by Tina Maurine
“So, basically you’re bummed you’re still single.”
I ignored her. “Then, there was sweet Wes, our liaison cut short by my inability to love him like he loved me, and my new orders to JAX. Then, we come straight here… and let’s just look at my prospects so far. Ari—not bad; in fact, in so far as looks and personality go, far from bad.”
“Ari might be too nice for you, and he works in your shop.”
“Gee, thanks. So?” I stuck my tongue out at her. “I don’t think of him like that anyway, for some reason; we’re truly just friends, so he’s really not even a prospect.”
“Yeah, I can totally see that, and he works in your shop,” she reminded me jokingly.
I continued, “Ian’s pretty fine…”
Sammie interrupted me. “He’s an officer! Albeit a young, dumb and full of cum one, but still definitely not a good idea… even if his pecker seems to think so.”
I laughed. She always was good for lightening the mood.
“Don’t forget Sage. He seems pretty into you too,” Sammie volunteered. “Did you even notice the way he danced with you tonight? Plus, he’s nice. I’ve worked with him in the mech shop.”
“Yeah, I’m not too sure about him. He’s from a town that’s barely bigger than my graduating class. Besides, I did notice how he danced with me… he flat out sucked!” I laughed spiritedly.
“You can’t hold his hick roots against him,” she pointed out, “but he’d sure like to hold you against him!” Sammie dodged as I whipped a pillow off my bed at her head. “Careful, Tess, you don’t want to write a check your ass can’t cash!”
At this point Sammie and I were laughing hysterically. It felt wonderful, this cathartic release.
“And then…” she urged me on.
“Well, there was Dane.”
“Yes,” she half laughed, half choked, “…there certainly was him. What was it… all ten inches of him?”
“Closer to twelve.”
“Holy shit!”
“No. Holy Dane!” I joshed back.
“You’re effin’ kidding me, right?”
“Nope. Anyway… Then there was that guy tonight. Damn, that was electric.”
“Wait, I’m still stuck on the bartender, Dane. How’d you fit that in you? At least NOW I understand why you walked so funny when you guys got back.”
I flung my last pillow at her, and she fended it off with her leg, no problem.
“One, I didn’t walk funny, ass. Two, trust me, you’d have fit it in you too if he’d done to you what he did to me!”
Sammie smirked and changed the subject. “So, that guy tonight was some dancer, huh? Seemed he really enjoyed you rubbing your ass all over his Woody Woodpecker.”
“Woody… really? That’s crass.”
“Yeah, but that’s all you were doing. Sage was dancing up front with you, but you were so into this… what’s his name?”
I rolled my eyes, not that she could see me in our dark room. “I don’t know.”
“You didn’t get his name? Wow. Ok, so anyways, you were so into this guy that even Sage knew it.”
“Bullshit.”
“No, really. When the “Pony” song ended, and Mr. Mysterious was all grab-ass and whispering to you, Sage came back and said something to Lucas, Ace and the rest of us about how it was time to look elsewhere.”
“Oh, crap.” I hadn’t had any intention of going out with Sage, but I didn’t want him to find out this way. I had hoped I could somehow tell him differently or avoid it all together by focusing on being just friends.
“Yup. Guard that rep of yours with your life, ‘cause it will make or break you while you’re here. I keep tellin’ ya.” She stood up and gave me a hug, then plopped back down in the folds of the Blue Beast.
“That’s not even what I was trying to do. Ugh, see? See what I mean? All these guys, and it all just turns to crap. No happiness. Just crap.”
“Well, crappy girl; let’s get some sleep.”
I nodded.
“By the way, you should know I covered for you when we left the dance floor and you were still with that guy while he was all whispering in your ear.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, they were all talking about how you’d fuck him, blah, blah, blah. I just told them to shove it. I told them to quit acting jealous.”
“Thanks. Did it work?”
“Yeah, I think so. Lucas pretty much shut right up. Ace kept his eyes on you even though he pretended not to, but Sage was the toughest… he’s the one who felt the most slighted, I think.”
