Coming Home Read Free

military suit and men either ignore me or salute me. Today they keep telling me ‘thank you for your service’. It makes me proud to be an American when I see this kind of patriotism. They stand back so that I am nearly the first person off of the plane. I say thank you over and over as I pass each person who waited.
    I exit into a tunnel and follow it until I come out into the terminal and see all over the happy smiling facing of the people waiting for their loved ones to come out. I see one face I haven’t seen in two years. I grab his shoulder and pull him in for a hug. He chuckles but returns the hug. I have missed him the last couple of years. He and Sammy are never far from my mind most days.
    “I thought we were meeting in the lounge?” I ask him as I step back so that I can see him clearly.
    “I got bored and a woman in there was not wanting to take no for an answer. I thought I would just come meet you rather than offending her.” I roll my eyes. Trevor is pretty compared to me. I am six foot and two inches tall. I weigh in at about two hundred and twenty five. I am built like I could knock down a building with my bare hands. I have brown hair that is military short. My eyes are hazel green and what some women have told me are bedroom eyes. Like I know what that means. I just know I am more handsome than pretty.
    “Shocking.” I tell him. He could have any woman he wanted in high school yet he only wanted one. The woman we both love. He rolls his eyes back at me like he always does. He never liked the attention. I hope he has gotten more used to it. I doubt it stopped since I left. I look him over. He still looks the same only older. His black hair is combed back and his blue eyes are pale and large. His suit is tailored and that is the major difference.
    His first year in college he discovered a way to make some extra money. He created an app for android and apple phones, for gamblers. He made sure it was legal and launched it last year. It made two point five million in one year. They project that it will triple that this year. Trevor switched his major to computer engineering and is currently working on another app.
    This is on top of what his parents left him. His father killed his mother and then turned the gun on himself, last year. They were selfish even in the way they took their last breaths. Trevor will never have to worry about money. I am comfortable but I am no rich man. I am happy with what I have. The only thing missing from both of our lives is the wife and kids. I am hoping to change that.
    “What did you want to talk about?” I ask as though I do not already know. I start walking and he stays by my side. He sighs and I look over at him.
    “You know what I want to talk about.” He shrugs his shoulders before continuing.
    “I want Sammy and I want your friendship. We need to decide how we are going to handle this.” I can tell that he is nervous about talking about this.
    “I want Sammy too. That never changed and will never change.” I let him know where I stand.
    “So we have two options. The first is unpalatable to me. We see who she wants and the other walks away or we learn to share.” He says and then swallows hard. I do the same. I will admit that I have fantasized about watching them together but that doesn’t mean that I will be able to handle it when it happens in front of me.
    “I will try to share her with you if she agrees. I do not know how I will react seeing you touching her but I will try to remain calm and keep an open mind.” I tell him. He sighs with relief. He must have been worried about my response. I clap him on the back.
    “We will work this out. I promise. I can’t lose either of you.” I tell him honestly.
    “Yes me too.” He tells me honestly. I walk with him toward the luggage carrousel even though I do not have anything but my carry on.
    “Do you have luggage?” He asks me. I shake my head.
    “No, army issue.” I point at my bag.
    “I only