52. Maya end…
52
MAYA END…
Maya paused in the doorway of Tailwinds, momentarily disoriented. The homey café that shared a wall with Lauren Daggett’s original DreamBurger location in the tiny Hope Landing Terminal had morphed into something out of a music video. Tables lined the walls, strings of lights crisscrossed the ceiling like a constellation map, and the usually quiet space thumped with bass notes that vibrated through her borrowed heels.
But it was Ethan’s DJ station that made her grin. The tech genius had transformed a corner of the café into what looked like mission control for a Mars landing. Screens flickered with pulsing visualizations, RGB lights swept patterns across the makeshift dance floor, and Ethan himself wore what appeared to be a vintage NASA flight suit as he adjusted controls with the same intensity he brought to drone operations.
“Pretty impressive, right?” Star materialized beside her, lemonade in hand. “My husband doesn’t do anything halfway.”
Maya accepted the glass, taking in the unlikely mix of faces. Tactical operators in casual clothes mingled with kids racing between clusters of adults. A far cry from the sterile NCIS office parties she was used to. She spotted Austin’s wife Lauren in animated conversation with Jose near the kitchen, probably discussing the café’s journey from her original vision to his current ownership. The smell of carnitas drifted from the kitchen, mixing with perfume and the sweet-sharp bite of craft root beer.
“I still can’t believe you let me borrow this. It’s beyond cute,” Maya said, smoothing the buttery cotton that Star had insisted would be perfect. The deep blue material felt like wearing midnight.
“Honey, that dress was made for you.” Star clinked their glasses together. “And wait until you see what happens when Ethan really gets going. These guys may look scary in the field, but give them a dance floor ...” She gestured toward Jack, who was attempting to teach his daughter what appeared to be the robot. Kelli was recording it on her phone, shoulders shaking with laughter.
Maya smiled, but her eyes kept drifting to the door. She told herself she wasn’t watching for anyone in particular. She was just ... appreciating the scene. The way the Hope Landing family celebrated. The perfect blend of professional precision and absolute chaos.
Just then, Ethan hit something on his controls and the lights shifted into what had to be his mission-accomplished sequence. The café erupted in cheers as the music swelled.
The cheers hadn’t even faded when Izzy, Zara, and Axel descended on Maya like a tactical strike team. Izzy’s sequined top caught the shifting lights, Zara had traded her usual tech gear for a striking red sundress, and Axel ... well, Axel still wore combat boots with a wrinkled button down and hiking shorts.
“So what did you decide about Knight Tactical?” Izzy asked without preamble, her direct gaze as unwavering as when she had a target in her scope. “You in or what?”
Maya watched the admiral across the room, his arm wrapped possessively around his wife’s waist as they swayed to something slow. Must be nice, that kind of certainty. “I’m still thinking about it.”
“What’s to think about?” Axel sprawled against the wall. “We’re all in. Even that pain-in-the-ass Kenji’s signing on. He has med bay envy.”
“Everyone?” The word caught in her throat. She didn’t need to specify who she was asking about.
“Everyone,” Zara confirmed softly. She shot Maya a look that was far too knowing.
Maya’s lemonade suddenly needed her complete attention. The thought of working with him every day, planning ops, running missions ... Would the ache in her chest ever dull, or would it just get sharper with proximity?
“Look who’s corrupting my daughter now!” Her father’s voice carried over the music as Victoria dragged him onto the dance floor. For an old guy, he moved with surprising grace, his laughter younger than Maya had heard it in years.
“Hey.” Star nudged her shoulder. “You okay?”
“Fine.” Maya managed a smile. “Just ... processing.”
Jack’s daughter raced past with his wife, strobe lights glinting off the matching plastic tiaras Kelli had somehow been talked into. Their laughter mixed with the bass line as Ethan transitioned into something with more edge. The dance floor filled, tactical operators and support staff moving with the same fluid coordination they brought to missions.
Maya recognized the moment for what it was—a glimpse of what her future could be. A team that functioned like family. Work that mattered. Everything she’d ever wanted in a career.
Everything except ...
The door opened, letting in a burst of cool air. Maya’s heart stuttered as she turned, already knowing who it would be.