“Thanks, Sammie,” I breathed, relieved to be putting this night to rest. She stood, peeling herself from the Beast. We hugged, and I glanced at my alarm clock, which now read: 0347.
“We really need to get to bed,” she said, reiterating her previous suggestion.
I wearily dipped my chin, nodding. Best idea of the night.
14
What the fuck?
“Sammie! Stop knocking already!”
“It isn’t me.” I could hear her moving on the other side of the wardrobes. “Fuck off already! Quit knocking!” I could tell by Sammie’s tone of voice that she was pretty pissed.
The incessant knocking continued. I could hear Sam grumbling and thrashing around on her bed—I thought to get up and take care of the asshole on the other side of our door—but no such luck. With a pissy sigh of resignation, I threw my legs out from under my comfortable cocoon of blankets and down comforter, and trudged to the door.
“Alright. Alright! I’m coming. Quit your knocking!” I flipped the locks and opened the door, letting in the brightest light I think I’d ever seen. At least, it sure seemed that way considering how badly my head was hurting from romancing Jack and his buddy Coke last night.
“Rise and shine, baby girl,” Ari exclaimed as he let himself into our room and gratefully shut out the grievous hall lights. I crawled back into my cloud-like bed haven. I was so, so tired, and my head hurt, and I just wasn’t ready to get up.
“Who is it?” Sam mumbled from her mountain of covers.
“Just Ari.”
“Huh?”
“Ari Benson. AE2, you know, from my shop. Sheesh, you’ve only been hanging out with him since week one.”
“Shut the fuck up. I know who he is,” she said as she sat up.
“Shit, I thought I was more memorable than that.” Ari let out a good-hearted laugh.
One great thing about Ari; he never seemed to take things personally. He was either confident or arrogant, I hadn’t decided which, but I was betting on confident because he had everything he needed to back it, especially those exotic good looks.
“Oh. Hey, motherfucker, next time you wake me up beating on my door, I’m gonna open it and pound you,” Sam said groggily.
With a chuckle Ari slapped her bed. “Just try, Airman Anders. Just try.”
I heard Sammie try to kick him. Thankfully, before it turned into an all-out war, Ari plopped himself down in our Blue Beast and kicked out the foot-rest. I glanced at my alarm, which read 1005, and quietly sighed, counting that I’d had just under six hours of sleep. I so loved our black-out curtains. I prepared to settle into another bout of well-deserved sleep.
“I know you don't smoke weed; I know this. But I'm gonna get you high today, 'cause it's Friday; you ain't got no job... and you ain't got shit to do.”
Oh Brother! Really? He’s quoting Smokey from the movie Friday? Where do I find my friends?
“Ari, it’s Friday. I have a job, and the shit I have to do is called nurse a hangover.” With that, I rolled over to face the wall.
He was quiet.
He was still quiet.
He’s being too quiet. Maybe he took the hint and is taking a nap too? I rolled back over and saw Ari still kicked back in our recliner, just staring. I couldn’t tell if he was stalker-staring at me or just zoning.
“Hey! Go do that in your own room,” I said with a yawn.
He cleared h
is throat, “Hey, so, remember when I’d told you that volunteering as a body on the bus washes would pay off?”
I mumbled something that resembled a yes.
“Well, the guys at the at the Keflavik motor-pool remember you and Sam pretty well, and when I called up to see if there was a van available for this weekend, we got to talking, and they extended us an open invitation to use their vans anytime there’s one available.”
I didn’t say anything. I heard him, but I could feel myself fading.
“I’ve already picked-up a van for today. Fenton, Towers, Finn, Montgomery, Reeser, Daniels, Garren, Archibladt… they’re all going…”
I interrupted him, “Who’s going? I was halfway gone between here and getting there, and none of those names sound familiar.”
I heard him mutter under his breath, “Jeezus Tess, least you could do is stay awake! I’m trying to get you in on a fun day,” as I watched him crack his neck and then massage it. “Anyways,” he went on with a sigh, “the van is an eleven-seater, and there’s room for at least two more… so, here I am.”
“Going where?” I asked with another yawn. I couldn’t chase the hangover fog from my head, and now a vicious headache threatened.
