Jet Blue (WeHo Book 5)

by Sherryl Hancock

  At the club, Jet kept her hand at the small of Fadiyah’s back as she escorted her to the group’s table. She introduced her to everyone. Fadiyah hugged Skyler and was very happy to meet Devin. Then Jet introduced her to Jericho and Fadiyah became quickly engrossed in a conversation with the director. Jet took that opportunity to grab a drink.

  Leaning in she touched Fadiyah on the waist. “What do you want to drink, Fadi?”

  “I do not know,” Fadiyah replied, looking baffled.

  “There’s always wine,” Zoey said.

  “She’s nineteen, Zoey,” Jet said, shocking both Jericho and Zoey.

  “Oh,” Zoey said, looking at Jericho.

  “Never mind, I’ll get you something,” Jet said, grinning.

  It didn’t take long before everyone knew that Fadiyah was only nineteen. Fortunately, the club was eighteen and up, but the fact that Fadiyah had been seventeen when Jet had met her, escaped no one. By the time Jet returned with her beer and a virgin strawberry margarita for Fadiyah, she could see that everyone knew.

  “Just shut up…” she muttered to everyone, which caused rounds of grins.

  Jet was, as usual, greeted by any number of women, who all happily hugged her and kissed her, especially since Ashley wasn’t with her. Many of them asked where Ashley was, but didn’t look like they really cared. A few of them hung on Jet a little longer than necessary and Fadiyah longed to have the nerve to say something. She was pleasantly surprised when Jet slid her arm around her, and pulled her closer as she was talking to yet another woman.

  The girl looked at Fadiyah, taking in the long dark hair, the petite figure and the silver-gray eyes, then she looked at Jet.

  “Oh, Gabby, this is Fadiyah,” Jet said, her smile wide.

  “Hi,” Gabby said to Fadiyah.

  “Hello,” Fadiyah said, her tone formal.

  Jet couldn’t help herself, she leaned in, nuzzling Fadiyah’s neck. The girl beat a hasty retreat shortly thereafter.

  “Sorry,” Jet told Fadiyah, not seeing the heated look in Fadiyah’s eyes in her rush to apologize. “Gabby is one of those girls that doesn’t grasp subtlety.”

  Fadiyah nodded, turning her head to look away. Skyler, who was sitting next to where Fadiyah stood, saw the look in Fadiyah’s eyes, and raised an eyebrow, glancing at Devin and then over at Jet. It was obvious Jet hadn’t noticed the reaction.

  “Jet!” Skyler said, holding up her lighter. Jet nodded.

  “I’m going to go out and smoke, okay?” Jet said, leaning close to Fadiyah to speak in her ear.

  Fadiyah shivered, but nodded. She had noted that Jet smelled extremely nice that evening and looked really good in all black. Jet had been very attentive all night and Fadiyah could easily imagine what it would be like to be her girlfriend. She realized then that it was probably that trap that every girl fell into with Jet Mathews. Falling for her gallant ways and her charming smile and those lovely light green eyes; that was how women got their hearts broken by Jet Mathews.

  The waitress walked by as Fadiyah set down her empty glass. “Another one, hon?”

  “Yes, please,” Fadiyah said, nodding.

  “That’s a lovely accent…” said a woman from behind her.

  Fadiyah turned to look at the woman, she had short cropped blond hair and a tattoo on her neck as well as one of five dots on her face near her eye.

  “Thank you,” Fadiyah said, then turned back around.

  “So where are you from?” the woman asked, sliding her finger down Fadiyah’s arm.

  Outside Jet and Skyler sat across from each other, smoking and drinking. Jet ordered a shot of her favorite tequila, ordering Skyler one too. They drank the shots, and tipped the waitress who was happy to serve these two women.

  “So what’s going on with Fadiyah?” Skyler asked as she felt the tequila starting to warm her insides nicely.

  “What do you mean?” Jet asked, glancing over at Skyler.

  “You brought her to a gay club, Jet?” Skyler asked, her look telling Jet she thought she was crazy for doing so.

  “It was Ashely’s idea,” Jet said, shrugging.

  “Why would Ashley suggest that?” Skyler asked.

  “Like I fuckin’ know,” Jet snapped.

