“What’s the plan?”
I spoke too soon.
“There’s none,” I admit. “I can’t get her out of my mind.”
“This can get messy,” he warns. “You can’t fuck around with a teammate’s family and not have a plan.” His seriousness is unlike his usually jovial persona, so I don’t make light of his concern.
“She doesn’t want a relationship.”
His brow lifts as he reads me. “But you do?”
“I’m. . . trying to figure that out.”
“I thought she’s going back to India.”
“That’s not set in stone,” I reply, even though that reminder certainly feels like a fucking boulder in my gut. “She could change her mind. She could stay.”
“Youwanther to stay?”
I shrug. I’m damned if I answer either way. I’m glad when our flight attendant interrupts our whispered discussion to offer us refreshments. I’m sure we look like gossipy old ladies. I snap my soda open while Theo flirts his way into another breakfast meal.
“So youdowant to date her,“ he niggles, as soon as the attendant is out of earshot.
“Technically, I’m already dating her. She just doesn’t know it.”
“I thought you were smart,” he scoffs. “How do you date a woman without telling her that you’re dating her?”
“You agree to be her exclusive fuckbuddy and waitpatientlyuntil she figures things out.”
“I’d believe you if that vein on your forehead hadn’t popped when you saidpatiently,” Theo enunciates.
The fucker sounds so amused, I flash him a middle-fingered salute. His smirk widens.
“I can be patient,” I grit out.
“You couldn’t even wait to get back to the safety of your own city where you own a house to spend the night with the woman you’re crushing on. You riskedhim—” Theo dramatically mimes to the back of the plane “—finding out.”
“What was I supposed to do? Ignore her when she showed up?”
Theo’s eyes gleam, his smile spreading ear to ear. Like he’s found a special entertainment he’s excited to watch. I’m genuinely terrified.
“That’s exactly what you should do.” He claps like an excited seal. “Ignore her.”
“What?” I snap.
“You said she’s not sure about a relationship. Show her you can give her space. That it’s not all about the happy soldier.” He pointssouth of my waistband, and I have to fight my instinct to slap a hand over my groin.
“Don’t nickname my dick ever again.”
“Is it the ranking?” he tuts patronizingly. “Do you want me to upgrade you to a sergeant?”
“I’m at least a general. And I can’t ignore her.” I physically can’t. It hurts my brain to even think it.
“Colonel, at best. And yes, you can. Text her, call her, but don’t let the colonel fire his shots.”
“For how long? I’m supposed to see her next weekend,” I grumble. I don’t know why I’m even listening to Novak, except this is new and maybe giving Alia space might be good. Showing her I can respect her wishes, unlike her asshole ex, might work in my favor.
My racing thoughts come to a screeching halt.