Solo looked at me and said, “There’s only one reason I’d show up late for a hop against the commander, and he sure as fuck better be worth the ass kicking I’d get.”
That mouth of his. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to punch him in it or fuck it senseless. Actually, yes, I did, but thinking about that now wasn’t going to do me any damn good. So I turned back to my binder and took great interest in the words written there.
What they said was anyone’s guess.
“All right, is everyone here?” Commander Levy asked as he walked through the door and headed toward the front of the room, and when he spotted me, he gave a clipped nod. “Nice of you to join us, Lieutenant Hughes.”
What the hell? I hadn’t been late. Guess he’d stuck his head in early. Great, today was starting off fucking stellar.
“As you all know, today’s the day you get to show me what you’ve got. We’re two weeks in, and I want to see if you’ve been paying attention in here and learning anything up there.”
Where usually someone would have something arrogant or cocky to say about the hop ahead and how they’d crush it, no one dared to presume they could, or would, beat Commander Levy.
Although I was pretty sure I knew a certain someone who figured he could win against anyone he was up in the sky against—or die trying.
“I assume you’ve all studied today’s flight and what’s expected of you. Fly smart, clean, and safe. Nobody is looking for a hero up there.” The commander looked around the room, and then his eyes zeroed in on Solo. “There are no medals for being the biggest badass in the sky today, got it? Because that medal is already taken—by me. So go gear up and meet me in the hangar. Panther? You’ll be up first, since you showed up last. Don’t make me wait a second time today.”
As Commander Levy marched out of the room, the rest of the trainees turned on me, unable to resist the shit talking that was synonymous with this job.
“Wouldn’t want to be you today,” Whiplash said, as she passed me by and headed toward the female lockers. “Sure hope Solo was right and she was worth it. Because Levy is on a mission with you.”
A snicker sounded from behind me as I walked into the locker room, and then Solo said, “Yeah. Sure hopeshewas worth it.”
I didn’t get a chance to respond, because the room was full, and what I wanted to say wasn’t something that needed to be overheard. Instead, I quickly changed into my flight suit and then headed to the bay to gear up, eager and ready to get back in the cockpit and prove myself.
As I passed the viewing area on the way to the hangar, Solo sidled up beside me, his voice low enough for only my ears.
“So. Was I worth it?”
A snort escaped me as I shook my head.
“No? Well, shit. That’s a first.”
“I didn’t say no.”
“You didn’t say yes.”
I stopped and faced him, getting an eyeful of those pouty lips. “Pretty sure coming all over you this morning was a yes.”
Solo’s mouth fell open, and as I backed away, I shot him a wink and then headed toward the hangar for another ride in the sky.
39Solo
THAT DIRTY FUCKER, I thought as I watched Panther walk away from me for the second time this morning. It was a killer view to go along with the words that had just come out of his mouth, and I found myself grinning as he disappeared from view and I finally dragged myself into the viewing room. Three-hundred-and-sixty-degree glass walls and a glass ceiling that gave us a full view of what was happening in the sky, only with the comfort of air conditioning instead of standing out in the blazing California sun for hours.
I grabbed a chair that faced the runway, and in the distance I could see Panther doing checks on his plane. Something told me he wouldn’t be playing nice against Commander Levy today, and I couldn’t wait to see him take down our instructor like I knew he had it in him to do.
“We placing bets today, ladies?” Gucci said, grabbing the spot beside me. “Twenty on Levy?”
“I’m sure you meant that as a joke, lieutenant, since gambling on base is not only illegal, but grounds for dismissal,” Commander Heinz said from where she stood cross-armed by the door.
“Oh, uh, Commander Heinz. Didn’t see you there.” Gucci shot me a look that saidshiiitand then plastered a smile on his mug. “Course it was a joke. I don’t have a pocket big enough for my large wad of cash.”
“Careful, lieutenant,” she replied, narrowing her eyes. Then she flipped on the switch that allowed us to hear what, if anything, was being said in the air. More useful when there were teams, but also a safety precaution in case there was an issue. There were also two TVs set up in the corner, each showing the camera that was trained on each pilot.
I leaned over to Gucci. “My money’s on Panther, and I’ll raise you another twenty.”
He smirked. “Deal.”
