To say I had been shocked when Lila told us that morning that Monroe taught math at Pine Valley would be an understatement. Not about her teaching skills, but I didn’t think I would see her again. Dax and I hadn’t ventured to the Rusty Spur on Sunday because he’d gotten called in for an emergency, and I had crashed before dinner ever rolled around.
A cute brunette in a cheerleader uniform came over, halting any chance of sneaking out or locating Monroe, although I had plenty of time after career day to find her.
The brunette scanned one of our brochures about a stealth fighter jet. For fuck’s sake. Why did she have to pick up the pamphlet on the F-22? The same type of plane my brother, Caleb, had flown? The same one that had claimed his life.
She held out her hand. “I’m Sabrina Lawson. My dad told me to talk to you about flying for the Air Force.”
Shock overtook my memories of the past as I laughed. “You’re Major Lawson’s daughter.” I knew his daughter was in high school, but I’d never met her.
I leaned over the table. “Is he checking up on me?”
She giggled. “No. He said you’re the best fighter pilot he’s ever seen and you would be the perfect person not to pull any punches about what it takes to fly.”
I was proud that the major thought highly of me, but I felt as though he was testing me.
Dax mumbled something under his breath that sounded like, “Careful on that one.”
Whether or not Dax’s comment was meant for me, I wasn’t one to pull any punches. Flying jets was no joke, and anyone interested needed to know what they were up against.
“My dad has told me the risks. He thinks hearing them from you would change my mind. But I only have one question.” She looked up from the brochure on F-22s she was holding. “Captain Callahan, why did you experience a G-LOC?” Her voice seemed to bounce off the bleachers like a bullhorn.
What the fuck?
The din of voices died as a buzzing started in my ears. I felt as if all eyes were on me as I tried not to hyperventilate. Between my own fuckup in the air and thinking of my brother all of sudden, I wasn’t sure I could stand here any longer.
Dax came to my rescue and told her the percentage of pilots who experience an episode of G-LOC while I tried to prevent myself from wigging out.
I had no doubt her father used my incident to scare her. But for fuck’s sake, he didn’t have to use me as an example. On top of that, I didn’t want to be known as the pilot who crashed an F-15 and almost killed Tate, my weapons service officer.
I silently gave myself a pep talk as a shaggy-haired student sauntered over. “G-LOC? Sabrina, is this the guy you were talking about who freaked out while flying and crashed his F-15?” He draped an arm over her shoulder, casual and cool.
Instantly, I was right back to that day, Tate not moving, smoke on the horizon, and my mind on a collision course with hell.
The gym blurred, and voices faded.
Don’t wig out, man.
Dax leaned close to my ear. “Snap out of it.”
That was the problem. I was starting to believe I would never shake what had happened, especially if Tate couldn’t walk again. Though when I’d stopped by the hospital that morning, Tate could wiggle his toes, a good sign that the inflammation in his body was subsiding, which the doctor speculated could be the reason he wasn’t able to walk.
“I’ll be back in a plane before you know it,” Tate had gushed.
I prayed so or else I could never live with myself, knowing I was responsible for ruining his life.
I put on a fake smile, zeroing in on the boy’s outstretched hand.
“I’m Ethan.”
We exchanged a handshake. “Captain Callahan. Are you interested in the Air Force?”
“Nope, but my girl here is.” He looked at Sabrina like she’d hung the moon.
“Ethan’s dad is in the Air Force,” Sabrina said. “Maybe you know him. Ryan Blake.”
“He’s in aircraft maintenance,” Ethan added, his brown eyes bouncing from Dax to me. “He’s been stationed overseas for the last year, but he’s coming home today.” Ethan had a mixture of pride and sadness in his tone.
“I’ve heard the name.” Dax chimed in, tucking his hands into his uniform pant pockets. “Never met him.”
