Chapter 49

The Marines had been the only place to go, and it in the long run, had made him into the man he was today. He took no guff off anyone and fucked who he wanted. And he had proved to himself he was indeed every inch a real man. He had lived through Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and had even felt more comfortable under the more inclusive nature of the service. He still kept mostly to himself in terms of sexuality. While it may be more inclusive in theory, he still had to serve with a bunch of testosterone-driven colleagues.

Stephen had been the first and only person since he joined the Marines that he started thinking of as a friend. They had been through a few very hairy missions together and he had been there when Stephen met Jessie. And it was Jessie and Stephen’s reaction to Ian that had precipitated the conversation about his own sexuality.