Page 3 of Forever Fickle

No one there believed in emergencies apparently… or it didn’t seem that way to them. Everything was manageable, which made her wonder what actually would constitute an emergency to the team? She knew they were ex-military, so maybe they’d already seen enough in their lives that everything else was chump-change.

It was kind of liberating to know almost nothing got the team upset.

Meeting the team had been a little intimidating, seeing the cool, calm, stony faces as they looked at her… only to have them relax after a bit, revealing the playful sides to their personalities.

At first glance, they had made her want to back out immediately, but now, two days into this ‘favor’ – Karen was loving the freedom being here gave her.

The phone for the building was cordless, allowing her to go outside to see the planes taking off and landing on the runway. The bright open skies, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the warmth of the sun was incredible.

Paradise… in the middle of nowhere.

* * *

A month later,Karen was sure that the sun baked her brain.

Not only was she loving the freedom that being at Flyboys brought her… but she was finding it so wonderful to see the students’ faces light up in the classroom when listening to the instructors.

Young or old, the students were enthralled.

This was giving her a different outlook on how to reach her own class when school was back in session. Maybe she needed a chance to step back and take a breath in order to come at things differently.

She could see the engagement, the excitement, and the wonder – and it was missing from when she taught. If she didn’t find joy in class, in life, then how was she supposed to teach it?

Maybe she was burnt out and needed this breather as much as they needed the help here at Flyboys?

It was almost comical to hear of Glory’s reaction to Reaper’s arrival. The man was already married, so the idea of ‘Karen talking with a hottie for a month’ went right out the window for the matchmaker.

… And it was a relief!

Truthfully, the man put her on edge.

Reaper had a way of looking right over her like she was a speck on the wall, a gnat not to be bothered with. He was cordial, polite, but there was something cold to his demeanor until Karen saw him with his wife, Sophie, at a small get together being held at Valkyrie and Marisol’s house.

Then he actually looked halfway… pleasant.

Karen met most of the team that day, a blur of faces, shaking hands, and sincere ‘Thank you’s’… followed by outlandish tales of their flying days in the air force.

The women tried to include her, but Karen felt out of place, hanging back and feeling like a wallflower at a school dance. These people barely knew her, treated her like she was one of them, but in less than two months?

She would be back to teaching and out of their lives once again.

CHAPTER2

HOT CAKES

Ghazni, Afghanistan

“Oh my gosh… it’s true,”Handsy uttered, stunned, causing Jace to look up at the man’s words. Sure enough, Reaper was walking in the barracks, carrying his duffle bag on his back… and smiling.

Not that cold, calculated, I’m-going-to-get-you-grin… but anactualsmile.

Four weeks of being away from this place had done wonders for the somber man. Jace had never seen the other man crack a smile, much less grin. He could see the line of even, white teeth… and he wasn’t baring them at anyone.

All of them, Handsy, Caboose, and Jace, stood to greet the man they’d known for years, looking at him in shock. Reaper didn’t say a word, he just dropped his duffle bag on his bunk.

“You’re kidding,” Caboose said bluntly.

“Really? I thought they were pulling our leg when Firefly emailed everyone. I mean, he’s a prankster… but you’ve had your moments too…” Jace’s words faded away as he stared at the wedding ring on the other man’s hand. It wasn’t a prank on the team after all. “You actually did it? You got married?”

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