  “Easy…” Skyler said, her tone cautionary as her light blue-green eyes narrowed at Jet.

  Jet blew her breath out, shaking her head. “Sorry, Sky,” she said, knowing she was on edge at this point. “I don’t know why she suggested it, but she did. And for whatever crazy reason, Fadiyah was determined to do it, so…”

  “For whatever crazy reason?” Skyler repeated, her look deadpan.

  “Yeah…” Jet said, looking at Skyler and seeing the look on her face. “What?”

  “Are you telling me you don’t see the way that girl looks at you?” Skyler asked her.

  “What are you talking about?” Jet asked, looking at Skyler like she was the one that was crazy.

  “Jesus, Jet…” Skyler said, shaking her head. “You never fuckin’ notice how women look at you, do you?”

  Jet shrugged, glancing around her.

  Skyler shook her head again. “Well, I can tell you that Fadiyah is looking at you, and you better be careful with that one.”

  “I’m sorry, Sky, I think you’re starting to lose it, maybe too much smoke inhalation from being a fire eater, I dunno.”

  “And I think you’re going blind,” Skyler said. “Probably too much pussy,” she said, her lips curling.

  “Is there such a thing?” Jet asked.

  Skyler laughed. “I dunno, Jet, but if anyone is ever gonna find out, it’s probably gonna be you.”

  “Jet,” Devin said from the back door to the club.

  Jet’s head snapped around sensing the warning tone in Devin’s voice.

  “What?” she said, moving to stand.

  “You need to get in here,” Devin said.

  “What’s going on?” Skyler asked.

  Devin looked at Skyler, then back at Jet. “Get in here, now.”

  Jet dropped her cigarette, and walked to the door with Skyler right behind her.

  Jet’s eyes immediately searched for Fadiyah. She was standing at the end of the table, and there was a very definite butch after her. As Jet walked over, she saw the butch woman put her hand on Fadiyah’s shoulder and Fadiyah shrunk away, it was all Jet needed to see.

  Striding straight over, Jet got right next to the woman.

  “You need to step back…” Jet practically growled.

  The woman’s head snapped around, her eyes narrowing at Jet.

  “You need to fuck off!” the woman said, her tone sharp.

  “I’m not going to tell you again,” Jet said, her voice dropping an octave.

  “Then don’t!” the woman said, wielding around and throwing a punch at the same time.

  “Jet!” Fadiyah screamed, as Jericho reached out and grabbed the girl, pulling her back from the fight.

  Jet easily blocked the punch with her left arm, and punched the woman with her right fist. The woman looked stunned, but stepped forward threateningly. Jet held her ground, glancing over to make sure that Fadiyah was safely out of the way and giving a quick nod to Jericho for the quick thinking.

  “She was talking to me, bitch,” the woman said.

  “No she wasn’t,” Devin said.

  The woman threw a dirty look at Devin and started to step in her direction.

  Skyler stepped up then, her arm slightly behind her, her hand held out, to tell Devin to stop. “Don’t even think of bringing it here,” she said, her voice threatening.

  The woman stopped, looking around at the group standing around her. There were varying degrees of threats all around her.

  “You’d be wise to walk away right now…” Cat said, her tone a sigh.

  “What do you think you can do, honey?” the woman asked, mistaking Cat for a femme and therefore harmless.

  “Trust me, sweetheart, you don’t want to find out,” Cat repl
ied, her look all butch.

  “Just leave,” Quinn said, moving to stretch her neck as she flexed her hands threateningly.

  “Or we’ll add to those dots,” Jet said, her look pointed.

  “What the fuck do you think you can do?” the woman spat.

  “Well since I’m a cop, I can arrest you for attempted assault on a peace officer,” Jet said.

  “A cop?” the woman asked, sounding like she didn’t believe Jet.

  “Believe it,” Cat said.

  “And know that we’ll be happy to put you back where you obviously belong,” Jericho said, her tone dark. She still had her arm around Fadiyah’s waist.

  “And who the fuck do you think you are?” the woman asked.

  “Just the Director of the Division of Law Enforcement for the State of California,” Jericho said, grinning.

  “Fuck! Fine, I’m leavin’!” the woman finally said, and turned and walked away.

