Then the four day R&R in Qatar. The psychologist
helped, and so did a few rounds of golf. He didn’t expect
the mall to be fun, but that’s when he met Captain Lily.
Straight dark hair. Shining brown eyes. He made her laugh,
which apparently was hard to do, because she told him so.
“I’m glad to be of service, ma’am,” Gabe said.
They went out for drinks with a bunch of people after
that. She sat next to him. She smelled like limes and
cayenne pepper.
***
The next day, a movie theater.
“You look like hell! Why aren’t you in bed?” Lily asked.
“I wanted to see the movie.” He wanted to see Lily.
“Huh. You didn’t mention that last night when I told
you I was going,” Lily grinned.
Gabe just looked at his feet.
“How many times has your wife missed your Skype
dates?” Lily asked.
“Uh. Not that many. How do you know about that?”
Gabe asked.
“Oh, hun. You really did drink a lot last night! You
don’t remember?”
“Uh. What else did I tell you?”
“Enough.”
***
After sitting in the dark about ten minutes, Lily
whispered into Gabe’s ear: “Meet me outside in five.”
Gabe’s ear burned where her lips brushed him.
In the lobby, Lily said: “Follow me, I want to show you
something.”
Lily set off, almost running. Gabe followed a few paces
behind, wondering why she was leaving the theater. She
led him all the way across the street to a hotel.