smarter.”

“Jesus, don’t get defensive. I didn’t mean anything. She was interesting, that’s all.”

“Yes, she is.”