“Wait. Who did you say was going?” Clearly, Sammie had cleared her haze.
“You know, your friends Lucas, Ace and Kari, an electrician from Tess’s and my shop, Sage, Ian, and two security guys…”
“How can Ian Daniels go? He’s an officer. And who are the last two? New check-ins?” Sammie’s voice had changed its location, indicating Ari had at least piqued her interest, as she no longer burrowed under the covers.
“First of all, Ian and I fly together, so it isn’t weird for us to hang out. And, no, Garren and Archibladt aren’t new check-ins, they’re base security. In fact, we met them at the base gate on our way back in a couple of weekends ago.”
“Whoa there, hoss! You mean to tell me you’ve been off base again already and didn’t get us? You suck.” I could just imagine Sammie’s pouty face.
“Trust me, what we were out for wasn’t your type of fun, if you know what I mean,” Ari snickered suggestively, giving us a clue to just what they had been up to.
“You still suck,” Sammie said, pulling back my covers and crawling in next to me. I shifted over to the wall to make plenty of room for the girl who already felt like my sister.
“So, hey—we’re gonna pony up around 1100. It would be great to get some more estrogen in the van. I’m sure your friend Kari Fenton would appreciate the company.”
“Ugh. Okay, Ari,” I said with a moan. “I can’t let Kari brave you all alone. I just hate having to get to know new guys, ya know? I don’t even know if I’m up for it, as bad as I feel.” I groaned again.
“What do you mean? I thought you guys met them last night. I heard all about it from the gang,” he laughed. I could hear him putting the footrest down on the Beast before standing.
I sat up.
“What exactly did you hear, Ari?”
“Never mind, baby girl, just get ready. You only have about thirty minutes before we’re supposed to roll out of here.” He started to open the door…
“BRIGHT LIGHT! BRIGHT LIGHT!” I squealed.
“Gremlins—right?” He shut the door to just the barest crack. “We’re headed to Blue Lagoon, so pack accordingly.” Ari blew us sarcastic kisses, pausing to catch my eyes, and scooted out the door.
“What did he mean by we met them last night?” I asked Sammie, my interest definitely piqued. I’d spoken with so many guys and danced with a good handful. Who could guess which was base security?
Sam had already gotten up and flopped into the Blue Beast, flipping through the AFARTS. She stopped on the weather.
“Hey, it’s supposed to be nice today. Forty degrees and winds only about fifteen miles per hour. Says here about eleven hours of light.”I climbed out of bed and set to work looking for my swim stuff and something to wear that might at least make me feel presentable. Sure, they were my friends, but I had to at least look somewhat decent. Right?
I had my forest-green and leather Jansen backpack from high school all packed with my bikini, towel, make-up, etc. on my bed, and was putting the finishing touches on my messy, curled up-do, when a knock sounded at our door.
I just can’t seem to get my tendrils right… damn it!
“Sam, can you get that please?” I know I was literally an arm’s reach from the door, where I stood looking in the mirror over our sink, but I still had to sweep lip-gloss, bronzer and blush on.
Sammie complied and let Ari in as I was finishing my face. I smoothed my hands over my sage-green, long sleeved V-neck t-shirt, admiring how it contrasted nicely against the bright white cami I had layered under it. I finished my look with a kick-ass pair of black stretch pants, which I’d tucked into a cute pair of Uggs. I grabbed my black down vest, pack and sat down to wait for Sammie which, I might add, NEVER happens. I am always the last one primping.
Sammie looked outdoorsy herself. She’d taken extra care getting dressed and had on a pretty tight pair of black jeans and a chunky ivory cable-knit sweater. She wore her leather Docs and was actually putting her hair up in a high, tight ponytail; a fun style that really accentuated her cheekbones, which were always hidden under her short hair. As she ran Chapstick over her lips and pinched her cheeks, Ari grabbed her brown leather bomber jacket and pack.
“We really need to get a move on. The guys on my floor were headed outside when I came up here to get you, and I still have to get Fenton.”
