The Chief by J. Calamy

Author:J. Calamy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, action/adventure, criminals, consulate, military, foreign service, genderfluid, gender-questioning, bisexual, pansexual, PTSD/post-traumatic stress, Cognitive Disability, TBI survivor, Over 40
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2021-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

The women were back in their lunch spot, barely talking. They were tired and still had a long day ahead of them.

Nat rested sideways with her back to the wall, drinking cold mint tea, listening as Denise and Val talked about the new agriculture attaché. He was cute, and he had moved there alone, fresh from his foreign service exam. So, of course, he was prime scuttlebutt.

Not that either of her friends were interested. Denise was hetero-romantic but she didn’t fish off the company pier. And Val had…whatever Val had with Reggie Carter.

No, what they were doing was laying bets. The pool was at six hundred dollars, and Val and Denise were strategizing about where to place Denny’s money. Val did not gamble; she was treating this as an intelligence operation.

“I still think that Marine chick if he is straight, and Rodney from motor pool if he isn’t.”

“Rodney for gay, but Laura in Econ if he’s straight. Nat, who do you have?”

“I have Leon and Laura.”

“What’s that tall Marine’s name again?”

A movement at the front of the café caught her eye, a group of school boys, in their matching white shirts and dark trousers, loud and cheerful.

“Max!”

“What? That’s not her name.”

“No, that’s Corporal Chavez, Idina. I mean, there is Max.”

Max had seen her and was waving. She waved back, perked up considerably. The school uniform made him look much younger. He had on a red tie with a school crest. His pants were too short again, and he wore bright-blue socks.

“Who is that child?” Denise asked.

“That is Alex Benitez’s little brother. He is a literal angel, so be nice.”

“Hello, Chief Chevalier,” Max said shyly as he came up. He pushed his swoop of blond hair behind his ear as he looked at Val and Denise. Nat saw his friends looking but recognized Donovan’s twins and gave them a wave too.

“It’s good to see you, Max,” she said. “I love that bag.”

“Yes, let me see!” Val said. “Oh, wow. Where did you get it?”

“I made it,” Max said, lifting the messenger bag off his shoulder and holding it out. His cheeks had gone red, and he looked at them from under his bangs. “Do you really like it?”

“Max,” Nat said. “This is Valerie Sloan who cannot and would not lie about such a thing. Valerie, this is Max Benitez, who has excellent taste.”

“You sure do,” Val said, taking the bag right out of his hands.

“Oh, thank you,” Max said. “I needed something strong that could survive no matter where I took it. But modern, yes?”

“Could you make me one?” Val asked, shamelessly rooting through his bag, looking at the pockets. “Oh, this is so clever. I have a MacBook. Can it fit?”

“Sí. I have a MacBook also.” Max was looking at Val like the Second Coming. Nat had to admit, that while she was her usual mess, and Denise looked like the power broker she was, Valerie in her bright blouse and trim blue jacket was clearly the snappiest dresser in their group.

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