Keep Your Eyes On Me

- 19 -

It had been one year and eight months. One year and eight months since Jake looked across these waters with tears in his eyes at the realization he had probably lost the love of his life forever. And now here he was having to face that again. Called back to the same carrier to the same waters. Reports of more activity at the same base. And as squad leader, he had to face the fact that he could lose more people, which was not at all a comfort to him. But he knew it was part of the job.

His fingers ran over the tuft of hair over his lip before he wiped away the stray tears. He never could get over Elizabeth. Danielle had tried many times to help him, offering to be his wingman when they went out. It usually ended with him turning every woman down. In fact, one time, the night ended with him deciding to be Danielle's wingman.

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It had been five months since his transformation from cosplaying a hobo to now a newly promoted Navy commander. He had thrown himself into his work as hard as he could and due to his two kills and his display of leadership, he was able to skip straight up to Commander Jake "Hangman" Seresin. So Danielle made it a point to drag him to the closest bar and call in a few friends from Lamoore. He had tried a few times under Danielle's direction to get back out there. To move on from Elizabeth. But anytime he tried, all he could think about was her. Nothing or no one could compare.

"What about her? She's cute! You could make tall blonde babies or something," Danielle said as a woman walked into the bar.

Jake looked at the woman. Definitely would have been someone he would have gone for before. But not now. He just couldn't. He looked down at the shorter woman again, an idea coming to his head.

"Why don't I be your wingman for once? I bet I could sniff out a good-looking guy who could handle the amount of balls you have," he said, smirking a little and already picking out one or two men to send her way. Both are conventionally attractive. And based on different comments she had made while the two watched movies, they fit her type. He walked over to them and hyped them up to go ask her to buy a drink.

It went smoothly. But he wasn't expecting her to end up going home with Bob who had swooped in to save her from one of the guys, who ended up being a complete douche. Bob had beat him to stepping in. And honestly, watching the two interact was shocking.

Phoenix was sure to tease him by asking him to keep his mouth closed and not to be too shocked that a girl like Danielle might enjoy a soft type who actually listens instead of thinking with his dick.

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He missed Phoenix. The dagger squad had a reunion for the day Elizabeth and John went missing. It was nice to see everyone. Bradley and Nat announced their engagement. Penny and Maverick had just come back from their honeymoon. Javy sharing photos of his wife's ultrasound photos. It was nice seeing everyone so happy. Remembering happy things about their friend and catching up. But he couldn't help but be bitter. Bitter him and Elizabeth couldn't share a moment like this with one another.

He held the picture in his hand smiling lightly. It was one Danielle had given to him. One he kept going back to. Elizabeth had apparently shaved her head in Army boot camp. It was a trick Danielle had set up. But she looked stunning. He had never seen her smile that bright. He supposed this is what Bradley and Danielle had meant when they said she has never shown brighter than before she enlisted. He sighed deeply, eyes shifting over the photo before looking over the open water. A slow tear rolled down his face as his fingers fiddled in his pocket.

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It wasn't much longer after the middle school kids had visited. Seeing her with that little girl had flipped a switch. A switch he hadn't known he had, at least not for her. It made him hang on to every word she said. Jump at every opportunity to be close to her. Wanting to drink up every drop of sun she gave off, wishing he could get sunburned. He didn't know what had gotten into him. But she didn't seem to understand. And he was too much of a coward to let himself process this newfound crush. He hadn't felt this way since he was in middle school, discovering what he thought was love for the first time. It freaked him out.