I’m never going to get used to calling people by their last names. It’s a military thing, but so formal to me. “I’ll go get Kari.”
“I’m ready, too,” Sammie said as she grabbed her signature Velcro wallet and room key.
We jumped out the door, and seconds later, knocked on Kari’s, just two rooms down from ours. She was ready, and we all headed down the three flights of stairs to where our chariot—the government motor-pool van—awaited.
The guys were all in good spirits as we drove across the extensive parking lot to pick up Garren and Archibladt. It resembled an expansive stadium parking lot, so not just a stone’s throw away.
I had sobered me up a little, and if it weren’t for this damn headache, I’d have been doing pretty ok for the most part. If I’d woken up any drunker, my hangover would’ve been unbearable. It hurt enough already.
The van stopped, and my stomach lurched. Ari jumped out from behind the wheel and hurried into their building.
“These aren’t the squadron officer barracks, are they?” Sammie asked anyone in the van who might know the answer.
“Pretty sure they aren’t. I know Trigg and Ketts have friends over there though,” Lucas commented off-handedly as Ace nodded in agreement.
Do they ever do anything without each other?
“Yeah, those are not our squadron barracks, but they do house officers, security, and other NASKEF personnel on regular billets,” Ian volunteered. “I’ve been in those apartments. Not only do they host the best parties, but their pads are pretty fucking amazing. Did you know they’re like mini-apartments?”
“Aren’t they more like quads?” Everyone turned to look at me. I shrugged, squinting against my queasy headache and forcing my mind to the conversation. “It’s not like I’ve been in one, I’ve just heard talk in the shop. There’s like a common living space. Some have kitchens, and then the rooms are off the common area?” I threw my hands up in the air. “Come on guys, you’ve seen quads at college, right?”
Silence.
I could’ve heard crickets chirping.
Okay… so who fucking cares apparently? I shifted uncomfortably, wishing I was back in my cozy bed.
And then, it started…
“So, Tessa,” Sage spoke first, “what was up with last night anyways?”
I scowled at him. “What do you mean, exactly?”
“He wants to know what was up with you and that guy from last
night, but what I want to know is, what was up with that girl you were dancing with before him?” Ace jested, but I knew he actually wanted to know—he was a bit of a freak like that.
“Which one?” I asked, playing stupid. One girl had come on to me, and it had been blatantly obvious… but that just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Ari climbed back into the van. “They’ll be down in a sec. So, whatcha all talking about?”
“Hey, Tessa I didn’t know you like girls!”
“I don’t. We just danced.” I looked Ace squarely in the eyes, but then Lucas took a turn…
“Tess, don’t you know that’s against the UCMJ?”
Jeezus. The Uniform Code of Military Justice… Really?
I sighed, reaching up to hold my head. Sammie turned towards me. “Don’t start on me.” I eyed her wearily. “I’m tired, hung-over, and my head hurts. I refuse to deal with their stupid shit today.”
“Whoa, Tess, you don’t look so hot… here take this,” she reached out handing me her Power Aide bottle and two 800mg Ibuprofen. “That should do the trick.”
“Thanks,” I said taking the hangover treatment she offered. “Ugh, I’m not sure what’s wrong with me. I’m usually never this hungover.”
In the background the guys were still razzing me about my night of debauchery… if you could even call it that.
Don’t they have anything better to hack away at?
My eyes connected with Ari’s in the rear-view mirror, and he mouthed ‘sorry’. I smiled and rolled my eyes, but this wasn’t the first time I’d dealt with a bunch of ‘boys’. Working amongst them made this pretty common territory, and I’d developed a tough skin.
Thankfully, they moved on from me and on to discuss what had become THE food to try here in Iceland—sheep dogs.
“…I don’t know, but they sound down-right horrendous to me.” Kari faked a gag-me-out expression that got all of us rolling; that is, except me. I nursed my aching head, resting it on Sammie’s shoulder.
“Oh. My. God, they are the absolute best after a night drinking in Reykjavik!” Ian and Ari high-fived in the front seats of the van.
“What are they exactly?” I’m sure my voice sounded weak, as miserable as I was feeling.
