"Hey Carlito, pass me that wrench." Mack took a swig from his beer bottle and waited for Charlie to get off the phone. Two hours into fixing one damn fine motorcycle and Charlie was getting distracted yet again by some chick.
Mack looked down the street and saw something that sparked his interest. A solitary figure lurking outside the Brown's house, barely visible in the twilight. Bob and Kim were out of town for a week, gone up north for Kim's cousin's wedding. Nobody should be peering in their windows like that, especially with the base on high alert.
Charlie hung up the phone and noticed Mack's interest in the Brown's house. "Let's go check it out bro." Charlie led the way down the block, keeping his eye on the person peering into Bob & Kim's front window. Out of habit, Mack quickly scanned the streets and surrounding houses for anything out of place.
They walked up the drive as she turned around slowly, her side wincing in pain when she moved. She tried to appear relaxed and at ease, but her heart raced when she saw Charlie.
"Well, well, Lisa Brown is back in town!" Mack sung out as he realized it was Bob's younger sister. "What are you doing on base? Bob and Kim won't be home for a few days." Both men immediately noticed something was wrong with the young woman, and it wasn't just that she was lurking in the shadows, face barely visible in a cap pulled down low and oversize sunglasses.
Charlie just stared, his mouth forming a tight line when he saw her. His mind raced back to the summer when they first met. Lisa had spent a few weeks visiting her brother and his family after little Teddy was born. Charlie has fallen for her hard. Harder and faster than he'd ever thought possible. They'd spent a lot of time talking and hanging out, even went out for dinner a few times. But this was Bob's sister and he kept a respectful distance, even though it pained him to do so.
"Hi guys, long time no see." Lisa breathed a little heavier than normal, and it took effort to not stumble as she leaned against the front door to steady herself. "I was hoping to find Kim or Bob home, I guess I forgot they were going away."
"Everything okay with you," asked Mack. He noticed a small overnight bag on the front porch but nothing else. "How'd you get here? Did Bob know you were coming?"
Lisa adjusted her sunglasses, as she turned away, thankful the men couldn't see her eyes as she chose her response carefully. "I had a cab drop me off at the front gate." She paused, sensing rather then seeing the look that passed between her brother's unit members. "Who's got the spare key?"
A gentle rain started to fall as late afternoon became early evening.
"I have it at home," Mack replied. He noticed the look Charlie was giving Lisa and he shook his head slightly. "Why don't you two chit chat and I'll be back in a few minutes." He walked back down the street chuckling to himself and wondering which one of them was going to get their heart broken this time.