“HOORAH, Chief.”
Tuck turned around and headed back to his truck. It made no sense why would no one be allowed to see Riley? It wasn’t just him, the way the Sergeant had described it, no… one… was allowed to see Riley
As much as he wanted to see her, to get answers or at the very least get some semblance of closure, it appeared that was not going to happen. At least not anytime in the foreseeable future. Tossing his can in the passenger seat Tuck started his truck and pulled away.
As he looked back at the building, he could almost swear he saw Riley standing in front of a third-floor window watching.
1
Six Years Later
Fort Rucker, Alabama
* * *
Tuck Frazier was finally back home in Enterprise, Alabama after six long years. He was back at Fort Rucker to interview for the job he had to give up just six years before. As he pulled into the parking lot of the Aviation Center, his thoughts drifted back to the last time he had been here, in this exact spot.
There was not one day that went by that he did not think of her and most of the time he pushed down the feelings and tried to forger but today would be difficult in some ways but many others it was a reunion. He was finally back home where he belonged doing what he loved to do. Train Soldiers. Well hopefully it all depended on if the Commandant of the Aviation Center liked him.
Tuck grabbed his bag and headed inside. Still walking with a bit of a limp he approached the door. When it opened for him, his first thought was an MP would be there to greet him, and he would be shown the door again just as his last visit had went. Instead, it was Taylor, who now appeared to be a Sergeant First Class. The last time he had set eyes on Taylor was across the FOB in Afghanistan right before his world changed forever.
He knew Taylor had survived but Tuck didn’t know the nature of his injuries. Tuck smiled when he saw that it appeared that despite everything Taylor had all his appendages.
“Damn Chief. Long time no see! I thought they was given me a line of bullshit when S1 told me you were coming in for an interview. Where the fuck you been keepin’ yourself?”
Before Tuck could even think he had already grabbed Taylor in a bear hug. “Man, its damned good to see you. What are you doing here?”
Taylor grinned and chuckled a little “Well they got me here teaching night mission for fuck sake. Me. Night ops.”
Tuck almost fell down laughing “Really? You? Night ops? Did you tell them you get lost going to the latrine in broad daylight?”
“I tried but Top wouldn’t hear it.”
“Top? Top Mills is here?”
“Yep!”
“He’s Command Sergeant Major Mills now!”
“Holy shit really? Damn, if shit don’t change but always stays the same. How many other Outlaws are stirrin’ up trouble round here?”
“Oh, I’d say at least twenty-five maybe thirty of us floatin’ round here somewhere.”
“Damn that’s good to hear! So, Top sent me down here to retrieve ya. Said to take ya out to the flight line so you can check shit out. He’s gonna meet ya out there. And just FYI you know your ass has this job, already right? It’s fuckin Top he already has us fixin’ up your office.”
“Well, that’s good to know cuz I left a huge money maker in Atlanta to come back home and slum it with you flight jockey’s”
Taylor laughed and led Tuck through the school to a door in the back of the building. A Gator sat parked, the motor running, “Hop on Chief, your Civilian now you ride in style. Besides if the MPs see some civilian walking around all hairy faced. They might come take your ass to jail.” Taylor laughed.
“Besides, Top said: No walkin’ for you your broke ass probably couldn’t make it across the flight line!” Taylor laughed as Tuck maneuvered his way into the passenger seat of the Gator.
“I could say the same about you, old man!” Tuck teased.
“You Preachin’ to the choir old man, I feel it every time I move. How’s your rehab goin’?”
Tuck leaned back in the seat “About as good as it can I’d say. Good days and Bad, mostly good, otherwise I suppose I wouldn’t be here. Wasn’t sure I wanted to come back home, flying those rich guys around did have its benefits ya know.”
“Fuckin A I bet it did. Lots of pussy huh?”
Grinning, Tuck attempted to go without replying but Taylor who had been married for sixteen years with five children wouldn’t let him get off that easy.
“Come on tell me. Let me live vicariously through you and your pussy pursuits. I bet you pull in the pussy with all that fur on your face and as a bonus you get the added benefit of smelling twats later.” Taylor joked.
