Free Line of Fire by Simone Anderson Page A

range.
    Hayden shrugged. “Haven’t looked.” He knew Christian had responded. He’d felt the vibration while he’d been lying in the dirt waiting to shoot the target. It was a toss up whether or not he wanted to know what Christian’s answer would be.
    “Well, find out. Alexa was fine with it.”
    Locking his stuff in the vehicle, he pulled out his phone and checked his messages. Christian’s response cut him to the core. Not only no, but hell no and how dare he go behind his back and tell anyone who he was dating. “He said no. Maybe another time,” Hayden said flatly. There would be no other time. Christian wasn’t interested in dating him. He wanted a fuck-buddy. Someone said who would keep his secret. He’d keep Christian’s secret, but he was done being strung along.
    Brian snatched the phone from his hands before he could shove it into his pocket. Brian’s face turned redder the more he read, before finally handing the phone back to Hayden. “Fuck him and the horse he rode in on. Fucktard.”
    Hayden smiled and shook his head at the irony. Brian was angry for him. Hayden was hurt, but he couldn’t bring himself to be at all surprised. “Let it go man, it’s not worth it,” Hayden said, walking toward the small dining facility, a short seven-minute walk from the range.
    “You’re not upset?”
    “I can’t let it get to me. Not here. Not now. This isn’t a major issue with a life partner. It’s just a boyfriend. You know as well as I do that my every action and reaction is going to be watched and judged. To see if I can still do my job. To see if I’m going to crack or break, because heaven for-fucking-bid I’m gay.”
    “Dude—”
    “It’s all good. I’ve spent most of my life proving I’m just as good as any other man. This is no different.”
    “It should be. You shouldn’t have to continue to prove anything.”
    “Should and is are two very different things,” Hayden replied. “Now, can we talk about something beside my love life? Please. Shit, we can even talk about yours.”
    “Wait, you said boyfriend,” Brian said dropping his voice. “As in exclusive?”
    Hayden nodded. “Different subject.”
    The discussion turned to the upcoming pool tournament. Closing the distance to the mess hall, the pair was met by several others. Hayden’s thoughts turned to Christian, wondering what his boyfriend or really his soon-to-be ex-boyfriend was doing. He’d come to the decision that while he was most likely going to break up with Christian, the other man had a right to explain things first.
    “I’ll join you guys in a minute,” Brian said stopping outside the off-white building.
    Hayden nodded and walked inside after reminding his friend that they didn’t have a whole lot of time to eat and get back. Several minutes after Brian joined the group, Hayden’s phone vibrated. Reaching for it, he hesitated before looking at the incoming messages. The simple text message had him giving his best friend a questioning look. Brian shrugged and started talking about the standings of several major league baseball teams. Hayden stared down at his phone.
    I’m sorry. Let’s go out with your friends.
    After asking if Christian was certain, he slid the phone back into his pocket, half-listening to the conversation as he tried to figure out the reason behind his lover’s change of mind. Even after they’d return to the range, he still didn’t have an answer. He’d even asked Brian if he’d said something to Christian, but Brian had only asked on what topic and what day. At least he didn’t have a big worry about what to wear that night. Even if it was their first official date, they’d been together often enough it wasn’t as though he needed to impress his boyfriend. There was also the question of their future together beyond tonight.
    * * * *
    Christian pulled into the parking lot of Hayden’s townhouse and took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. Rubbing his palms on his