But, now I think you and he are just best buds. He loves you, Chloe, he really does. But, it's sort of how he loves me." Ah, fuck," was all I could mu...ster.That night in my smelly mattress on the floor in my dark, shared room, I thought about what Syd suggested. Logically it made sense. Emotionally it made my insides turn to liquid.In the morning, before I headed out to the theater, I asked my roomies if they were willing to be my mock audience. I think they all reacted the same way—wanting to. Even now in his late fifties, he still displayed all the traits that had made him a hero to the navy but also to the public.The excitement slowly died down again, and the officers and crew of HMS Clyde resumed their routine tasks. Once Eckleson had returned to Wolverine, Thomas had flag signals hoisted to invite him and his senior officer to dinner. Of course, Eckleson accepted, and Thomas had Bartleby prepare dinner from the best of the cabin stores. It was a pity that Northumberland was still. .. normal," Jahke looked up at Sitka, "Is that OK?" Anything you want." Beef and beans?" Tobias suggested, already pulling pans and spoons from their hiding places.Zai and Sitka began and conversation that Jahke didn't catch the beginning of and so failed to follow and Shindae joined them, serving out a bowlful of whatever exotic smelling thing Tobias had been cooking.Jahke refused to let go of Sitka as they ate, one handed, at the breakfast bar. Jahke rubbed his shoulder where his wounds ached. “What the fuck, Brian?” She ran her hand down my back and swung off the bed the same way I was getting off. “You haven’t called me Mel, not once. You haven’t--Oh shit!” She wrapped her warm body around my shoulders and hugged me. “Valentine’s Day? It’s April, Brian.”“What? No, I mean ... Are any of the babies born yet?” I panicked.“No, not yet.” She kissed my neck. “Let’s get you a drink. I’ll call to the island and warn everyone.”“I’m sorry I called you Mel. I should’ve known.”“We hardly had a.