Middle Ground (2 page)

The clang of silverware against glass got the attention of the room, and the voices hushed. Megan stood and raised her glass. “Dan’s too shy to say anything so I want to thank everyone for being part of our wedding.” She looked around the room, her eyes resting on their mother. “Thank you, Mom for everything.” She turned her attention to Will. “And I’m so happy my big brother’s here. Will’s always been my hero. He doesn’t need some fancy medal to prove it, but I’m glad the Marines think that he does.” She lifted her wine glass. “To Will and his Medal of Achievement.”

“To Will!” voices called out, followed by clinking glasses.

Will lifted his glass and took a sip of his water, hoping his face wasn’t as red as if felt.

James leaned into his ear. “Don’t let this go to your head, asshole.”

Will snorted, turning his attention to his plate before he felt his eyes pulled to the entrance of the room.

His father stood in the doorway, wearing his uniform, his jaw set in determination. Colonel Michael Davenport assessed the room before his eyes landed on Will.

Will stiffened from years of reflex, lifting his chin in respect. “Megan.”

Her face turned him, her eyes wide. “He’s here,” she whispered. The color left her cheeks and Will wondered if her reaction was relief or fear. Probably a little of both. She stood as he walked across the room, his face stoic as always.

“Colonel, I’m so glad you made it.” The tone of her voice belittled her words.

He stopped next to her and she kissed his cheek, but it was cold compared to the reaction Will had received from her earlier.

“I couldn’t miss my little girl’s wedding. You only get married once.” His gaze landed on Dan, who squirmed under the scrutiny. “Remember that, Morris. Davenports do not get divorced.”

Dan swallowed. “Yes, sir.”

“Thanks for the reminder, Colonel.” Megan’s mouth pursed. “The Morrises have placed you down with them and Mom at the end of the table.”

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. “It’s good to see you, Megan.”

Her eyes softened. “I’m glad you came, Dad.”

He nodded again, then glanced at Will. “Lieutenant, we’ll talk after dinner. We have a lot to catch up on.”

“Yes, sir.”

Megan’s friend leaned over the table and whispered, “Your dad calls you Lieutenant?”

“Yeah.” Will knew it seemed weird to anyone outside of his family, especially since they didn’t live anywhere near a military base. But he and Megan had always called his father by his rank.

The Colonel joined his wife and greeted her with their usual formality. A quick glance to Megan assured him she hadn’t settled for what their parents had. Dan gazed at her with adoration and longing. Will released a sigh of relief.

At least one of Davenports would have a love-filled marriage.

Chapter Two

The rehearsal dinner ended a couple of hours later, but Megan and her friends moved the party to the bar next to the restaurant.  The parents went home, and Will wished he were going with them. He hadn’t seen his mom in months and he’d rather spend time with her than hang out in a bar with people he hardly knew. But she insisted that he stay and have fun. Hanging out in a noisy bar was at the bottom of his list of fun and she knew it, but he suspected she wanted some time alone with the Colonel.

Will sipped his bottle of beer, hoping the cold liquid would settle his nerves. The overwhelming anxiousness that plagued him as a child every time his father came home had carried over to adulthood, even though Will told himself time and time again that he wasn’t the scared little boy he used to be. It was different now.

If only he believed it.

 “God, I’ve missed all of this.” James placed another beer in front of Will and slid into the seat next to him.

Will chuckled. “This was always your element.”

“The lack of ladies is a serious drawback to our career, dude.”

Smirking, Will leaned back in his chair. “No argument there.”

James’s smile faded. “We have to talk.”

Will’s back stiffened, but he winked, trying to ignore the dread burrowing in his gut. “You’re not breaking up with me, are you?”

Casting a glance at the dance floor, James paused. “Kind of.”

He hadn’t expected that.

James took a drink then gripped the bottle with both hands. “A career in the Marines was always your dream, Will. Not mine.”

Will had always been the leader of the two, with James following. Except for the times James instigated mischief.

“You’re not going to reenlist?”

He didn’t answer, shifting in his chair.

“So what are you going to do?”

Leaning forward, James twisted his head to look at Will. “I found out my grandma willed her lake house in Minnesota to me. I’m thinking about becoming a fishing guide.”

“No shit?”

James shrugged and took another drink. “It’s time for a change.”

Will felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. He hadn’t seen this coming. “Look, if this has anything to do with that stupid medal—”

“No.” James shook his head. “That’s you, Will. Being a Marine officer is who you are and what you’re destined to do. You’re a natural-born hero, dude. In the middle of that skirmish, your first instinct was to save those people. My first instinct is to turn tail and run. I fight it every fucking day.” He leaned back and closed his eyes. “I’m done.”