  Everyone relaxed, and Jericho released Fadiyah who immediately walked over to Jet.

  “Are you okay?” she asked Jet, having seen Jet flinch when she’d blocked the woman’s punch.

  “I’m fine,” Jet said, looking down at Fadiyah. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” Fadiyah said, nodding. “I was not talking to her.”

  “It’s okay, babe, I know. Women like that don’t really notice that someone’s not interested.”

  “I was not interested,” Fadiyah agreed.

  “Okay, honey,” Jet said, hugging Fadiyah to her. She caught Skyler raising an eyebrow. “Shut it, Sky,” she growled, causing Skyler to chuckle and shake her head.

  “Okay, next round is on me,” Jet said, motioning to the waitress who had just brought Fadiyah her drink.

  The group all had a few shots, laughing and talking as the music started. Natalia immediately grabbed Raine and dragged her to the floor causing a ripple of laughter through the group.

  “Okay, so obviously leaving you in here is hazardous to my health,” Jet said, her lips close to Fadiyah’s ear, so she could be heard over the music. “So come on out with me while I smoke.”

  “Okay,” Fadiyah said, nodding as she finished her drink and was handed the one Jet had just bought.

  Outside, Jet held the door for Fadiyah, then stood until Fadiyah was seated. Fadiyah was always surprised by Jet’s chivalrous ways, and it never ceased to give her a little thrill.

  “Are you sure you are alright?” Fadiyah asked. She noticed that Jet was moving gingerly.

  “I’m fine. Not gonna say it didn’t hurt,” she said, shifting her shoulder slightly, “but I’m okay.”

  Jet lifted a cigarette to her lips then, lighting it.

  “Oh!” Fadiyah said, seeing Jet’s right hand.

  Jet tipped her hand to look at it, noting the cuts and bruises already starting.

  “It’s okay, babe,” Jet said. “That’s what happens when you punch someone in the face.”

  “I cannot believe you hit that woman,” Fadiyah said shaking her head.

  “No one puts hands on a woman who’s with me,” Jet said, her tone serious.

  Fadiyah stared back at Jet, trying to decide what she meant by that. Jet gave no clue as she continued to smoke her cigarette. Fadiyah drank more of her drink, she liked the feeling it was giving her, kind of a warm happy feeling.

  Jet looked over at Fadiyah and noticed she looked a little bit buzzed.

  “Uh…” she said, her look quizzical. “Where’d that drink come from?”

  “The waitress lady,” Fadiyah said.

  “Hand me that,” Jet said, putting her hand out.

  Fadiyah looked at her like she was crazy for a moment, but then handed her the drink.

  Jet smelled it. “Son of a… This has alcohol in it, Fadi!”

  “It does?” Fadiyah asked, not looking too concerned.

  Jet laughed, shaking her head. “Trying to get my ass fired…” she muttered.

  “I am not!” Fadiyah said, reaching over to take the glass back.

  “Uh, no,” Jet said, holding the glass away from her.

  Fadiyah sat back and actually pouted.

  “Oh, Jesus,” Jet said, handing her back the glass.

  Fadiyah smiled and took another drink.

  “Hey, Jet…” said a blond walking over. She leaned down and kissed Jet on the lips.

  “Hey, Carrie,” Jet said, nodding.

  “Where’s Ashley?” Carrie asked.

  “In San Diego,” Jet said, not for the first time that night.

  “Oh… well, if you get lonely…” Carrie said, sliding her hand seductively down Jet’s arm from shoulder to wrist.

  “She’s with me,” Fadiyah said, her tone sharp.

  Carrie jumped a little, and looked over at Fadiyah, then walked away.

  Jet threw her head back and laughed. “Good God, no more alcohol for you, young lady,” she said, grinning.

  Fadiyah looked fairly pleased with herself.

  “Okay,” Jet said, moving to stand and putting her hand out to Fadiyah to help her up out of the chair. “I think for you to have the true club experience, you need to dance.”

  “Dance?” Fadiyah asked, looking both surprised and scared at the same time.

  “You’ll be fine,” Jet said, leading her back into the bar.

