Chapter 12 – Ramsey
“Once we’re finally done with this training session, we should go to Billy’s to celebrate,” Jensen says, as he picks up a few parachutes, ready to run a mock session with the new trainees.
“No, we should go to Louie’s,” Harlow says. “I already told Whitney to be ready to head over there. It was hard enough for her to ever start liking to hang out at your biker dive bar. She doesn’t want to have to get used to a new one that’s even divier.”
“Fine,” Jensen grumbles. “Whatever. But ‘divier’ isn’t a fucking word.”
I’m glad that I’m able to be doing this portion of the training session with Jensen and the recruits he’s in charge of, but a part of me wishes I was doing another field training session.
During those sessions, the combat and control unit shines lasers at the places where the fighter pilots should land. We take part in simulated combat situations, when planes are shot down or bombed, and the pararescue team is tasked with finding the victims on the ground or in the mountains. As SEALs, we covertly sneak in and rescue anyone who needs rescuing, and then stealthily leave as if we were never even there.
Those sessions are much more intense than this, and it’s been a grueling nearly 48 hours of training. I’m grimy, tired and grumpy, but if I were still running a close combat support session with some of the other guys, I’d be able to see Monica.
That damn chick is still playing games with my head, even without physically being near me.
“In this exercise, a real-life parachuting experience will be simulated,” Jensen tells his group of trainees, and begins giving them instructions. “You may think you know how to deal with this situation, but you need to listen up good.”
It’s my hundredth or more time parachuting, so I tune him out and get caught up in my fantasies. Damn, how I wish I could feel those full tits and that voluptuous ass of hers, one more time.
My cock gets half hard just thinking about it, as if it craves her curves. But thinking about our pact— our Just For One Night extended by mutual agreement into Just For One Night and One Morning, but never to be extended again— is enough to calm me down.
Why do I even want her so much, anyway? She’s just one girl in a string of many, and she only wanted to be with me for one night anyway.
She only wanted to fuck me for just one night, I mentally correct myself. She doesn’t want to “be” with anyone any more than I do. That’s supposed to be the good thing about having been with her.
So why can’t I get her out of my head? I can’t believe I’m so mentally attached to someone I’ll never see again.
I’m relieved when it’s time to get on the plane, and leave thoughts of Monica in the dust. I’ve been partnered up with a recruit named Jason, so I shake his hand and introduce myself as the plane takes off. It’s too loud to say much else, so I join him in staring out at the beautiful view of the Sandia Mountains.
I think Albuquerque is gorgeous, and I’ve finally started feeling grateful to be born and raised here. I loved it as a kid— trips to Blake’s Lotaburger and Route 66 Bowling Alley with my dad, and field trips to the zoo and Botanical Garden’s at school.
I really used to have it made back then. That was back when Dad was a well-known and well-loved politician— or, as well-loved as politicians can get, anyway— and we were a big happy family of Mom, Dad, Jensen, Harlow and of course me— the beloved first child.
That was, of course, before everything changed, before Mom ran off with some druggie and Dad fell apart, before my family became the talk of the town for reasons that were no longer good, and our financial situation was devastated as Dad tried to keep supporting Mom and her various bad habits— and boyfriends.
Dad didn’t have it in him to run for re-election— hell, he barely had it in him to live for a few more years. In the end, his broken heart killed him.
I can’t say I’ll ever put the past totally behind me, but I try not to let my family history affect me the way I once did. Hell, I’ve faced bigger problems since then.
I became a man and learned what exactly that meant. And I was determined never to be anything like my father— at the whims of some woman who doesn’t love or appreciate me the right way.
Although I used to be angry at him, now I realize that he was just pathetically in love with my mother, and love does strange things to people. I certainly don’t want to find out what love could do to me. That’s why I’m fine with a Just For One Night pact, even if means never getting to see Monica again.
As we reach our flight’s peak I look down at the clouds on top of the mountains and yell out, “Albuquerque, you’re the only woman who loves me! We’ll cry together forever!”— paying homage to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Jason gives me a funny look but it’s obvious that he didn’t quite catch what I had just said. I lean my head back and laugh at the open sky, and so does he.
I’m glad I’m able to be here at Kirtland Air Force Base, in my hometown, with my brothers, and that we get to return here in between deployments. It’s an awesome opportunity to be able to train other units to do what we SEALs do and to rescue service members when they need it. It’s especially amazing to serve with my brothers here. Although at one time I wanted to get far away, now there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
And now it’s time to jump the fuck out of this airplane— my favorite damned thing in the world. Jason is connected to me by a harness and I guide him through the jump from exit through freefall, piloting the canopy, and landing.
