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I slammed my locker shut and ignored the looks my way as I left the locker room, Houdini hot on my heels.
“Hey, hey, wait up.”
I kept my pace, winding through the halls to grab a quick lunch before the next class began.
“So what happened? You get in trouble for it, too?”
“Well, I didn’t get fucking bonus points.”
Houdini snort-laughed, grabbing a tray when we entered the mess hall and continuing to follow me. “You gotta admit, the guy’s got a sense of humor.”
“More like a death wish.”
“Eh, that too. The more he pulls that shit, the higher I climb in the ranks.”
Turning around, I shot Houdini a glare. “And you don’t think that shit affects me? That that little stunt isn’t going to follow me through the rest of my time here? Through my career?” I grabbed a turkey sub off the line and loaded by plate up with sides.
“It’s not like you did it.”
“No, I’m just the lucky bastard who got partnered up with a suicidal pilot.”
“Hate to say better you than me, man, but…”
“Yeah.” Forcing myself to breathe and calm the hell down, I moved down the line and paid for my lunch. Houdini joined me at a booth, keeping quiet as my anger subsided.
My father had always said it was important not to react to history, but to focus on what was going to happen next. Everything happens too fast in the air, and you only have time to rely on your training and react. And even though what Solo did wasn’t technically part of the hop, it wouldn’t do me any good to linger on his fuck-up. Nothing I could do about it now, though I had a feeling my father would have a few words for me about what had gone down.
Once I’d finished off my sandwich, Houdini said, “Do you think he’s doin’ it on purpose?”
I wiped my mouth and took a swig of my drink. “What?”
“Solo. You think he’s sabotaging himself on purpose?”
“Why would anyone do that?”
“Hell if I know. Maybe what happened to his brother messed him up in the head.”
I thought about that for a moment and then shrugged. “I’m not gonna sit here and try to understand the inner workings of Solo’s brain and why he does what he does.”
“Just curious, is all. I’ve never seen anyone defy orders on the first day and live to see the second.”
“Guess he’s not only reckless but lucky too.”
Houdini studied me, cocking his head to the side. “You really don’t like the guy, do ya?”
“Gee, what gave it away?”
“I’ve just never seen you so upset before. It’s not like you.”
“You telling me you wouldn’t be upset if you were in my shoes?”
Houdini raised his hands. “Not sayin’ that at all, but I’d probably find the humor in it, more like. A sky penis? Come on, that’s pretty damn hilarious. And creative.”
I sighed and pushed my tray away. “Really not in the mood.”
“Wanna talk about whatever else is botherin’ you, then?”
Outside of Houdini, only a handful of people knew the things I kept secret, and I debated whether to let him in on Solo. I knew he wouldn’t say anything, and hell, maybe it’d help to have someone on my side, since Solo was now a hero for that damn sky penis.
“Today isn’t the first time I’ve seen him. Solo.” I reached for my glass and wiped the condensation off with my thumb. “We had a run-in. Didn’t go so well.”
“And?”
“The end.”
“Oh, come on. That’s all I get? What kind of run-in?”
“The kind at a bar you don’t go to.”
“Where do I not— Ohhh. Oh, shit.” Houdini sat back in his chair, his eyes wide. “He’s gay?”
“I don’t think he was there for the drinks and decor.”
“Maybe he didn’t know what kind of bar it was. He’s not from around here, right?”
I raised my brow and waited for the light bulb to click on over Houdini’s head. It only took a few seconds, and then he said, “Did he hit on you? He did, didn’t he? You shoot him down? No, wait, you fucked him. You fucked him, and now you regret it, right? Damn, I’m good.”
“I didn’t touch him. Let’s get that part straight.”
“Sounds like the only thing straight in that bar that night,” Houdini said with a wink.
“Your jokes get worse every time you tell one, you know that, right?”
“Don’t try to deflect. We were finally gettin’ to the good stuff.”
“Is that what my suffering is to you? The good stuff?”
Houdini took a bite out of his meatball sub and shrugged. “You gotta admit, this is some juicy stuff. Now, stop stallin’ and spill the details.”
I sighed and tried to remember why I thought telling him was a good idea. “There are no details to tell, juicy or otherwise. He approached—”
“I knew it, he totally hit on you.”
