Page 2 of Point of Contact

Just let him come home, Trevor prayed. Please, God, just let him come home to me.

* * *

Trevor flipped the burgers before grabbing some tongs to turn the brats, listening to the sounds of merriment coming from the pool behind him. The eight young men in attendance seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the trash talk was flowing, thanks to the beer. Trevor, standing at the grill not far away with his back to them, was getting an earful. “What we need now are some girls,” someone commented lazily, and there were several grunts of agreement.

“I could call Brittany to come over.” Trevor recognized Jesse’s voice. “She fills out a bikini like you wouldn’t believe. Huge tits.”

“Fuck yeah, man, call her. Tell her to bring some friends.”

“Fuckin’ A, let’s get some chicks out here.”

Riley’s voice. “Nah, man. My dad won’t let us have girls over.”

Loud exclamations of disgust, and then Riley gave a loud belch. “Look, I was pushing it to get the keg, assholes. Beer now, girls later. I figure that’s what Italy is for.” Trevor glanced over his shoulder in time to see Riley, standing at the edge of the pool, waggle his eyebrows and do a sort of swiveling hip thrust.

“Hell yeah.” A guy named Smitty reached over and high-fived Riley. “We’re gonna rock their worlds, bro.”

Trevor turned back around to hide his grimace. Sorry, ladies. A bunch of cocky, drunken idiots are the last thing you need.

“Hey, Estes, you a trust fund baby or something?” This from a dude Trevor thought was named Enriquez. “Your dad loaded? This house kicks ass.”

Riley’s voice got louder as he headed to the keg set up not far from where Trevor was standing. “Just works hard, man. He’s an accountant, does rich people’s taxes and shit.”

“This backyard is something else. Never seen anything like it.”

Trevor looked around the backyard as if seeing it for the first time. It was large, meticulously landscaped. The custom pool was built in the style of a rock grotto, complete with waterfall and a “cave.” An elevated hot tub was set to one side of the waterfall, with some lush greenery giving the whole thing a tropical effect. Trevor was grilling in the elaborate outdoor kitchen, which included a wet bar boasting a granite countertop and four leather stools. White Christmas lights were woven through the trees and the latticework over the porch year-round, giving the whole backyard a cozy yet cheery effect. He loved it.

“Well, even if we can’t have girls, fuckin’ awesome house and fuckin’ awesome party, dude,” Smitty shouted from the pool.

“Thanks, bro,” Riley said, coming around behind the bar to switch on the outdoor surround sound system, the satellite radio set to a contemporary pop station. Speakers cunningly disguised as rocks piped the music throughout the backyard, and soon the sound of splashing and yelling once again filled the air.

Riley clapped Trevor on the shoulder as he passed, throwing him a cheeky grin and a wink.

God, I love you, kid.

His heart full, Trevor watched as he set his beer down on one of the many small tables dotting the pool decking and dove with a whoop into the deep end, joining the water volleyball game in progress.

The French doors opened and Carl emerged from the house carrying a huge bowl of potato salad and a plate full of sliced tomatoes and lettuce leaves for the burgers. A few more trips with condiments, chips, plates and utensils, and the top of the bar was soon set up buffet-style. As Carl passed behind him, Trevor turned and caught him around his trim waist, pulling him close and giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

“Thanks,” he murmured, and Carl reached up to pat Trevor’s cheek before pulling away.

As Trevor slid the cooked burgers onto an empty plate, he caught a glimpse of Jesse watching him narrowly with a deep scowl on his face. Uh-oh. Great. Riley has a homophobe for a roommate. Trevor ignored him, setting the plates of steaming burgers and brats down before bellowing, “Come eat, boys!”

A mad rush from the pool, towels grabbed and wrapped around waists, and soon chattering, dripping young men were gathered under the covered porch, piling plates high with food. They retreated to sit on the chairs ringing the pool, stuffing their faces like they hadn’t eaten for a week.

Trevor shook his head, heading inside to grab some more burger patties from the fridge, his grill duty apparently not done for the day.

“Your dad is a fuckin’ grill boss, Riles.” The words were muffled as the speaker mumbled around whatever was crammed into his mouth. Trevor smiled to himself. He loved to cook, had even taken a few classes at the local culinary school. Nice to hear his efforts were appreciated.

The food was consumed as fast as Trevor could grill it, and he wondered where they put it all. Everyone was in great shape: lean, fit bodies honed by hours of PT and Army training.

How many of them would come home in one piece...or in a body bag?

Trevor refused to let his mind go there, using a wire brush to scrub the grill’s grate viciously until sweat was dripping off the end of his nose and the muscles in his arm burned. He tossed the brush aside and braced his palms against the bar top, breathing hard.

“What’s up?” Carl handed Trevor a plastic bottle of water, watching while he gulped it down. Trevor shook his head and swiped the back of his hand over his mouth before tossing the empty bottle into the recycling bin.

“You have to let him go, Trev,” Carl continued, reading the expression on Trevor’s face. “We’ve been over and over this. Riley’s an adult, and going into the Army was his choice—”