"What do we have here?" Hangman shouts smugly. "If it ain't Phoenix!" Hangman leans against the pool table as the Phoenix walks up to him.
"I missed you!" Willow hugs her.
"I missed you too."
"And here I thought we were special, Coyote. Turns out the invite went to anyone." Willow elbows her boyfriend's ribs, walking straight back over to the table.
"Fellas, this here's Bagman." Phoenix introduces him to the boys behind her.
"Hangman."
"Whatever." Phoenix smiles sarcastically. "You're looking at the only naval aviator on active duty with a confirmed air-to-air kill."
"Stop." Hangman acts humbled, causing Willow to laugh.
"Mind you, the other guy was in a museum piece from the Korean War."
"Cold War. Different wars, same century."
"Not this one." Willow smiles, pulling the pool cue from Coyote's hands.
"Who are your friends?" Coyote asks.
"Payback."
"Fanboy." There's a brief pause before he questions, "Who's she?"
"Vixen." Jake answers, pulling her around the table to stand in front of him. He positions her to where her back is against his chest. "My beautiful girlfriend." Jake kisses her temple as she laughs, pulling away from him.
"Hey Coyote." Phoenix greets.
"Hey."
"Who's he?" Phoenix asks.
"Who's who?" Coyote questions before the attention is turned to the man sitting in the barstool nearby.
"When did you get in?" Coyote asks.
"Oh, I've been here the whole time."
"Man's a stealth pilot." Hangman chuckles.
"Literally." Coyote chimes in.
"Weapons system officer, actually."
"With no sense of humor." Hangman sighs, handing Phoenix his pool cue, walking to the bar.
"What do they call you? Willow questions.
"Bob."
"No your callsign." Payback asks.
"Bob."
"Bob Floyd? You're my new backseater? From Lemoore?"
"Looks like it. Yeah." Bob nods.
"Nine ball, Bob." Phoenix hands him the pool cue. "Rack'em." She takes the extended cue from Willow who walks after her boyfriend.
"Penny my dear. I'll have 4 beers on the old timer."
"Better be getting one for me too." Willow bounces up to the bar top.
"I could never forget my best girl." Jake's southern drawl flutters out. Willow leans into his side as Penny returns with their drinks.
"Hey Willow! You back too?" Penny questions, wiping down the bar as they pick up the bottles.
"Yea. How have you been?" Willow smiles.
"Good, ya know I just saw-"
"Willow?" Willow glances behind Penny to see none other than her father sitting on the other side of the bar.
"Maverick." She nods curtly.
"Sweetheart-" Maverick tries but she shuts him down.
"Don't. Not here." She shakes her head, turning away from the bar. "Let's go Jake."
YOU ARE READING
Always Darling | Jake Seresin
FanfictionJake and Willow met by chance in the last 2 months of the Naval Academy. From that day, they chose to stick by each other's side through every up and down life had to offer, even when they're both selected to train for the deadliest mission they've...
