A Love Like War

My eyes came into focus, the sight of Cortana in Halo 4 caught in my line of vision. I wondered how developers could possibly make the chicks in video games so attractive, but only for a moment.
A familiar smell had intruded underneath the bottom of my door. Biscuits and chicken... Chic-Fil-a. I swung my feet over the side of my bed and gathered myself up.
Taylor and Jack were sitting at the kitchen table.
"Good morning, Alex," Taylor said with a lilt in her voice. "Would you like some coffee?"
"Uh, sure, babe, I'd love a cup," I said scratching my disheveled hair.
She got up, planting three kisses on top of Alex's cranium.
"Have some breakfast dude," Jack motioned to the array of chicken biscuits, pancakes, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns in front of him.
Taylor brought me my mug of coffee as I sat down to eat.
"Tay, baby, could you leave the room for a little while? I've gotta talk to Alex," Jack asked.
"But... but I..." Taylor stammered, gripping Jack's hand.
"Tay, please."
Taylor looked down at her watch, "Shit," she muttered. "I've gotta get to work, anyway. You gonna come spend the day with me still?"
"Of course, my love," he replied.
"Okay," She grabbed her purse off of the counter.
"I really shouldn't..." she stared at the chicken biscuits pilled on the counter. "I've already eaten three... Fuck it," She grabbed one and gave Jack a kiss and then pranced her ass around the table to give me one. "Bye guys, I love you."
"Love you, too," We said in perfect sync.
"What's with Taylor?" I asked, biting into my biscuit, the warm doughy texture sending my taste buds on a journey.
"I'm leaving for Parris Island, South Carolina tomorrow morning for basic training in the marine corps. I haven't worked for Blizzard in months."
I practically choked on the piece of chicken in my mouth, "What?" I coughed out. I was at a loss for words, that meant... "So, you're telling me that tomorrow I may be losing my best friend for the rest of my life?"
"No. It's just basic training. Then afterward, I'll be deployed, depending on if they need me or not."
"But what about Taylor? Have you told her already? You shouldn't keep this from her. WAIT! I understand this now. The relationship... All of this... It's cause you're leaving.." I suddenly realized why he wanted me in in the first place. "You don't trust Taylor and me, do you?"
"I did, I do-"
"No. You figured I was just gonna fuck your girl anyway. You don't think I have any fucking respect for you, do you?!" I stood up in a furious rage.
"ALEX! Calm the fuck down! Shit. It's not even like that. Tay knows, that's why I'm going to spend the day with her at the shop," he explained.
"Oh...:" I commented, sitting back down, backing off from my previous accusations.
"I do trust you and Taylor, but I'm gonna be honest, I know you like me, but I know you like Taylor a lot more. That's why I asked you to date us. I didn't want her to know. I do like you still, 'Lex, don't get me wrong, but I chose you so that you could keep Taylor around while I'm away. So that she won't leave. I can't lose her. I'd much rather have her fucking around with someone I know is clean, who won't hurt and disrespect her. Who will treat her the way she deserves to be treated."
'Unlike you,' I thought to myself.
"Unlike me.. unlike the way I should've been towards her all along."
'Creepy.'
"Taylor's different than all the others unlike Morgan, unlike Kari, unlike Hayley... She's something special and it drives me nuts... in a great way. I just don't know how to handle it because I'm not familiar with this.. this way of loving..." Jack hung his head in shame.
"It's alright, man," I tried consoling him.
"Nah," he came back up, "Just please take care of my girl, don't hurt my baby," he pleaded.
"I will, Jack. I swear, she's in good hands," I promised.
"And all that shit I said about not being with Sudsy, it was just for show. You can see her, since this is only a favor to me, just don't let Taylor find out. I don't know how you're gonna swing that, but you've got this, I believe in you man."
I wished I could agree. "I see," I said, continuing to eat. "So, you're using me?"
"You don't mind, trust me, you don't. It gives you a chance to date the girl you've had a thing for since elementary school and to date the girl you've had eyes for recently, dude. I love Taylor, it'll just be you two, to her knowledge. Take advantage of this opportunity."
I thought about it for a second, "Alright, you're right, I don't mind."

Notes