I knew then I was losing her. “I could maybe get a desk job next or something.”
A weak smile wiped across her face. “I would never do that, ask you to change. Jonah, I just need space. Please – this is all too much for me right now. Let me think.”
“We’ve both already done too much thinking. It’s time for us to live!”
She pushed her chair back and stood. “Don’t come over tonight, okay? Promise me.”
“Hannah—”
“Don’t!” she said sharply.
She wouldn’t answer my calls or my texts. Finally, I took to sitting at the bar at the club across from her each night she worked. She’d ignore me, but I just wanted to be close to her.
I knew she felt as strongly as I did, so I’d sit there and sip water. Yes, water. Those long nights, my sole intention was to get her back. But she wouldn’t even speak to me. Every night she worked, I followed her home. I wouldn’t go back to base until I saw her door close and the lights turn out.
One night about a week after she’d left me, though, I decided to trade my water from something stronger. My former squadron, one I’d deployed with to Iraq and Afghanistan, was in town for exercises. We were tight, as those who get shot at together always are, and I decided to let my guard down a little.
Shot after shot later, I was wasted. And that’s, of course, when my DO chose to mess with me.
“Up to no good again I see, asshole.” There stood Danno, and his face looked like he’d sucked a thousand lemons.
“Jusssttt a few drinkks wiff da boys,” I slurred.
“Drunk and bloody. Very becoming for a field grade officer in public, I must say.” He glanced down at my ripped jeans, the dried blood from a wicked round of Crud crusting over.
“Just a game with the boys…weren’t you in the Panthers once? Oh, nevermind, I forgot you haven’t done much actual warfare. Desk work, right? Playing it safe back home with the fam while we were getting shot at by shoulder-fired missiles.”
His puffy hands stroked his starched, ironed flight suit. “Watch yourself, Whaler.”
I knew I’d gotten to him when he used my call sign, which he never had before. But I never knew when to stop. “Did you have that dry cleaned? It looks…crisp.”
His face red, he nearly spat the words into my face. “Screw you, Jones. Wouldn’t your wife still be alive if you had an ounce of self-respect? What was her name…I forget…”
His eyes rolled to the ceiling, his stupid finger parked on his lower lip. Like a volcano, I could feel myself about to erupt. “Don’t you say her—”
And then he said it. “Rachel.”
That was all I needed to punch him in his stupid face as hard as I possibly could. And lucky for him, I was inebriated enough not to break his ugly nose. A boxer throughout college, I certainly could have done a shit-ton more damage sober.
But it was bloody – far bloodier than my gashed up left leg, that’s for sure. Even worse, as Danno fell to the ground, I saw her run to us. Hannah – she saw the whole thing.
Ten of my buddies nearly carried me out the door of the club. They must have gotten me to my room, but I sure as hell don’t remember it. Just before passing out, fully clothed, on top of the bed – I heard her one more time.
“Tomorrow, Jonah, go get my roses.”
“I can’t,” I begged. “She won’t talk to me.”
“She will. Sleep it off, clean up, and go get my roses from Hannah. A dozen copper roses – and it’ll all be okay.”
The next morning, I got up and showered, shaved, put on actual clean clothes, and headed toward the Base Exchange. There wasn’t much hope in me; she’d ignored my calls and texts and wouldn’t even look at me in person. But Rachel was relentless, and I wasn’t about to let her haunt me.
It was Saturday and busy. With kids running everywhere, a packed food court, and an endless Starbucks line, I knew she’d be working her craft stall. I braved the coffee line, and caramel macchiato in hand, I watched her from afar.
Twice she looked over at me, her expression unreadable. There’d be considerable fallout from my encounter with Danno, and I knew it. Punching your DO, your squadron’s second-in-command, in the face in the middle of the Nellis Club wasn’t something that would go unpunished.
With my history, even though I’d managed to avoid major fallout for my prior screw-ups, I knew I was done career-wise. This time they’d take my commission, take my wings, and kick me out. But that was the very least of my concerns that morning.
My goal was to talk to Hannah – to fulfill Rachel’s request. I had to have her.