Chapter 17
MITCHELL
“Let’s go,” Medusa complained. “What are you doing?”
“Shaving. I don’t tell you to hurry when you’re shaving.”
“I shave in the shower,” she shot back. “Why are you shaving now?”
“Because I didn’t shave this morning,” I explained. “Quit bitching at me. You sound like a wife. If you want to be my wife, then I’ll expect you to perform your wifely duties. You can start now.”
She threw one of my shoes at me. “You’re such a man.”
“Do you want to find out just how manly I am?” I teased.
We both knew we would never cross that line.
That didn’t mean we didn’t flirt and tease.
It was part of our friendship. Everyone assumed we were fucking.
We were good friends, but I thought of her like a sister.
She was pretty but I wouldn’t dare touch her.
It would ruin the friendship we had. It would make things awkward.
I wasn’t about to do that. I respected her way too much for that.
“You are not man enough for me,” she said. “I like my men to have some meat on their bones.”
I frowned and flexed my bicep. “I’ve got plenty of meat on my bones. As a matter of fact, I’ve got—”
“Don’t even say it,” she groaned. “I don’t want to hear another joke about your manhood. Let’s go. I’m thirsty. We get one night to live it up. I want to take advantage of it. The last thing I want to do is watch you primp.”
I grabbed a towel and wiped the rest of the shaving cream from my face. “Damn, I don’t remember you bitching so much. You’re getting cranky in your old age.”
She glared at me. I finished cleaning up and then we set out to meet Watch Dog at the bar. We were planning on our usual junk food fest and beer with a few rounds of darts and pool. We didn’t always get a full day off during the week. At least not a day that allowed us to toss back a few beers.
Watch Dog was already occupying a table loaded with a pitcher of beer, a platter of wings, and another tray of greasy appetizers. “Oh boy, am I going to be hitting the gym hard tomorrow,” Medusa said while pouring us both a glass.
“Hey, you said we were doing it right.” Watch Dog laughed. “You both owe me twenty bucks.”
I looked at the offerings on the table. “That’s not sixty bucks’ worth.”
“No, but it will be by the time we’re done,” he reasoned.
Medusa didn’t hesitate to pull a twenty from her pocket. She wasn’t really the purse-carrying type. “Here.”
We dug into the food like we hadn’t eaten in weeks.
We usually kept to a pretty strict diet and workout regimen.
We had to. We had to be in good shape in order to do what we did.
It wasn’t just about being healthy. It was about being strong enough to handle the extreme workout we put our bodies through every time we were in the air.
“Have you heard from PitA?” Watch Dog asked me.
I shook my head. “Nope. You?”
“I passed him in the hall at the hotel earlier today,” he said. “Looked pretty rough.”
“Great,” I muttered. “I hope he doesn’t go parading the bruises and try to earn sympathy. The guy had it coming.”
“What happened anyway?” Medusa asked. “I can’t believe you lost your cool. In the years I’ve known you, that has never happened.”
“He was talking shit,” I said.
“Talking shit about what?” Medusa asked.
I debated how much I should say. I knew Medusa and Sam were growing friendlier by the day. I didn’t want her saying anything. “Sam,” I said.
“Sam?”
Watch Dog drank his beer and tried to be invisible. When Medusa wanted to know something, she could be a dog with a bone. “Yes, Sam,” I said.
“Like what?” she asked. Her eyes were narrowed, and it was pretty clear she was not happy.
“You know PitA,” I said. “I’m sure you can guess.”
“What a little fucker,” she hissed. “I should find him and kick his ass.”
“I think Dice already took care of that.” Watch Dog laughed.
“You were defending her honor,” Medusa said. “How chivalrous.”
“It needed to be done,” I said.
The two of them exchanged a look.
“What’s the deal with the two of you?” Watch Dog asked.
“Who?” I was trying to play it off but we all knew exactly who they were talking about.
“Are you into her?” Watch Dog asked.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know who we are talking about,” Medusa said. “You two practically light the room on fire whenever you’re in the same room. One of these days those looks are going to ignite the jet fuel and we’re all going up in smoke.”
I smirked. “I will admit there is some chemistry.”
“Some chemistry.” Watch Dog scoffed. “It’s a miracle you two haven’t banged up against the jet. You two are always looking at each other like you want to jump each other’s bones.”
I wasn’t going to tell them we already had. “There’s not much we can do about it.”
“What does that mean?” Medusa asked.
“She lives by the rules,” I said. “She refuses to break any. Not even a little.”
“So, you’ve tried?” Watch Dog said.
I caught Medusa staring at me, almost accusing me of something.
“I’m not saying that. I’m just saying we’re not blind.
We know we have chemistry. That doesn’t mean we can act on it.
She’s not someone who will ever break the rules.
I guess Honcho has made it clear he doesn’t want her hooking up with anyone.
She doesn’t want to compromise her reputation and disobey him.
What kind of man would I be if I encouraged her to break her rules? ”
“You’d be the kind of man that knew a good woman when he sees it,” Medusa said. “Sometimes, you have to break the rules a little. It’s not like you guys aren’t used to bending a few rules. She’s worth it.”
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“I’m saying, you need to prove to her you are worth the risk,” she said.
