Beached.

Last Night

Penny was expecting me at The Hard Deck. Ever since we demanded her telling of Pete's antics, we—me, her and Natasha—have been in a group chat. Nat and I also wouldn't let her forget about our wine night.

She waved when she saw me. "Kyle!" She met me with a beer as I took a seat at the counter.

"Thank you, Penny." I tipped the bottle toward her before drinking it. We delved right into how things were going between me and Jake.

"He's been staying more at my house than he has on base." We both took swigs of our beers. Penny allowed herself to drink since the bar hadn't opened yet.

"What's your experience with Jake?" I asked. Penny looked at me.

"I only know Jake by his conquests and shameless flirting. I will say, you're the first girl he has brought into the bar. Normally, he only leaves with them." She paused. "Come to think of it, I don't know that I've seen him leave with the same girl twice—except you." I nodded, absorbing what she said.

"He does act differently around you. He seems focused and less worried about everyone else," Penny added.

"Yeah, Jake's into you." Penny's daughter, Amelia, was sitting a little ways down the bar, doing homework.

"Please, Amelia, enlighten us." Penny invited her to the conversation. Penny winked at me.

Amelia brought her schoolwork closer to continue working while chatting. "Body language," she said very matter of a fact. Penny and I exchanged smiles, and we let her explain Jake's nonverbal tells.

Amelia entertained us until open. Then patrons began to spill in, so Penny shoo'd her into her office.

I was sitting alone at the bar, Penny busy serving other patrons, when Pete bellied up. "Pete!" I was genuinely excited to see him.

"Hey, MVP." He opened his arm for a side hug and I seized the moment. "Thank you for coming the other day."

We untangled and I squeezed his hand. "Of course, Pete." He was referring to the funeral of his close friend, and as I learned through his many stories, guardian angel, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky.

Iceman was the cherry on top to a rough stretch. Right before his passing, Natasha and Bob suffered a bird strike during an exercise and had to eject from their jet. Luckily, they were fine and just being held overnight for observation at an off-base hospital. I still went to visit them, and we video-called with the rest of the detachment.

During story time, Pete told me about him and Iceman's rivalry. In many ways, it was similar to that of Jake and Bradley. I wished Natasha was around to hear it—or maybe even those two buffoons.

Penny served Pete a beer, and he wasted no time delving into his latest story. Since Iceman was no longer around, he nearly got tossed, again, from the Navy. However, with the support of a good woman—yes, Penny—he found a way to keep his job.

Pete stole yet another jet and flew a mission simulation in much less time than they'd been training for to prove the mission possible. Given the amount of times this man stole government property, I couldn't decide if it was his privilege or skill set that kept saving his ass from larceny charges.

I looked at Pete. "I think we need shots." He nodded in agreement. "Penny! Can we get a couple shots?" Surprised, she obliged. Pete and I spent the early evening doing shots, and I egged him on for more Ice stories, which he gladly shared.

Natasha joined us at the bar, partaking in our next round of shots. Pete and I had already lost count. Surely, Penny was keeping track.

Nat began to question how long we'd been at the bar due to my alcohol consumption. I confessed I often snuck in before open to drink and shoot the shit with Penny.

Keeping the commander-soldier relationship alive, Pete didn't tell Natasha he'd been named team leader. She and the rest of the detachment would find out in the morning. They would also find out if they were flying the mission or waiting in the wings.

Finally, Jake graced us with his presence—he was freshly showered, his black t-shirt pulling in all the right places and his hair bounced loosely since he forewent gel.

I had a great buzz going. Thank goodness Penny force fed me water between alcoholic beverages, otherwise I would've been fully blitzed. "Hey," he greeted and kissed my temple. Natasha, Pete and Penny each wore their own version of a "I'm questioning this, but if you're happy I'm happy" look.

"Snake charmer?!" Natasha whispered to me. I elbowed her for the backhanded compliment. Just then, Bradley called for her to join him at the pool table. Pete found a reason to disappear, leaving Jake and I alone. Jake snagged Pete's stool, and Penny brought him a beer.

As confident as Jake was, I could sense some worry. We were facing each other, so I put a hand on his knee. He put his hand on top of mine. "Everything will be ok."

"I know." He winked at me—his confidence got a second wind. I rolled my eyes and cracked a grin. We had already talked about what was coming. Jake would be on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the North Pacific for at least a week.

He looked at me through hooded eyes. "Should we go back to your place?"

"Sure," I said. "I have one stipulation." He waited for my request. "You have to drive." He arched an eyebrow. Just then Penny arrived.

"Little Miss Shots Shots Shots," she commented. Jake turned back to me.

I shrugged. "You weren't here, and it was storytime with Pete Mitchell," I explained.

He laughed. "Penny, tell the old timer to stick to women his age."

"She instigated!" Penny shot back. I laughed, and Jake jokingly narrowed his eyes at me. We said our goodbyes, and then Jake took my hand to lead me out of the bar. I practically fell into the passenger seat of my vehicle.

"How many shots did you do?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Enough for Penny to cut us off." Jake sighed, which made me laugh. I was laughing at the idea he was taking care of me—Natasha wouldn't believe it. Penny and Pete probably wouldn't either if they hadn't beared witness to him practically carrying me out of the building.

"And here I was hoping for a goodbye rendezvous between the sheets." He fired up the engine.

"It's not my fault you came extremely late to the bar," I said. "Our last night before you leave, and you didn't plan to spend any time with me while vertical?" Jake chuckled at my description of time outside the bedroom.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to make sure I had everything!" he said. I kept heckling him as he drove us back to my place. Meanwhile, his hand kept getting higher and higher up my thigh. "I wish you were wearing a skirt."

I smiled and bit my lip. "You're just gonna have to wait until we get home."