“Fine. Yes, I’ve had my choices! DICK!”
“CHOICES! WHAT YOU MEAN CHOICES? Ain’t no fuckin choosin’ boy. If the pussy is offered, you must take the pussy that’s all there is to it!”
Tuck almost fell off his seat laughing at Taylor who seemed almost mortified that he had choices or was it that he chose not to choose. “Yea, choices. I don’t just stick my cock in whatever hole presents itself.”
“Well WHY THE HELL NOT?” Taylor yelled with a half grin.
“I don’t know just didn’t want to.”
“Holy hell what pussy has you strapped down that you don’t wanna dip your wick?”
“None, just picky I guess.”
“Picky, ya never used to be picky so what gives?”
Tuck looked back at the tall building behind them, remembering the last time he was here. When the only woman who had truly stolen his her had looked down on him as he left for what she had decided would be the final time. He had looked back at that building as he pulled away that day, their eyes seem to meet, as she stood watching him from the third-floor offices.
Taylor poked Tuck on the shoulder “Earth to Chief!”
“Yeah, Sorry! Just thinkin’!”
“I see that!” Taylor shrugged. “I think I got ya figured out now.”
“Oh, ya do, do ya?” Tuck sighed.
“Yeah, just so ya know, she’s still here. She’s had it rough the last few years though. She doesn’t talk much and stays clear of most everyone unless we got a meeting going on. Top told us to just let her be, says she’ll come to us when she’s ready, but I know this whatever it is- its big. Few years back she came in all beat up, she said she fell down the stairs, but I expect that it was her ex.”
“Ex? When the hell did, she get an ex?” Tuck’s voice hitched.
“Not sure. Heard rumors. But ya know rumors their like assholes everyone has one.”
Tuck paused then replied “Yeah, I suppose.” Trying not to show his surprise or his discomfort at this newfound knowledge, he was attempting to change the subject when Taylor’s cell rang.
Tuck waited while Taylor was discussing what sounded like an issue back at the aviation center. Tuck had tried not to eavesdrop, but it was difficult when Taylor was sitting in the Gator right next to him.
“Hey boss, I gotta run back, Top should be here pretty quick. Why don’t you hang out here?”
Tuck got out of the Gator and watched as Taylor spun it around and headed full speed back down a narrow path between the Aviation Center and the flight line. His attention turned for a moment to the row of Apache’s that sat just within walking distance and he made his way over to one. He hadn’t been this close to one in a very long time, and as he walked around the huge metal beast, he stretched out his hand and ran it over like he would touch a woman. Smoothing his hand, his eyes closed, over the skin of the copter, when he reached the cockpit, he couldn’t help himself as he opened it and sat down. Feeling the panels and the stick in his hand. Ya feel good girl, I did miss ya. Tuck exclaimed as he sat back into the seat and closed his eyes. The feel of being back in the seat felt good, it felt, really good but despite it all one thing nagged at him. He was going to have to face Riley eventually he just hoped it would be eventually.
“Get the Fuck out of my baby!” A voice behind
Tuck screeched. “Who in the fuck are you and how the fuck did you get back here?”
Tuck immediately recognized the voice and he spun around to find Riley Andrews standing within inches. “I was just checking her out.”
“Well you need to leave before I call the MPs.” She screamed. Tuck paused for a moment and started to speak again but before he could say another word, she was pulling him by the sleeve attempting to drag him from the copter. It then occurred to Tuck that she didn’t recognized him. He stopped at looked her squared in the eyes, but she had no response except for the pure anger he saw growing inn her eyes.
“You need to leave!” She repeated as Tuck finally relented and crawled out of the pilots’ seat.
“Alright, I am just waiting on the Sergeant Major. Sergeant First Class Taylor brought me out here to meet with the Sergeant Major. I will just wait over here.” Tuck exited the copter and turned and walked away as quickly as he could. He wasn’t ready to face Riley yet. He had to get his mind right first.
“Fine. Good. Go now and don’t ever touch my rig again!”
“Fine by me.” Tuck replied “Frigid….”
“What was that?” She replied.
