Can't Say Goodbye

by Eden Finley

We’ve known the rules all along, but we broke them anyway. Repeatedly. We tell ourselves it’s nothing because we only ever hook up when someone else is involved, and we’re not a couple. We’re best friends. Roommates. And I fucking hate it. Because Prescott is my world. He’s my rock. Hell, he’s the only family I have.

The media would be a frenzy of drama and negativity—something the Talon-Miller family does not need. Sinful Marcus Talon and Shane Miller raised sexual deviants. Cue all the conservatives clutching their pearls and making arguments as to why queer people shouldn’t raise kids.

“You’ll always be my best friend,” I say. “Distance won’t change that. And the once-a-year thing sounds great.” He nods. “Once a year. Only on leave.”

How dare they not randomly come to New York and surprise me even though they don’t know where I live, whether or not I’d be in town, or if I’m seeing anyone. Why does spontaneity need to be all logical?

Real families don’t turn their backs on each other. And if they do hurt Brady, I know about a hundred different ways to kill a man. Prison would be worth it.

Prescott smiles over Brady’s shoulder at me. “Hey, that’s a bonus about hanging out with Brady’s family. We’re no longer the old guys.” “Oh, you’re still old. Just not as old as them.” He waves a finger in the direction of his parents.

I don’t need to look back to know what it is. “You like it when Brady’s possessive, huh?” “I love it, and I haven’t been able to do anything about it since the accident. Please take me home and take advantage of me in my poor, injured state.”

The fun part about the military is that even though they give you plenty of time to recover, they never pressure you into going back too early. And by fun, I mean horrible. And by plenty of time, I mean the bare minimum. And by no pressure, I really mean guilting you into deploying with your team last-minute or face reassignment.

Having someone relying on you to come home is new to me. Before, with Kit, he’d be right beside me out here. I don’t know how the married guys do it. My mind is on my boyfriends when it should be on the mission.

No matter how many times you say in a relationship, “We’ll make it work. We’ll make it work,” it’s not that simple. Time, distance, random weekend visits … it’s really not the most fun way to spend the first year of our relationship.

“I’d say I regret letting him train me, but it’s how we fell in love, so I guess I can’t complain.”