Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Chapter 30

If the Naval Party was an episode of 90219, the critics would call it over the top.

Point Loma Heights sparkled like prom night, a hilly extension of the ripples twinkling silver and gold under the moon and the Marina lights. Sprinkled around tables of butter yellow and shiny silverware, the guests looked dapper in their olive alpha dresses or white suits and rouged dates at hand. Soft elevator jazz rose from speakers working overtime against the excited buzz of three hundred Marines and sailors, united by the promise of free food and drinks. With the three huge insignia celebrating the United States Marines, the Navy and the Coast Guard, plus the star-spangle- banners overload, the venue resembled a war movie set; one of those with pin-ups painted on the fuselage of fighter jets and hero high school boys happy to die for the homeland. Mr. Green would have been brought to tears.

Too bad twenty minutes after the buffet opening time, Cheryl wasn't there yet. If she missed it, she could never report the patriotic effort put into feeding all those honorable men and their dates. She had better hurry. Or not. It wasn't like her presence would add any meaning to the evening, especially since Samuel was such an uninteresting afterthought. Would he miss the party just to avoid him? If he did, then Rivers was way more relevant to Samuel than he showed. So maybe they wouldn't show up. That would be a silver lining to his absence, a win even...

"So you two are making it official?"

River's clammy palm turned cold when Ben's voice snapped Leah's hand away like an elastic band. Her hot fingers had worked like a pacifier to soothe their blaring souls, but the spontaneity of the gesture had betrayed them. On stage, a play of happiness hid the main character's struggles named Samuel and Dennis, but behind the curtains, hearts were breaking.

Leah occupied her hands with a cram napkin. "Stop being a dick. I'm not in the mood tonight."

Ben settled on his chair between his sister and Tessa, placing a bawl of salad in front of him. "What happened?"

Across the table, Izy and Dennis shared each other's food like Lady and the Tramp. Leah set her eyes on her brother to avoid her living nightmare.

"Nothing. I just got my period. Terrible bleeding. Huge clots."

Ben pushed the salad away. "Come on, Lee. We're eating."

Tessa sniggered from behind a very fitting Bloody Mary and her blonde tight curls bounced around her caramel face as she shook her head. "This guy has been at war, yet is squeamish at the thought of some blood." Her coquettish gaze rose to meet Ben's; only affection in her emerald eyes.

Rivers stubbed a carrot and bit his tongue. While her hero boyfriend had technically been to war, the only blood he'd seen was from the fist fights the tedium of the desert had brought on. But chances were that in his tales, Ben had soloed Desert Storm.

"I'm not squeamish." How dare you imply I have weaknesses? "I know it's a natural thing, but so are all other bodily functions and you don't see me bring them up in casual conversations."

Tessa chuckled. "You're such a child."

"Shut up, you silly sausage." Ben pulled her to his side, and her petite figure disappeared against him. He kissed the top of her head with the gentleness of a kid petting a kitty. In this surreal world where Samuel wasn't straight, Ben was high on love and affection. The Land of Hypocrisy had two new kings.

Leah glanced at Rivers. What the actual...

Rivers glanced back. Don't even.

"Oh, Tess, I meant to ask you; did you hear anything from the bank?" Izy's question put an end to the frightening cooing.