Damn does she have fuckin’ bat hearing or what
“Nothing. I’m going!”
“I didn’t think so!” She replied as she stood squarely against her rig.
Tuck looked back again, just a glance, but she was still as impressive as ever. He did admire her for that. She didn’t take any shit from anyone, but it still echoed in the back of his mind what Taylor had told him. It made no sense that someone like Riley could or would even put up with someone doing to her what was rumored to have happened. It sure didn’t seem like the same Riley he had just had a squabble with or the Riley from years ago. To him that Riley and this Riley hadn’t changed a bit. Still tough as nails a real BITCH if ya get on her bad side. Guess that’s where I am, at the moment. On Riley Andrews Bad side. Fuck not a good way to start a new job.
As Tuck stood back by the smoking area, Top emerged from the building and made his way over.
“Bout time old man! Done got myself in trouble and only been here twenty minutes.”
Top swung his arm over Tuck’s shoulder and pulled him in for a bear hug. “Couldn’t do this before had to wait to get away from Students. How the fuck are ya? Hadn’t heard hide nor hair of ya after you left. Had me worried, thought maybe I would have to send out a search party for your ass ‘til I found out you got some big money job flying pansy ass rich folks around.”
“Yeah, pops got me a job with a tech company in Atlanta. Cush job and good money. Was hard to say no. Really didn’t want to stick around here would a been to hard ya know?”
“Yeah, I know. That’s one reason I brought ya out here.”
“Oh, yea well it’s too late I saw her, but I don’t think she recognized me. Cussed my ass out and threw me out of her rig. Almost called the MPs on me ‘til I told her I was meeting you.”
“Ya that wolfs mane on your face I can see why she didn’t recognize ya.” Top laughed then his face turned somber. “Do me a favor when she does recognize you don’t ask her any questions for now, wait for her to tell you.”
“Do you know the deal?”
“Yeah, I do but it’s not my place Chief. Just know, she never forgot you. She just dealin’ with a lot and well I care about the girl like she was a daughter to me just like I love you man- like a brother. So just let her come to you, she will, I know she will. I didn’t just ask you to come back for me, I asked you back for her too- she needs you. She just doesn’t know it yet, but she will.”
“Oh, so that’s the deal, are you playing match maker Top?” Tuck grinned.
“Well I wouldn’t call it that more like setting the world right on its Axis.” He smiled back.
“So, is it a deal?” he asked watching as Tuck continued to pay more attention to Riley messing around in the cockpit then to what he was saying. “Is it a deal Chief?”
“Ya deal! I missed y’all and I missed being here. And I promise not to pry unless I am asked to.”
“Alright Good, you can start Monday and your first Class of fresh meat Starts in two weeks.”
“Alight, I will be ready.”
“Good! So tonight, a bunch of us are going out why don’t you meet us at The Flight Line say twenty-one hundred?”
“Roger, I’ll be there.”
“Oh, and before I forget its Girls Night there tonight. Oh, and shave. I can’t have my instructors out of uniform even if you are a civilian- gotta be able to put the mask on.”
“Gotcha Top! Wilco. I’ll go get myself a haircut and a shave. Goodbye beard!” Tuck laughed trying not to crack a smile “It was nice knowin’ ya! No more leftovers for you twat or chicken!”
“You are a sick… sick… man Chief!” His laughter until now he had been able to keep closely guarded, so as to not draw attention, had become out of control as Taylor drove up in the Gator to retrieve Chief and Top.
“Y’all ready for a ride back?” Taylor asked as he spun the Gator around and stopped in front of the two men.
“Yep. Let’s go Chief. You gotta a lot to do before tonight.”
“Oh, Fuck an A Chief you are coming out to hang with us tonight?”
Yep but Top says Haircut and a shave first. Is O’Shea’s still open down the road?”
“Sure is. Old man O’Shea gonna bust a nut when you walk in Chief.”
Tuck laughed “Ha ya it’s been awhile.”
Top smacked the dash “Let’s get outta here. Chief has a lot to do before Monday and the way your yapping Taylor we gonna be here ‘til then, get this Gator goin damn it.”
