𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫 | 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐲 "𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫" 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞

13: the bradshaw beach house

the weekend couldn't have come sooner for bradley bradshaw and i. a day off from top gun was needed for everyone, especially after the week that we'd all just had. maverick was still working when friday night rolled so he locked himself up in his study and i was free to do as i pleased.

bradley hadn't texted me or called so i assumed he was busy for the night and went over my own work for top gun. then shortly after 7pm, the doorbell rang. knowing maverick was buried in his work, I answered it. standing there in the doorway in all of his 6'1" glory with a bouquet of white roses was bradley bradshaw.

"bradley," i smiled and he handed me the roses. i hugged him the grabbed his hand, guiding him into my house. "let me put these in a vase."

"i'm sorry to show up so unexpectedly," he said.

"i'm glad you're here," i replied slipping the roses into a vase my dad had gotten my mom for her birthday one year.

"i wanted to formally ask you out tonight," he said, "if you're up to it, of course."

"the bradley bradshaw is asking me out?" i joked.

"i was thinking a greasy burger joint that i know you're in love with," he began, referring to benny's burgers, which was a place on the coast that was the first place bradley and i had ever gone on a date.

"you've got my attention," i smiled.

"then i was thinking a costal drive up to that beach house my dad left me in the will," he said.

"you're serious?" i asked.

when we were first at top gun, we usually spent the weekends at his beach house, which his dad had bought when bradley's mom, carole, had gotten pregnant. somehow it had been left to bradley in the will. he looked at me for a solid moment and i could tell he was absolutely serious.

"i'd love to," i said, "let me go get my jacket."

we drove up the coast and it felt like no time had passed as we pulled into the benny's burgers parking lot. we sat in a booth by the window just as the sky began to turn a soft orange color. a few cokes and our finished entrees in, bradley seemed to be acting off. like something in the place was bothering him.

"hey, is something wrong?" i asked.

"no, everything's fine," he replied with a smile, "i'm just ready to go is all."

"are we ready for the check?" the waitress asked as she came over to check on us.

"yes, please," i replied.

"together?" she asked.

"yes," bradley said, "thank you."

she handed him the check and walked away. as bradley began to take out his wallet i cleared my throat.

"yes?" he asked.

"bradley you don't have to pay for both of us," i said, "i have my own money."

"i asked you out," he said, "this is my treat, okay?"

i smiled and could feel the blush rising into my cheeks. i was nearing 25 and still blushing when he did sweet things like that.

"ready?" he asked leaving the money on the table.

"let's go," i said and grabbed his hand as he led me out of the restaurant.

as we walked past the first row of cars toward the middle of the parking lot where his truck was, i turned and saw a midnight blue motorcycle with a california license plate. i smiled thinking of hangman, who had that same exact motorcycle back when we were actually at top gun.