Trouble Triangle (Tyler's Trouble Trilogy) by Travis Casey Page A

being under her thumb. I couldn't deal with it anymore. She had to go. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, reminding myself to duck if she started throwing things.
    "Umm…Holly, can we talk a minute? I'm not so sure that we, umm…what I mean is—"
    "Oh-My-God. Wait." She held up her open palm. "Before you say whatever it is you want to say, I'm going to say something. I know you're with me because you like me. I don't know, maybe you even like love me. I'm sure the fact that I risked my military career for you has nothing to do with our relationship. I'm quite happy to sit in my office and make sure that nothing else from the Fort Wayne Navy recruiter's office finds its way onto Lieutenant Johnson's desk. That's what girlfriends do for their boyfriends. Right?"
    "I guess so. Sure."
    She patted my leg and smiled. "As long as we're clear about or relationship. I'm sure we both want the same things, right?"
    I forced myself to nod.
    "Okay, like what did you want to say?"
    I wiped what felt like a torrent of sweat from my forehead. "I just wanted to say how much I care about you. I get a little nervous when I try to talk about emotions and stuff. That's why maybe I seemed a little hesitant at first. But yeah, we're cool and I think you're great." I leaned over and kissed her.
    "How sweet. That's what I like to hear." Her smile and the look in her eyes said, 'I got you by the short and curlies '. "Did you bring your swimming trunks like I told you?"
    "Yeah. They're in my overnight bag."
    "Good. Let's get changed and go to the beach. I know a secluded place on the other side of the island. If you're a good boy, I might let you make love to me on the beach." She stroked my cheek with the back of her hand.
    Make love? "I can't believe how lucky I am, Holly. Good looking, smart, adventurous. You're everything a guy could want."
    She patted my cheek. "I know. That's what you get for going out with an older woman. "
    #
    Mark laid on his bed as I nervously changed into civilian clothes after work the day after I last saw Holly. My head was all over the place as to what I was suppose d to be doing to whom and when.
    "So, who's the lucky lesbian tonight?" Mark asked.
    I pulled up a chair next to his bed and sat down. "Can I talk to you a minute? I can trust you, right?"
    Mark rolled over to lay on his side, propped his head in his hand, elbow resting on the bed and looked at me. "Let's see. You got me involved in a barroom brawl, all because you wanted to stuff some stripper on stage. I constantly lie to your girlfriend for you to keep you out of the shit. You told me you lied on your enlistment papers, almost got kicked out, but had your girlfriend make up false documents to keep your butt in. And you cheated on your girlfriend with her former lesbian lover. I don't know. You sure you can trust me?"
    "Touché. That's French for shut up. What am I going to do about Holly? Man, the chick's driving me crazy. Now I need her permission to go anywhere without her. Last week she said she thinks I drink too much. She's really tightening the screws, and more or less told me if I dump her, some more papers might find their way to the division officer saying that I'm not the saint everyone thinks I am."
    "I told you blackmail was a poor foundation for a relationship. She's got it over you, man." He held a finger up. "But don't forget, her fingerprints are all over the crime scene as well. You could remind her of that, then dump her."
    "Yeah, I could. Pretty risky though. She really did save my ass." I dropped my look toward the floor. "I'd feel guilty if I did that."
    "You? Feel guilty? Give me a break. I've never heard anything more ridiculous in my life. There's more chance of the Japs bombing this place again before you'd ever feel guilt."
    I looked up. "Well, you know what I mean."
    "No, I don't, actually. Seriously, Tyler, you're my friend. We have a great laugh together, and you know I'd do anything for you. But I think you' ve had some