Dane
Nine Months Later
I’d been planning this day for quite a while. After the day Lennox ambushed me with the first flight, I wanted to take him back up and show him what my jet could really do. I’d been easy on him that day, even though I wanted to roll him every which way but loose.
But today’s purpose was different. It was going to be both an ending and a beginning. And what better time to do that than on the Fourth of July?
After returning home from the hospital, there were many nights Lennox woke up in the middle of the night from a nightmare. Sometimes he whimpered in his sleep, sometimes he cried. All I could do was hold and comfort him.
I knew where the dreams were coming from. It was his fear of abandonment that stemmed from his childhood. I’d taken enough psychology classes to recognize it, and I knew he needed to talk to someone. That didn’t happen until after his season ended with a loss to Portland in the Conference Championship.
And then there was Daniel. He was old enough to understand the danger of what I do. The breaking point came when I deployed in late January for a two-week training mission. Even though she didn’t want to worry me, Camile had told me how he’d had a difficult time sleeping. He couldn’t function well with sleep. Even Lennox wasn’t able to help.
That’s when I knew I had a decision to make about my future. I loved them all enough to ask for a change in assignment, and command had granted it.
“Is everything ready?” I asked Camile on my way to the base.
“Yes. We’ll stay out of the way until you get him in the air.”
“Perfect. I want him to be surprised.”
“He will be. I promise.”
When we ended the call, I pulled into my spot and headed inside. Captain Lemay was at the coffee station pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“Morning, Lieutenant. Can I pour you a cup?”
I shook my head. “No thank you, sir. I just wanted to express my gratitude for your help in all this. I know my family is going to be happily surprised.”
He put his hand on my shoulder. “Glad we could help. And I’m excited to see what you can do at the next level.”
“Me too, sir. I hope I can live up to your standards.”
He smiled. “You will, Ace. Have fun up there today.”
“I will, sir. Thank you again.”
Sipping his coffee, he headed back into his office while I went to find Javy. I knew he was probably in the gym, so I headed that way.
When I walked in, he was putting on his flight suit after showering. I’d forgone my morning workout here for one at home with Lennox. I’d left him passed out in the bed after fucking the daylights out of him. I knew he was going to need it for what I had planned.
“You ready for today, Sunshine?”
I chuckled. “More than ready. It’s time I put him out of his misery.”
Javy laughed. “I agree. Just don’t make him throw up in my spot.”
“I’ll try. But no promises.”
We headed out to do our pre-flight inspection and talked to the ground crew. They were all in on what I had planned for Lennox. My only concern was getting him up there again. The counselor I’d talked him into seeing suggested facing the fear head on. He’d recommended I take him up again and let him see for himself that I was safe.
I guess we’d find out how it worked when he showed up.
Javy and I took care of some paperwork until ten A.M. My parents had driven in last night and rented a house on the beach for the holiday. We’d head there after we were finished here.
The minute he hit the door, a familiar prickle of awareness crawled up my spine. I got up and met him at the door. Lennox was freshly showered with damp hair. His curls were a mess, just the way I liked them.
“Good morning,” I said, placing a kiss on his lips. “I can’t wait to get you out of those clothes.”
He snorted. “That’s not the good time it sounds like. I can’t believe I’ve agreed to do this. Again.”
“The first time was all on you, buddy. This time it’s on me.”
I could see a myriad of inappropriate things swirling in his mind, but fortunately, for everyone, he’d restrained himself.
Taking his hand, I led him to the locker room where I’d prepared his flight suit. It was one of mine, with Calloway on the chest.
Lennox looked at it, then up at me. “I get to wear yours?”
I smiled. “Yeah. Thought you might be more comfortable in one of mine.”
We were relatively the same size, making the lie believable. There was a very specific reason I wanted him in my flight suit for the photos.
“Remember the reporters who were here the first time?”
Lennox looked up at me as he zipped the zipper and latched all the hooks. “Yeah.”
“They’re coming back for a follow-up story.”
He shrugged it off like I knew he would. The media had never bothered him.
“Okay, Lieutenant. Let’s get this over with.”
Holding out my hand, I took his and pulled him into my arms. “I’m proud of you for facing your fear. We’re going to be okay.”
Lennox took a deep breath and nodded. “As long as you’re driving, I’ll be okay.”
I grinned and took his hand. “There’s no steering wheel, baby. Just a throttle and stick.”
He snorted like the teenage boy I fell in love with. “Can I play with your throttle and stick?”
