Page 81 of Shared By the Pilots

Adam nodded, then high-fived Taylor. “In that case, the last slice of meat lovers is mine. Unless you want it…”

Luke shook his head. “All yours.”

“See?” Adam gestured with his slice. “We’re good at sharing.”

“Easier with pizza than with a woman,” I said. “But I have to ask… are you guys sure you want to do that?”

They all looked at me.

“Do you not want to be shared?” Adam asked.

“No!” I replied. “I mean, no, Idowant to be shared. But I’m surprised you guys are okay with that. Men are usually…”

“Possessive?” Luke suggested.

“I was going to say real sons of bitches,” Taylor chimed in. “But possessive is a good word, too.”

“Some of us finished our stint in the armed forces,” Luke said casually. “And the education that comes with it.”

Taylor laughed. “I’m sure your ass is real tired from all that sitting y’all do in the Chair Force.”

I tensed, but Luke roared with laughter. “Better than being stuck on a boat all day with a bunch of seamen.”

“You’ve got me there,” Taylor replied.

I relaxed at seeing them tease each other. Italmostseemed good-natured. Almost.

Adam finished his slice of pizza and glanced at his watch. “I should head home. It’s been a long day.”

Taylor let out a long sigh. “You can say that again.”

“You riding with me?” Luke asked. “Or do you want to meet at my place?”

“Your place?” Taylor asked.

“My place,” Luke replied, deadpan. “As in, the place Veronica and I are going.”

Taylor turned to me. “I don’t see why he gets to claim you tonight.”

“Because I asked first. And Veronica and I have to make up for lost time.”

“That sounds like ayouproblem.”

“There’s no need…” I tried to say, but they kept talking over me.

“It’snotmy problem, because she’s coming home with me,” Luke insisted.

“Seems like you’re the only person here who thinks that,” Taylor replied. “If you ask me, you shouldn’t be rewarded for spending the last monthnotsupporting the lovely lady here.”

“What about dibs?” Adam said helpfully. “Calling dibs is crude, but might be the best method.”

“Or a shared Google calendar,” Luke said.

Taylor snickered. “A shared calendar to decide Veronica’s evening lover? They have weird ideas of romance in the Chair Force.”

“Got any better ideas?”

“Sure,” Taylor said, gesturing at me. “We let the lady decide.”

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