Raised by his aunt, after his mother died, Pad McLaughlin enlisted in the Air Force to see the world, and save money for college, but he didn't expect to fall in love with his supervisor, RJ Davis, a handsome, dashing officer. Rather than return home right away after his tour of duty in Saudi Arabia, Pad gambles on love by joining RJ in Bangkok, despite the government's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." When Pad realizes RJ doesn't love him, he returns home broken-hearted only to be distracted by Wayne, another hunky airman, who keeps secrets from Pad. When RJ finally realizes after Pad's gone what Pad means to him, is he too late? Will Pad choose the officer or the airman? Set in 2008, this love story takes place before the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," when gay men who loved each other were forced to remain in the closet and deny themselves happiness.