“Not the one in the plane, but the one in my pants is all yours.”
He never failed to bring out the inappropriate side of me.
When we reached the tarmac, Javy was waiting by the ladder. He held out his hand like a valet. “Up you go, QB. Time to rise and shine.”
Lennox looked over his shoulder at me one last time, then climbed the ladder. I followed him to buckle and strap him in. He looked so hot when he tipped his head back and put the helmet on.
Just as I started to move away, he picked up a clear bag with white granules.
“What’s this?”
I tried not to smile. “A piddle pack. In case you have to pee.”
Lennox’s mouth dropped as the pieces fell together. “They made me wear a fucking diaper last time.”
I burst out laughing. “Yeah, well, you made me mad.”
In a moment of levity, the love of my life curled his fingers in my flight suit and pulled me into a bruising kiss, causing cat calls from down below.
“That was so wrong, but so good, Calloway.”
I kissed him hard. “Glad you can appreciate it now.”
Lennox cackled as I climbed down, then back up into my seat. I buckled in and put on my helmet.
Javy climbed the ladder to give me a fist bump and a big smile. “Have a good flight. Lennox, do not puke inside my plane.”
“No promises,” he replied. “If I do, blame it on him.”
Javy laughed, then climbed down. When the ladder was clear, I put down the canopy and fired up the engines.
I went through my preflight checks and got the okay from the ground crew and tower. Lennox was quiet as we taxied out to the runway.
“You okay back there, buddy?” I asked.
Lennox released a heavy sigh. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
Not the quick-witted response I expected, but I’d take it.
“Tower, Eagle 1-1, left 2-7, ready for takeoff.”
Air tower control called back. “Eagle 1-1. left 2-7. clear skies, cleared for takeoff. Have a good flight, gentlemen. We’ll see you when you return.”
I throttled up the engines and afterburners.
“Grip the handles and tense your legs, babe.”
“? Is this a good time to tell you I love you?”
I smiled. “It’s always a good time to tell me that.”
We thundered down the runway until I lifted us off the ground. The ascent was much less sharp this time around. We quickly reached ten thousand feet as I banked a wide forty-five-degree turn to calm Lennox’s nerves. When we leveled out, we headed north from Coronado up toward Los Angeles.
As we flew, I pointed out different things. A pod of whales out in the water, Camile’s house on her street, and the Youth Center Daniel attended after school with his aunt Susan. The stadium where the Storm played was easily seen in the distance.
“There’s your house right there.”
I knew he was looking down at what I saw.
“This is how I keep an eye on all of you.”
Lennox was quiet for a moment. “I used to hear the jets overhead and wondered if one could be you.”
I smiled. “I was probably one of them. I did the flyover a couple of times at your games. We practice flying in formation quite a lot. It’s how we stay safe.”
As we flew up the coast, I radioed the tower to check-in. Everything was good, it was just a signal to let them know we were headed back. I banked left over the water and turned us back toward home.
“How ya doing, babe?”
“I’m good.”
I chuckled. “You’re gonna want to remember this day for the rest of our lives.”
Lennox was more reserved than usual. “Why is that?”
“You’ve conquered your fear, and I have some news.”
He was quicker to respond. “Yeah? What news?”
I smiled to myself. “I’ve taken a new commission. I’m no longer flying active duty.”
He paused. “What does that mean?”
“No more deployments. I’ll be home with you every night unless I’m needed for a couple of days someplace.”
“,” his voice quivered. “Don’t fuck with me. If you’re lying, I’ll never forgive you.”
I laughed. “It’s the truth, babe. I promise. I’m the new flight instructor at the Air Base. Javy took the assignment too so we can train pilots.”
“Seriously?” His voice cracked.
“Yes. I thought that would be best for our family. I need to spend more time with Daniel, and I want to be able to go to football games and cheer you on. And I need you to stop worrying about losing me.”
Lennox was quiet again. “I don’t know how to do that yet. But I’m working on it.”
This was it. “I know how I can help you with that.”
He snorted, waiting for some witty remark. “Yeah?”
“Yes,” replied seriously. “It’s time Lennox. It’s time we get married and start our life together as husbands. Just like were always meant to be. So I want to know if you’ll marry me. I’m really tired of you putting me off.”
Lennox laughed, and it was the best sound I’d ever heard. I cut off his reply with a call to the tower.
“Tower, Eagle 1-1, ready to land, left 2-7.”
“Eagle 1-1, request to land left 2-7 granted.”
I sat us down on the runway and taxied to the tarmac, fully aware that Lennox had not responded. It was making me nervous.
