At least this time it was only my life at stake and not hers.
I burst through the surface of the water, welcoming the rush of oxygen into my deprived lungs. I’d made it.
“Bateman! That was not the proper hand technique!” the instructor yelled.
I swam to the edge of the pool and hoisted myself up, sitting on the edge. “Well, sir,” I answered as I unclasped my waterlogged helmet, “since we’re sitting here having this conversation, I’m not dead, so I’d have to say the outcome was satisfactory despite me not using your approved hand technique.”
I made it out alive, assface. Josh sat farther down the pool ledge, shaking his head at me like we were on the ice and I’d landed in the penalty box again. What? I’d held my fucking temper.
“That kind of attitude can get you killed in a hard-water landing.”
My mouth opened, ready to overrun my brain. “Right, and—”
“Jagger Bateman?” a captain called from poolside.
“Sir?”
The steel sheen to his eyes said this was anything but a friendly visit. “Major Davidson would like to see you in his office.”
I nodded. “We’re done here in thirty.”
He shook his head. “Get dried off, you’re done. He wants you now.”
I waited, cover in my lap, outside Major Davidson’s office. There was only one reason he’d call for me, a butter-bar lieutenant who’d been in class less than two weeks. He knew. He had to.
The asshole had a long reach. I ran through the possible outcomes in my head. What they’d ask for. What I’d agree to. The inevitable phone call that might keep the shit hole of my family life at bay.
I just wanted to fly. That’s it. I couldn’t remember wanting anything else. How could I? But one phone call from my father, and it would all end, or even worse—he’d taint it with his help. I’d gotten here on my own merit, lucky enough to do it with my best friend, and I wasn’t letting him take this from me.
A cute sergeant gave me the eye as she walked by, but I couldn’t muster much interest. One, I knew the fraternization policy and wasn’t risking anything for a piece of tail. Two, I’d sworn off women in general. What was the point working my ass off to get here if I let myself get distracted?
Not going to happen. No woman was worth jeopardizing my dream for.
Well, maybe… Nope, not even that one.
Green eyes skipped across my memory. Where was she? I should have asked where she went to school. I should have asked her last name. Yeah, like you’re anywhere near good enough for a girl like that.
I beat my father’s voice out of my head. It didn’t matter anyway. Paisley was long gone.
“Lieutenant Bateman?”
Here we go. “Major Davidson, sir.” I stood, ready to face my fate.
“In my office, Lieutenant.” He turned in to his office, leaving me to follow.
The room was sparse but orderly. He leafed through a file on his desk with one hand and motioned to the seat in front of his desk with the other. I took it. My uniform squeaked against the pleather of the military-issue chair as I shifted my weight.
He took a deep breath, and I held mine. “Anything you’d like to tell me about last night?”
Last night? “Sir?”
“You have one chance to come clean, Bateman. After that you’ll be out on your ass. The CG doesn’t tolerate liars any more than he does unexpected lawn ornaments.”
Wait, this was all about the bear? My breath exhaled in sharp relief. “What exactly would you like to know, sir?”
He leaned back in his chair. “I’d like to know how a fifteen-foot-tall, fifteen-hundred-pound polar bear wound up on the CG’s lawn.”
“Fifteen hundred pounds? Huh. It didn’t really feel that heavy.” That thing was a behemoth.
The major’s mouth dropped slightly before he caught himself. “So you admit to stealing Sergeant Ted E. Bear?”
Every muscle in my body contracted. Do not laugh. Don’t do it. “That’s really his name?” I kept a straight face. Booyah.
His jaw flexed. “That polar bear is part of Fort Rucker tradition, Lieutenant, something you show a fatal lack of respect for.”
I kept my mouth shut. Sure, I liked to stir the pot, watch the shit fly. But when it was my career on the line? I knew when to play the good boy.
“Did you vandalize the bear?”
“Technically, he came to no harm. He’s standing guard.” With about twenty-three PT belts wrapped around him.
Major Davidson took a large breath. “Last chance.”
Shit. I couldn’t lie. There was no one else out there in the hallway; they already knew I’d done it. How? Wait… I was the only one out there. They don’t know about Josh and Grayson.
“Yes. I relocated Sergeant Ted E. Bear from his post to the CG’s lawn.” Boom. Fell on the grenade. I just hoped it didn’t blow my future to pieces.
“How?” The major’s eyes were wide—surprised I’d told the truth? Yeah, it was a novel concept to me, too.
“With my truck.”
“You expect me to believe that your truck hauled a fifteen-hundred-pound statue three and a half miles?”
“Three.”
“I’m sorry?” He leaned forward in his chair.
“It’s exactly three miles, not three and a half.” They happened to take forever when hauling a fucking statue.