Tuck and Taylor glanced at each other, smiled and Taylor pressed the down the gas pedal.
2
Riley paced back and forth as she waited outside the Commandant’s office. It still burned her ass that some civilian could prance around the flight line with no escort even if he was sexy as hell. He had no business on the flight line except at this very moment to irritate the hell out of her.
This is just unacceptable! No Civilian is allowed on the Flight Line without proper clearance. That… That MAN had none. Unacceptable. Riley muttered to herself as she continued paces the hall outside of the Commandant’s Office.
“Damn it what’s taking so long?” She started to knock on the door again but then heard the turn of the knob.
It’s bout damned time
Riley stepped back from the door just as the door swung open and watched as the civilian, she had been complaining about stood with the Commandant and Top. They appeared friendly, hell they appeared friends. The men shook hands and then she overheard Top “I’ll see ya tonight Tuck. Don’t be late!”
“No worries Top I will be there with bells on.” Tuck turned to the Commandant “Thank you again Sir. I appreciate the chance and I won’t let you down.”
“That’s right Frazier you won’t. Top has told me great things about you. Seems to me you are Top’s Golden Boy.”
“Well Sir, I’m not sure I can compete with that anymore, but I will sure try.” Tuck extended his hand once again, as they shook hands and said their Goodbyes.
Riley stood stone faced, finally gaining her wits about her she quickly made her way down the hallway as fast as she could to escape. She wasn’t ready to face Tuck Frazier with his charming good looks or his chiseled ass or his rock-hard abs.
As if I don’t have enough to deal with, now Tuck is here. Perfect! Just Perfect. I didn’t have enough on my plate, now God is testing me. I seriously need a vacation. Riley stepped outside to finally breathe a breath of fresh air, well as fresh as it could be with the mix of fuel, mixed with a hint of magnolia.
Looking down at her watch, she realized it was fifteen hundred hours and she had to get to her appointment by fifteen-thirty. The hospital was across base so she needed to get going or she would end up late again. The clinic didn’t appreciate lateness let alone if she didn’t go
now, she would make that three appointments in a row she would be late for.
The Troop Clinic, much like baseball, had a three-strikes and your out rule, which for her meant the Commandant would get a letter from her Psychologist telling them she was late a third time. She couldn’t afford to be under the Commandant’s radar, it was bad enough she was there because she had lost it last month in a classroom full of newbies.
If she had to guess, that’s why Tuck was brought in, so they could take some of her class load and throw it towards Tuck and she could take the time and work on herself. As much as she didn’t want to face facts, it was time. Between her ex, the loss of her co-pilot and the testosterone laden men that walked the halls of the Aviation Center she had found herself losing her shit to a classroom of newbies and finding herself sitting across from a Psychologist.
Grabbing her cell phone, she quickly texted Taylor then jumped into her Jeep and headed towards the Troop Clinic.
“Now Chief, can you tell me how your week has been?” A tall gray-haired full bird colonel leaned back in his chair.
“It was fine Sir, no outbursts this week. Maybe a few meltdowns.”
“Meltdowns? So, tell me how did they make you feel? What do you supposed caused these as you say ‘Meltdowns?” He asked pulling a pen from his sleeve while grabbing his clipboard from the table in front of him.
“I suppose anger. But I can’t say for certain.” She grinned knowing the smartass remark would garner yet another question. She hated the fact she had to sit in a psych office for an hour three times a week until the psychologist felt she could function as a normal adult again. What he had asked was one of the important questions. At least in her mind it was one of the important questions- How could she let her co-pilot die and she live? She asked herself that question every day. The guilt at times was almost overwhelming and to make matters worse Kyle-her ex could not take no for an answer.
For the last two years Kyle has stalked her, he was the reason she couldn’t have a relationship with anyone. His constant threats had been proving, with much consistency, to scare all would be callers away from her. And now to make matters worse Tuck was back and she wasn’t at all sure she was ready to answer the questions she was sure he would have. She hadn’t ever given him the explanation she thought he deserved; she couldn’t it was just too dangerous not just for her but for both of them.
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 298