“You doing okay, babe?”
He didn’t respond until I pulled to a stop and powered down the engines. Unstrapping myself, I popped the canopy and shrugged at Javy.
He pushed the ladder over as I stood and turned to my boyfriend. Lennox looked back at me with red eyes. I smiled.
“You haven’t answered my question, QB.”
Lennox raised a brow and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked hot in my flight suit and helmet.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear a question.”
I grinned. “You’re being a diva. But I’ll play along.”
He smiled and never broke eye contact.
“Lennox Sanders, love of my life, would you please marry me?”
I knew he wanted to say all kinds of snarky shit, but he didn’t. He took the moment for what it was and unbuckled himself, then removed the helmet. When his eyes met mine, I had my answer.
“I’d marry you today if I could, . So yes. My answer is yes.”
He got to his feet in the limited space and kissed the fuck out of me. The ground crew and our friends cheered.
Lennox pulled away and looked over at the assembled crowd. Camile and Daniel stood with my parents. Evan and Hudson, along with Jack and Erin, stood by Carson, Mason, and Drew. Javy and Captain Lemay stood down below with the flight crew while a photographer snapped photo after photo.
“Where did they come from?”
I ran my fingers through his hair. “I arranged all this. And it’s a good thing you said yes because Hudson is going to marry us as soon as we put our feet on the ground.”
Lennox fisted the straps on my flight suit and pushed me backward. “Get out of this death machine now. Go. We have a wedding to go to.”
I laughed as we climbed down from my jet. When Lennox was on the ground, we walked hand in hand to where everyone stood waiting.
Daniel came running and leaped into my arms. “Ready to be my best man?”
“Ready, Dad. I’ve got the ring.”
He patted his shorts pocket as I put him down.
Lennox looked around and found Evan. “You feel like being my best man?”
Evan walked up and tugged him into a hug. “I’d be honored.”
So there in the hangar, we promised to love one another for the rest of our lives as the former governor of California performed our ceremony. When Hudson pronounced us husband and husband, my mother let out a squeal of delight. I looked into Lennox’s eyes before I kissed him.
“You’ve always been a Calloway, whether you knew it or not. Just took us some time to get it right.”
I kissed my husband, my ride or die, my former best friend, and the love of my life for the first time. And I never planned to stop.
My father stepped up and made an announcement.
“The reception is at our beach house. Everyone is invited to celebrate with us and watch the fireworks.”
Lennox leaned into me. “Did you plan that?”
I smiled. “Yes, and no. I’ll explain it to you later.”
His brows went up. “Okay. I can’t wait to hear that one.” He tilted his head toward Hudson’s son. “I’m going to talk to Jack. I’ll be right back.”
I nodded as my father approached me. It was obvious something was on his mind by the way he looked at Lennox, then back to me.
“Congratulations,” he said. “Thank you for the invitation.”
“I thought it was important to include you and mom. I know you probably think this is a bad decision, but we’re happy.”
He put his hand on my shoulder. “I know you are. Both of you have always gravitated to one another. We should have seen it coming, but those were different times. And I realize that now.”
He glanced at Evan and Hudson, then smiled softly.
“I’ve had a lot to think about what’s important since your accident. It put everything into perspective very quickly. Hindsight and all. And it didn’t take me long to realize I’d pushed you aside for Lennox’s sake. It’s no excuse, but I was grappling with the end of my career, and he was a bridge to keeping it.”
I remained quiet and let him talk.
He wrung his hands together. “I want to apologize for doing that to you.”
Nodding, I could accept that I wasn’t a perfect father. I left my son for six months at a time, so I could offer him some grace.
I held out my hand to my Dad. “I appreciate you saying that, Dad. Maybe we can talk later. I have some things I’d like to explain when we’re alone.”
My father smiled, then looked over at Daniel. “You’re a good father, . Much better than I was. And I’m proud of you.”
The warmth I hadn’t felt from him in a long time began to seep in. I guess I had my husband to thank for that.
“We’re going to head to the house and get things set up. You boys come on over when you’re ready.”
“Okay. We won’t be long.”
He clapped me on the shoulder, then went to my mom. She looked over at me with a big smile.
I rolled my eyes. She was such a busybody. But I loved her.
Lennox walked up and slipped his arm around me. “Everything okay?”
I smiled. “More than.”
I took a moment to revel in the warmth that Lennox had always brought to my life, and I couldn’t wait to start our life together the way we were always meant to be.