Chapter 10: Not so Easy

Eric was sitting next to Taylor in a small coffee shop in Turtle Cove. Max and Danny were sitting across from them at their table. Max was keeping up an animated monologue of his latest bowling game. No one was really listening, but the chatter suited Eric just fine. Taylor had been quiet and somewhat distant for the past week. If it hadn't been for Cole and Alyssa inviting them all here to share some important wedding news, he wasn't sure he would've even gotten to see Taylor this week. He almost felt like she'd been avoiding him.

Taylor was sitting back in her chair with her arms crossed over her chest. "Where are they?" she asked.

"It should be any minute now," Danny replied.

As if on cue, Cole and Alyssa walked in and Taylor watched as Max and Danny jumped out of their chairs to greet their friends. "So? What's the big news?" Max asked as they sat down.

"Well, we have finally settled on a date," Alyssa announced happily as she held onto Cole's hand.

"When is it?" Danny asked.

"We were talking about March 20th, first day of spring," Cole replied.

"Oh and Taylor, you'll be my maid of honor of course," Alyssa added to Cole's announcement.

Taylor winced, lowering her head a little bit. "I can't," she told them, making her friends look at her.

"If it's about the dress, you can wear your uniform for all we care. We're keeping it informal. But I can't do this without my best girlfriend by my side." Alyssa assured her.

Taylor lifted her head and looked at her friends, but avoiding eye contact with Eric. "I'm being deployed," she replied. Everyone was silent, but Taylor gave her friends the best smile she could give.

"We can hold off until you come home," Alyssa answered immediately.

"No, don't push your wedding off because of me," Taylor insisted.

"Taylor, didn't I just say I wasn't doing this without you there. Anyway... I was going to move in with Cole... But with you deploying, I don't want you to have to worry about storing your stuff. We're pushing the wedding back till after your return and allow for some time for you to find a new apartment," Alyssa insisted.

Alyssa hugged her tight and Taylor couldn't help but smile just a little bit as she hugged her back. Then the others surrounded her to hug her.

Eric was driving back to his place with Taylor in the passenger's seat. "Myers, this is not the way to my apartment," Taylor pointed out annoyed.

"Your place you can continue avoiding me, my place you can't," Eric shrugged, keeping his eyes firmly on the road.

Taylor let out a deep breath and stared out the window. "Say something," Taylor demanded after the silence stretched too long.

"Speed limit," Eric replied innocently.

Taylor hit him in the shoulder. "Not that kind of something."

"What do you want me to say? I was a marine before I joined the Silver Guardians. I know how deployment works and how little say you have in it." He explained.

Taylor was silent again, crossing her arms over her chest. She let out a deep breath, leaning back in the seat. She ran her hands over her face when Eric reached over and he grasped her hand in his. Giving her the silent support that she needed.

The ride back home was silent a little longer, but then Taylor let out a deep breath. "What?" he asked. Taylor glanced at him and released his hand, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I've been doing some thinking," she replied.

"This isn't fair to you."

"What's not fair to me?" Eric asked confused.

"This, us, my deployment."

"I knew what I was getting into," Eric shrugged. "I'll survive."

"I don't want to tie you down while I'm away."

"You're not."

"Well, with the way this relationship has been going... I'm not sure you can keep it in your pants that long," Taylor stated bluntly.

"I can and I will. I'm not going to cheat because you're away for a while."

"Past experiences don't agree with you. I was deployed once before, it got me my promotion. And I was in a relationship at the time, longer than we have been now. I came home, we started celebrating and suddenly there's this woman at the door telling him she's pregnant. He's not even denying the possibility of being the father. I don't want to repeat that experience ever again."

"For one, you wouldn't have to worry about me getting anyone pregnant," Eric grinned at her. "But if it makes you feel better, fine, we'll break up. But I promise you, I will keep it in my pants whole you're away. You can check on me with Wes if it makes you feel better. But you promise me that if I do, you come right back to me when you get back home. And you keep it in your pants too out there. No romps with Masen just because you feel the itch."

"I can do that," Taylor smiled at him fondly. "Now can you take me home?"

"I am."

"My home, we just broke up, remember."

"No, we didn't. We're not breaking up until the day you deploy," Eric gave her a wicked smile. "And if I'm going to be a good boy while you're away, I better get what I can while you're still here."

Taylor laughed through the tears that sprang into her eyes. If anything, at least she had something to hold onto while she was away.

They reached his trailer, Eric got out of the truck and Taylor walked over to him. As soon as she was close enough, Eric pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. "When are you leaving exactly?" he muttered against her lips.

"Saturday," she replied.

Eric pulled back and fished his mobile phone from his pocket, sending a quick text to someone. Taylor looked at his questioningly.

"Wes," Eric shrugged. "Letting him know I'm taking the week off. He'll be thrilled. Always pushing me to cash in my vacation hours."

"And why are you taking the week off, Myers?" she asked.

"So I'm spending every moment I still can with you. I do need something to tie me over while you're deployed." He replied.

Taylor raised her brow, but then Eric took her into the trailer.

Two days later, Taylor was wearing one of Eric's shirts while he was still asleep. She was taking advantage of the few minutes she had where they weren't going at it like animals. She had so many hickeys and bite marks she couldn't figure out how she would explain this to her squadron on Saturday. She had to admit, the one thing Eric Myers knew what to do was please a woman. Eric walked out of the bedroom wearing his boxer shorts. "Morning," he greeted as he walked over.

"Morning," she replied.

She jumped when he playfully grabbed her ass when he walked by her to get to the coffee pot. "Well there were some positions that we never tried before," She commented. Eric smirked as he took a seat at the counter.

"Should I take that as a compliment?" he asked.

"I wasn't complaining was I?" she replied with a smirk.

Eric walked over and he kissed her deeply as his answer. Taylor kissed him back, setting the cup on the counter next to her so it didn't spill. "As much as I enjoy keeping you here," Eric grinned. "We do need to get out of the house. If we want to keep eating, we'll need to get groceries."

"Well, I can't keep wearing your clothes either. How long are you planning on keeping me here?"

"How long can you stay?"

"Masen's picking me up from my apartment the day we deploy, otherwise I'm free."

"Then I'm keeping you here till then and sleep over that last night at your place."

Taylor rolled her eyes at him, but smiled. "Lunch in Turtle Cove? Pick up some of my clothes and groceries on the way back? And maybe dinner at your diner tonight and catch a movie?" Eric smiled at her.

"That sounds like the perfect day," he replied.

They walked back to his room to get ready for their day.

That Saturday, Masen was sitting in his car waiting for Taylor.

In her bedroom, Taylor had finished putting on her uniform and Eric was still lying in bed. Walking over, she stared at what she thought was his sleeping form. Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to his temple. She stood up to leave, letting out a deep breath. "Earhardt," Eric muttered into his pillow, making her stop, "Don't get yourself killed." She bit her lower lip, glancing back at him as he turned over and went back to sleep.

Walking outside, she made her way over to Masen's car. "Ready, Captain?" he asked.

"Ready as I ever will be," she replied as she got in the car.

Masen started up the car and drove off. What they didn't notice was Eric watching her leave from her bedroom window. He turned around and went back in to get dressed and go back home.