Pay attention, I want to tell him. If you play your cards right, you’ll get to do this as your fuckin’ career. How awesome is that?
Once the jump is done, Jensen, Harlow and I and two other instructors each take another trainee up on the plane and I get to do it all over again.
Free falling. This is my life, and I love it. I have so much fun that I almost forget about the female fighter pilot here on this very same base right now, with whom I had an unforgettable Just One Night and Morning.
Almost.
Even while plummeting from 14,000 feet above ground, from the sky to earth and back again, that chick is still weighing a bit heavy on my mind, and I’m wondering if I’ll ever get to see her again.
When we descend again, Jensen says, “Well, that should just about wrap things up…”
But soon Colonel Marshall is on the megaphone, saying, “Thank you very much for all your hard work. The training is now complete and I hope everyone heads home to sleep. The new pararescue trainees will be advised of their pass or fail status—”
I nod at Jason and some other trainees I’m sure will make it—
“And we hope that those of you who are deploying have a nice period of R&R before heading to Afghanistan. We will pray for your safety and strength while you’re there.”
“That’s it,” yells Harlow. “Everyone who wants to tie one on before sleeping should head over to Louie’s. The first round’s on Jensen, since his private ass makes more than any of us enlisted folk.”
“Very funny,” says Jensen.
“Stop making such loud announcements about where we’re going to drink,” someone else says. “We don’t want that girl pilot showing up to spoil our fun again.”
“Hey!” I yell, turning around to face him. “Watch yourself.”
“What? Geez! It was just a joke.”
It’s not worth it, I tell myself. I don’t want to arouse suspicions about Monica and me, and plus, it’s done. We’re over.
“Whatever, Pansy.” Luckily, the guy drops it. “See you at the bar.”
I turn around to leave, and notice that Monica is standing not too far off. I can feel my face redden. I don’t know what— if anything— she’s overheard.
I approach her and say, “Let me help you pack up,” and we walk over towards her aircraft.
“Thanks,” she says. “How was your training today?”
“Oh, it was fine. But I think I’m delirious from the lack of sleep. I was singing to Albuquerque, Chili Peppers style.
“Under the Bridge?” she guesses, which impresses me, but I don’t say so.
“You got it.”
“Do you always sing while you jump out of airplanes?” she asks me.
“Guilty as charged.”
As soon as we’re out of earshot from the guys, she grins and says, “Nice short-lived attempt to stand up for me there.”
“Ha. Anytime.”
I can’t think of what else to say, because I can’t believe I’m seeing her again, and I can’t believe this is the last time I’ll see her, and I don’t want to give voice to either pathetic thought.
I do say, “So when does your flight leave?” which already sounds pathetic enough.
“Tomorrow morning,” she says. “Too early.”
“Yeah.”
There’s a pause and then she says…
“But we could…?”
She stops.
But I’m glad she was the one to bring it up. I can take it from here.
“Extend our pact one more time?” I answer.
“Just for Two Nights?”
“Just for One Weekend would fit the song better,” I answer. “Although it’s technically kind of spread out.”
“Okay,” she says. “But too bad you already made plans to celebrate. And according to your friends, I’m not very welcome at the bar where the celebration is being held.”
“It’s fine. I’ll just tell them I’m too tired.”
“You don’t have to lie on my account. Even though you never did take me on a proper date, so now might be the time.”
“Who said it’s a lie?” I shrug. “Who isn’t tired? I certainly am.”
“Do you just want more of my cooking? Is that your big ploy?”
“Nah. I’ll at least treat you to some take-out.”
I’d tried calling my mom earlier during a break, but she didn’t answer. I have a sense of dread that she’s out looking for long-closed-down Silver Fox bar.
I don’t want to take the chance that she’ll drunkenly stumble into the house while we’re eating, but we could eat in my bedroom. That’s where I want to end up, anyway, so I might as well shorten the path and the obstacles.
“Deal,” Monica says. “Just let me freshen up, and then I’ll meet you there.”
One more night.
I can’t believe it. One more night with this crazy, music-loving female fighter pilot who has taken up my head space for the last two days. I don’t know whether I should feel lucky, or scared. But at the moment I just feel tired, and horny, and happy.