“I…” Will didn’t know what to say. His life plan had been laid out since childhood, but it always included James. What the hell would he do without his best friend?

Lowering his face to Will’s, James narrowed his eyes. “I don’t expect you to quit. This is your life, not mine. I won’t lie and say I like it. The way you just jump into the middle of shit over there, you’re going to get your head blown off. But if you ever decide you’ve had enough, you’re always welcome to live in Minnesota with me.”

Will placed both hands on the table, trying to ground himself.

“I know it’s a lot to take in and I’m sorry I sprang this on you now. I’ve been thinking about it for months but coming home just confirmed my decision.”

James was right. The Marines was Will’s dream. If he were honest with himself, he was surprised James stuck with him this long. “I wish you the best, James.” He meant it.

“Thanks, Will.” James’s usual sarcasm was absent.

They sat in silence for several seconds before James announced, “We need to get laid.”

Will shook his head and laughed. “You know I’m not into one-night stands.”

“Come on, live a little. Finding a woman shouldn’t be too hard for a war hero.”

“Speak for yourself.”

“Just pin your medal to your shirt. That’ll draw the women. How can they resist?”

“Maybe you want to borrow it, since you’re so obsessed with its aphrodisiac qualities.”

James scrunched up his face with a smirk. “Nah. I don’t need any help. You’re the celibate one.”

That wasn’t what Will was looking for and they both knew it. Will searched the dance floor and found his sister laughing with Dan. That was what he was looking for.

Meagan caught Will’s eye from across the room and pointed to Dan, who wore a pained expression. Will had to give him bonus points for trying even though he was the worst dancer on the floor. Megan waved to him, motioning for him to join them. He lifted his bottle in salute and smiled before taking a drink. Will had bought himself a short reprieve. He knew Megan and she’d drag him out onto the dance floor by force before the night was done.

God.

He took a long drink.

James stared at Will with a cocky grin.

That smile usually meant trouble was behind. “What?”

“Trisha’s back in town.”

The hair on the back of Will’s neck prickled. “Oh, yeah?”

James winked. “I figured that would get your attention. Maybe you’ll get laid after all.”

Will ignored his statement. “I thought she moved away.” He hadn’t seen his old girlfriend since they’d broken up several years ago.  “How do you know?”

James pointed with his finger, still holding his beer bottle. “She’s sitting at that table across the room.”

Before he could stop himself, Will’s gaze found her, laughing with two other women. Memories rushed in before he shut them off. Thinking about the past was a waste of time. But the irony that his one and only serious girlfriend showed up out of nowhere on the night he questioned relationships wasn’t lost on him.

James leaned toward him. “Here’s your chance.”

Just because Trisha was back didn’t mean she’d be interested in seeing him, especially since he was the one who’d broken it off. He liked Trisha. He just hadn’t loved her. And
that
had been a huge problem.

“Go talk to her.”

“Oh, hell no.”

One of her friends noticed him and patted Trisha’s arm, then pointed his direction. Trisha’s head turned, the smile on her face falling away.

Will’s stomach clenched. “Oh, shit.”

“Oh shit is right,” James laughed, angling his body in his chair. “I bet you ten bucks she comes over and rips you a new one.”

Leave it to James to find the hilarity in Will’s potential humiliation.

She stood and walked toward them, her face expressionless.

Steeling his shoulders, Will prepared for the worst.

Putting a hand on her hip, she stared at him, narrowing her gaze. “What? You show up in Morgantown, Will Davenport, and you didn’t plan to say anything to me?”

James groaned. “Calm down, Trisha. We just saw you.”

Her attention turned to him. “What a fucking surprise. Look who’s here.  Will can’t take a shit without you waiting to pick it up.”

Clutching his hands to his chest, James tilted his head with a grin. “Ouch, Trish. That really hurt.”

“Shut up, asshole.”

Grabbing his beer, James stood. “This is
just
like old times, so I think I’ll let you two catch up without me.” He slapped a ten-dollar bill on the table, winking at Will.

She watched him walk toward Megan and her friends. “James is still as big a dick as ever, I see.”

Silence seemed the best response.

She sat in the chair that James had abandoned. “Where the hell have you been for four years, Will?”

Will sighed. This was the last thing he needed at the moment. “I’ve been fighting for the land of the free and the brave, while trying to keep my ass from getting blown off. Where the hell do you think I’ve been, Trish?”

She closed her eyes. “God, I’m sorry. James brings out the worst in me.”

“Yeah, he has a way of doing that.”

“You could have written.”

“I didn’t see the point.” He took a long drink of his beer. “I don’t want to fight with you, Trisha, so if you have something you need to get off your chest, go ahead and do it.”