A Ghost Playing Hangman

nine

You found yourself in Jake's truck with more questions than answers. It didn't matter how many times you asked where you were going, the man wouldn't budge. He was dead set on keeping everything a surprise for you.

Not being in control was a new thing for you. Being a pilot, not having control over a situation means life or death and because of that, you always tried to stay in control. Which is why your foot was now tapping against the floorboard and your arms crossed, trying to distract yourself by looking out the window.

"Tap your foot any harder and you'll put a hole in my truck." You glanced over to see him smirking at you, relaxed as could be.

"I just don't understand why you won't tell me where we are going." He chuckled at your stubbornness and reached over to give your hand a squeeze.

"Most girls would be thrilled if a guy put forth the effort in planning something out." You tried your hardest to keep your eyes from rolling because he was right. A lot of guys didn't do things like this, but it still didn't cover up the fact that you were on edge.

"We are almost there anyway." He had been driving for close to an hour and it wouldn't be long until the sun started to set. Looking out the window, there was nothing in sight besides the long, winding road and the ocean itself. You thought maybe he had made a reservation somewhere for dinner, but that clearly wasn't the case.

Jake pulled his truck onto the beach and backed it up to where the tailgate was facing the water. You followed his lead as he got out and walked around. "Can I know now?"

He gave you a wink, one that would've irritated you to the ends of the earth a few weeks ago. But in this moment, you found it almost endearing.

He dropped the tailgate and grabbed a few things out of the back seat. How he managed to hide a couple blankets and pillows, you had no idea. But here they were, being laid out in the back of the truck.

You gave him a questioning look when he held out his hand for you to take, but you walked forward and allowed him to help you up. There had still been zero explanation as to what we were doing in the middle of nowhere.

He sat down with is back up against the truck and patted the space in front of him. You followed his command and sat down in between his legs with your back leaning against his chest. Arms were draped around you, and you couldn't help but let out a content sigh.

"I've come to notice that when something is bothering you, you head out to the beach. I know how stressed you are right now because I'm living it too. Tonight, I wanted you to try and relax some and figured this was my best option. Just you, me, and the ocean." Your heart warmed at the thoughtfulness of it all. No one had ever done something like this for you, and you were starting to realize how rare of a man Jake Seresin was.

"Tomorrow is a big day for you too. I don't want you to be stressed out here to make me happy." His arms pulled you closer and you felt his chin rest on the top of your head.

"Darlin, wherever you are is where I'm happiest." This man is so much more than people have given him credit for. You wanted to kick yourself for the way you initially thought of him, not knowing that this side of him existed. You fell into rumors and prejudices that people laid out before you, not trying to make your opinions of him. How many people have written him off as a cocky pilot who only cared about himself? To think about how dangerous that thought could be if he went out there tomorrow and no one had his back because of what they thought they knew.

"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" His voice brought you back to the here and now.

"Thinking about how dumb I was when I first met you." You felt his chest rumble with a chuckle.

"Don't blame yourself. I don't let many people in. You should know what that is like." And you did. It was easier to put an act on than be who you truly were. Less chances of getting hurt.

"I know there is a good chance both of us won't be picked together, but of all pilots I wish it would be you who had my back." You felt him let out a deep breath.

"For the first time in my entire career, I'm hoping I don't get picked for this. Same goes for you. I feel like there is so much more to lose this time and it's making me question where I want to go from here. I know I'm a damn good pilot, but what is that worth? Because in the end, we all get put in the ground in the same damn box regardless on when it happens. And by God, I don't want that happening to either of us any time soon."

It wasn't a secret that many Top Gun pilots didn't have a family to go back to or a significant other. The things you all are asked to do makes wanting to settle down more of a dream than a possible reality. And it was something you didn't truly understand until now.

"I know this relationship is still very new, but am I crazy to think that losing you tomorrow would be the worst thing that could happen? The pain I feel just thinking about it makes me want to not show up, and that scares me." You grabbed one of his hands and started tracing random lines onto it. Trying to keep yourself together enough to possibly enjoy the night.

"Sweetheart, I hate to tell you this but you're it for me. There is not one else in this world I would want to call me out on my bullshit." You couldn't help the laugh that escaped and was thankful some of the tension that was building up had started to fade.

"Did you ever hear about the time I was almost kicked out of the academy?" That caught his attention and moved us away from the harder conversation we were just having.

~~

The two of you had stayed out well past sunset, trying and failing to make time slow down. It wasn't much longer you found yourself fighting to stay awake in the passenger seat on the ride home. You had both talked for hours. Telling stories from the academy, your families, and everything in between. Leaving there, you felt like Jake knew the real you. The side of you that had been locked up for years begging to come back out. But as nice as that felt, it seemed like it might have all been for nothing. That in the next 24 hours, you might be retelling these stories to a ghost.

Jake managed to get you out of the truck and into bed, with you swaying on your feet from exhaustion. Once he knew you were tucked in with multiple alarms set, he went to leave.

You reached out and grabbed his hand. "Stay. Please." Even though you were on the verge of passing out, you noticed his hesitation. Staying with you meant a few different things. On one hand, it would provide both of you the comfort you craved. Falling asleep in Jake's arms allowed you to forget about what was happening tomorrow and live in a false reality, even if it was for only a night.

But on the other hand, him staying would symbolize the fact that one of you could lose the other tomorrow. It was accepting a slow goodbye, letting you hang on to each other for possibly the last time. But if he didn't stay, the possible farewell would be pushed off until one of you was flying off the carrier.

Both options hurt too much to think about.

You didn't know if it was relief or heartache when he pulled his shirt off and slid into bed next to you. His arms were quick to pull you into him, providing a blanket of safety for the next few hours.

His voice came out as a whisper, but you heard every word he managed to get out. "There are so many things I want to say to you, but I'll wait until after we are both back home and safe." You closed your eyes as a few tears managed to escape.

You didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but right now you wanted nothing more than to stay in this man's arms forever.

A/N: Thank you all for reading this story!! More exciting things to come in the next few chapters! Thoughts, comments, and questions are always welcomed!