Tailspin: A Top Gun Love Story - Pete "Maverick" Mitchell

Chapter 3

The bell on the door rings and you look up. Maverick walks into the bar with Goose on his tail. He stops to look around and, when he sees you, he grins and takes his aviators off his face, hooking them into the collar of his t-shirt. He strides over to where you're sitting, grabbing one of the chairs from a neighboring table because there aren't any more at yours, and twists it around so that he could lean his chest into the back of the seat.

"Fancy seeing you here," he says, smirking.

You stare at him in disbelief because he's completely ignoring the fact that Tom is sitting right next to you.

"Are you lost, Maverick?" Tom asks coldly.

Maverick looks over at him as though he's just noticed his presence. "Oh hey, Ice," he says. "Nice flying today. A bit sluggish but executed with style." He winks at Tom while the latter watches him levelly.

"Don't you have a commander to piss off somewhere?" Tom bites back.

Maverick waves a hand just as Goose pulls up a chair. "Been there, done that," he responds.

Tom is watching Goose sink into the seat beside Maverick and reach over to grab a couple of French fries from Slider's plate. Tom shakes his head. "This isn't a soup kitchen, boys. Why don't you get your own table?"

Goose raises his eyebrows, inserting the fries into his mouth. "We're here for the company," he says, chewing.

Maverick laughs and Tom rolls his eyes. "You ever get sick of your partner fucking up and the Lieutenant Commander taking it out on you, Goose?" Tom asks derisively. "I mean, this was, what? The third time you guys have been grounded since showing up?"

"Second," Goose corrects him. "And no." He gives Maverick a clap on the back. "I love my partner."

Tom shakes his head. "Why'd you bother coming at all if you're not going to take this seriously?"

"Oh, I'm taking this seriously, Ice," Maverick responds, fighting to keep a straight face. "I'm taking this very seriously." His eyes slide to meet yours across the table and the left side of his mouth curls upward ever so slightly.

You sink deeper into your seat, feeling your face heating up under Maverick's persistent gaze.

"I'm getting a beer," Slider says, getting out of his seat and tapping Tom on the shoulder. "Want anything?"

"I'm good, thanks," Tom responds, still watching Maverick intently.

"Hey, Iceman," Goose leans into the table, trying to catch Tom's eye. "I've got a question for you."

Tom shifts his gaze from Maverick to Goose, his expression remaining unenthusiastic at best. "Better be a good one," he responds icily.

Goose flashes a broad grin. "That 7-G climb you pulled today – that was a stunner, my friend."

Tom narrows his eyes but doesn't respond. He's waiting for Goose to get to the point.

"Was one hell of a hop!" Goose proclaims.

Tom raises his eyebrows. "I thought you had a question."

"I do, I do." Goose nods vehemently. "Come, let me buy you a beer." Goose stands up, stretching his legs. "I want to talk about how you lost those bogeys today."

Tom lets out an irritable sigh but rises nonetheless.

"7-G's, you hear, Mav?" Goose says excitedly.

"I've pulled 9," Maverick responds nonchalantly.

"In what?" Tom exclaims in outrage, sitting back down.

Goose rolls his eyes. "Ice, the beer."

Maverick wiggles his eyebrows at Tom. "F-14, of course."