Page 25 of Forever Fickle

“I’m a huge Star Wars nerd and have seen the movies probably about seven or eight times. I think the best film wasRogue One– which gets me a ton of criticism from my teammates.”

He took a deep shaky breath and continued speaking, unmoving where he was hiding his face.

“I like to fly because I don’t have to depend on anyone else. It feels like escapism for the little boy inside of me that isn’t ready to be an adult. I love board games with my family and that is what I do when I go on vacation - normally. I’m a momma’s boy in the worst way…”

He laughed suddenly and his face looked pained as he glanced at her, wiped his eyes, and then stared up at the ceiling, looking completely taken aback, revealing so much about himself to her… yet he was still speaking, unburdening himself.

She was listening – utterly fascinated.

“I hang out at bars, because it’s the expected status quo for a single pilot in the Air Force, and get completely trashed because I’m desperately lonely. I go to church on Sundays no matter where I am - here, home, or in Ghazni… and I’m saving myself for marriage. I don’t believe in fooling around outside of marriage vows,” he whispered, painfully shy, almost as if he was expecting her to laugh at him.

“That’s the guy before you – the one who keeps asking you out? That’s me in a nutshell. No one knows any of that about me, but they all think that theyknowme… because of a stereotype and a label that they onlythinkthey understand,” he said bitterly, meeting her gaze before looking away, his folded his hands around the cup of coffee before him.

It took Jace several moments and Karen jumped at hearing the front door open in the distance, knowing that their time alone was almost at an end.

Jace met her eyes and she saw the truth in his gaze, realizing everything he said was straight from his heart. He was opening himself, telling every dirty secret, in the hopes that she would at least give him the time of day…

“But that’s not me – not therealme… and the real me wants desperately to get to know the real you, Karen. So please,please, will you maybe go flying with me or meet me for dinner?” he whispered painfully and grew quiet the moment that Firefly appeared in the doorway.

She watched, fascinated, as the mask slipped over Jace’s features.

“’Sup Firefly… I just made the coffee,” Jace announced, smiling tightly.

“And donuts? Ohhh Karen, you are going to spoil us fellas like this,” Firefly grinned, nodding at her. “Isn’t she, Hot Cakes?”

“Someone has to,” she muttered, unable to pull her eyes from Jace’s face as his words still ran through her mind.

“Did I interrupt something?” Firefly said suddenly, taking a large bite and pausing as he looked at them both sitting there at the table, holding their cups of coffee.

Karen didn’t look away from Jace, slowly shaking her head ‘no’ as Jace got to his feet, looking defeated and trying to hide it.

“Nope, not interrupting anything,” Jace said quietly, topping off his cup and grabbing a donut. “I’m going to get one of the Cessnas out of the hangar.”

“Don’t forget to refill the fuel tanks later,” Karen said quietly, unmoving. “You promised to take me flying.”

Jace coughed, sending a cloud of powdered sugar flying from his mouth almost like a smoke ring, as his eyes widened.

“Will do…” he choked out, fighting back a smile.

Firefly put one leg over the chair and slid down into a seat, eyeing her candidly while giving her this lecherous smile.

“Wow… you and Hot Cakes, huh? I never thought that…”

“And you don’t think,” Karen grinned. “Keep it that way, Firefly.”

“You know he’s a fickle thing, never dates the same woman twice, so don’t get too attached,” Firefly warned. “Remember, never a good thing to poop where you eat.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“Been told that a few times in my life, too,” he guffawed happily, taking another big bite of his donut. “Seriously, dating coworkers makes a mess of things and we just don’t want to see you get hurt. I know we are all pretty protective of our kid sister.”

“You all barely know me.”

“You are one of us whether you realize it or not,” he grinned, winking at her. “Just tell Hot Cakes to keep it in his pants and if he gets too fresh, any of us will handle it – just say the word.”

“Have you ever seen him ‘get fresh’ with someone?” Karen asked bluntly, wondering if the man had told her the truth or if it was some elaborate act to get her to agree to go out with him.

Firefly’s reaction spoke volumes.

---