“What do you know?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she said, which meant she definitely knew something.
“What if I told you I already tried?” I said.
“Oh shit, Dice got shut down!” Watch Dog hooted and slapped the table.
“That’s why you beat the shit out of PitA.
You’re all frustrated. Now that I think about it, you haven’t hooked up with anyone in quite a while.
Shoot, if I’m remembering correctly, I would say you haven’t been with anyone since Sam came on board. ”
Medusa was smiling as she sipped her drink. “I think you would be correct.”
“Guys, you can’t say anything,” I said. “Sam is very dedicated to her work. She loves this job. She doesn’t want to risk it for anything, not even me.”
“Does that mean you tried?” Watch Dog asked.
Medusa was staring at me like she could see right through me. I looked directly at her. “I did.”
She seemed satisfied with my answer. “I think you need to fight a little harder,” she said.
“She’s perfect for you. She loves planes and flying as much as you do.
She’s strong and capable and beautiful. She’s not like any of these bimbos you hook up with for one night here and there.
You’re not getting any younger. You need to start thinking about your future.
There is a life after the Blue Angels. No unit is going to call you up.
You’re going to languish behind a desk when you’re done here. ”
“Fuck that,” I growled. “You aren’t putting me on the shelf. I’m not old. There are plenty of guys older than me still flying.”
“Yes, but you’re never going to be satisfied with the flying you get to do after this,” she said. “You’re not going to be in the air nearly as much. You’ll be bored out of your skull.”
She wasn’t wrong. I knew that was coming. We all did. I was likely going to find myself teaching or pushing papers. That wasn’t going to make me happy. “I’m not ready to hang up my wings just yet.”
“None of us are,” she said. “But don’t you think about life outside of the Navy? Our CO has a family. He has a life. He still gets to do what he wants.”
“I don’t think one just goes out and decides to be a family man,” I said. “I’m no expert, but I believe there is a process to the matter.”
“You’ve got the first step already done,” Medusa said.
“And what would that be?” I asked.
“You’ve found a woman that can be your equal,” she replied with a smile.
“Sam is never going to take any shit from you. She is probably one of the only women on this planet, besides myself and I’m never letting you in my bed, that you can lay in bed and talk about G’s and jet engines and the like.
She’s the one person that will understand the job.
She’ll know what it means when you have to get up and leave for a week. ”
“And if Honcho brings her back for next year, you’ll have a woman to warm your bed every night when you’re on tour,” Watch Dog added.
“I’m not sure about that,” Medusa muttered.
“Why?” I asked. “What do you know? Is she not coming back?”
“I don’t know,” she said but wouldn’t look me in the eye. “I don’t know if she’s been offered the contract. Our old inspector might come back.”
I didn’t like that idea. “Oh,” I murmured.
“But I bet if you told her you would really like her back, she’d be much more inclined to try and get the job,” Medusa said.
“I really don’t think that’s how it works.” I sighed. “I’m not sure she would want to. From what I understand, she’s in pretty high demand.”
“When are you ever going to find someone who could very literally be your other half?” Watch Dog asked. “You’re not exactly an easy man to love.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I frowned.
“You’re a dick most days. You’re always on the road. You take risks with your life that no woman is going to be okay with. And it’s not like you’re rolling in the dough.”
“Gee, thanks for stroking my ego,” I said.
“He’s right,” Medusa added. “Sam is pretty awesome. She understands this life. Even if she doesn’t work with the team next season, she would be at home waiting for you.
She would understand what your job required.
You’re not going to find another woman who understands the grueling pace we set.
Or the need to be in bed by nine the night before a show.
No alcohol and lots of time in the gym. She’s been out with us. She knows what we do.”
“Why are you guys pushing her so hard?” I asked suspiciously. “You act like you’ve got a stake in this. What do you know?”
Medusa looked guilty. “I don’t know anything except the fact you two are crazy about each other but neither of you is doing anything about it. I think when you find someone like that, you have to jump on it.”
“Yeah, what she said,” Watch Dog said.
“Like you guys are anyone to give advice about relationships,” I said with a grin. “Has either of you had a relationship?”
They exchanged a look.
“No, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t jump at the chance if the right person came along,” Medusa said. “I’m not dating a flyboy. Considering you guys are all I hang out with, it makes things a little tricky.”
“And I have yet to find a woman I like,” Watch Dog said. “You’re kind of lucky this woman fell into your lap.”
Medusa snorted and earned a look from me. She quickly took a drink from her glass.
“Chemistry doesn’t equal a relationship,” I said. “Although we went out for dinner last night and it was good. Until she got sick and we had to leave early. I’m taking her out for an actual dinner sometime this week.”
Medusa was smiling. “I knew you liked her.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Always is,” she replied. “Figure it out. Trust me, you want to make this work.”
“You’re pretty invested in my love life,” I teased.
“I just don’t want you to miss out on something great,” she said.
It seemed a little more than that. We had always been balls to the wall.
None of us talked love and all that drama.
We hooked up when we felt like it and gave each other shit about it the next day.
This was weird. And now they were both making me think seriously about Sam’s offer to see each other after the season was over. Could I do the relationship thing?