  Keeping Fadiyah’s hand in hers, she walked over to the DJ. The woman leaned down, kissing Jet hello. Jet put her hand up talking into the woman’s ear, trying to be heard over the song that was on. The DJ nodded to Jet, giving her a thumbs up.

  The song that was playing started to fade and another song began, Fadiyah recognized it immediately, it was the song she loved that Jet sang. “I Am a Lost Boy from Neverland.”

  Jet led her out onto the dance floor as people started to dance. She pulled Fadiyah gently into her arms, sliding her arms around Fadiyah’s waist.

  “What do I do?” Fadiyah asked.

  “Put your hands on my shoulders,” Jet told her.

  Jet moved closer, lowering her head to put her face against Fadiyah’s temple, her lips right next to Fadiyah’s ear. As the words to the song began, Jet sang them to her. Fadiyah sighed, pressing her face against Jet’s shirt and inhaling the scent she wore, a rich musk.

  Skyler watched Jet dance with Fadiyah and knew that almost everyone in the club was doing the same. Jet never danced, and yet there she was doing just that, and not only that, but she was singing to the girl.

  They’d gone on R and R together, they were in Santorini Greece.

  “Oh my God, this place is gorgeous!” Skyler said, looking around her, unable to believe the beauty of the town.

  The bright white of the buildings with the rich blue of the domes and the Aegean Sea, were beyond words for Skyler.

  Jet grinned. “I knew you’d like it,” she said.

  Jet had paid for the trip, telling Skyler that it was her treat. Jet had finally admitted that she was a ‘trust fund’ kid. She was all too happy to spend the money to take Skyler somewhere she’d never been.

  The hotel Jet had reserved was insanely luxurious, with its own private infinity pool and views of the ocean from every part of the suite.

  “Do I even want to know how much this place cost?” Skyler asked.

  “A lot,” Jet said, grinning.

  They’d already made love in the bed, and in the pool, they were now getting ready to go to dinner. It was a wonderful thing to be able to be completely open with their relationship for once. There were no worries of other servicemen seeing them and reporting them. They were able to completely leave the desert behind and escape.

  “I can’t believe we’re here for an entire week!” Skyler said, shaking her head as they walked through the Japanese restaurant located in the hotel.

  They had a wonderful long dinner, drinking wine and talking and sometimes simply looking at the view. Afterwards they found a club where they were able to drink and dance and generally enjoy themselves.

  At one point, the DJ played a
slow song, and Jet pulled Skyler out onto the floor, taking her in her arms. The song that was playing was a little-known or played Def Leppard song, but naturally Jet knew it. She sang every word to Skyler. The chorus of the song said a lot to Skyler about Jet’s state of mind. The song was named Let Me Be the One. The words talked about giving her something to hold on to, and for Skyler to let her be the one.

  As the song ended, Skyler kissed Jet’s lips, pulling her closer and holding her. It was a time Skyler never forgot.

  “You okay?” Devin asked, seeing the way Skyler was watching Jet and Fadiyah.

  “Yeah,” Skyler said, nodding, lifting her beer to her lips and draining the bottle.

  Walking over to the bar she ordered another shot and turned to look back at the dance floor again. She honestly hoped she knew what she was seeing, and it wasn’t just Jet trying to be gallant and make the girl happy.

  As the song ended Fadiyah looked up at Jet and smiled.

  “You know I love that song,” Fadiyah said.

  “I know,” Jet said, grinning.

  Jet naturally noticed all the grinning going on as she and Fadiyah walked back to the table. She also saw Skyler give Devin her keys and raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Shut it, Jet,” Skyler said, scowling at her.

  Jet merely grinned, nodding her head.

  Later that night as Jet drove them home, Fadiyah looked over at her.

  “What were those dots on that woman’s face?” she asked.

  “Those were prison tatts,” Jet said.

  “She was in prison?” Fadiyah asked, surprised.

  “Yeah, that’s what five dots means,” Jet said, nodding.

  Fadiyah reached over, taking Jet’s hand that was resting on the center console. She looked at Jet’s knuckles, grimacing at the bruises and cuts. Lifting Jet’s hand to her lips, she kissed them softly. Jet looked over at her, smiling.

  “Still feeling that alcohol, huh?” she asked.