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RIP Solo.
I waited for Panther, not entirely sure what I’d say when I saw him, but figuring a “thanks for defending me to Captain Asshole” might be in order. When a couple of minutes went by and Panther still hadn’t walked out, I peered around the door.
With one hand low on his hips and the other on his forehead where he leaned against the window, he gazed out at the airfield in the distance. What was he thinking? It seemed like a private moment, but when had I ever given him space? I wasn’t about to start now.
Panther let out a long, heavy sigh that seemed to go on and on, and then he pushed off the window and froze when he saw me.
“How long have you been standing there?”
18 Panther
THE LAST PERSON I needed to see was standing in the doorway watching me.
“How long?” I said again, as Solo stepped farther inside.
“Long enough.”
Great. Just fucking great.
“Look… I just want to—”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not getting into this with you.”
“Panther—”
“Stay out of my business.”
Solo sighed and turned around like he was going to actually listen for once and leave. But then he shut the door and locked both of us inside.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“I’m gonna assume that’s a rhetorical question,” he said, leaning back against the door and crossing his arms. “I heard what your father said—”
“Of course you did.”
“And I appreciate you going to bat for me.”
“Going to bat for you?” I blinked. “Going to bat for you? The only reason I’m even in this shitfuck of a situation is because of you.”
“Oh, we’re back to this. All right, let it all out.”
“I don’t need to let anything out, because you’re leaving.”
“See, I would, but I feel involved now.”
“Because you’re a nosy motherfucker who can’t mind his own business.”
“It’s not my fault the door just happened to be open when I walked by.”
I rubbed my face with both hands, emotions bubbling over from my standoff with my father, and now this. Was there a reset button somewhere that I could push?
I lowered my hands and looked Solo in the eye. Maybe I could appeal to his compassionate side—if he had one. “Look, is it too much to ask of you to just…oh, I don’t know, let this go?”
“I’m more than happy to let it go. What would you like to discuss instead?”
As I stared at him as though he’d lost his mind, Solo smiled deviously.
“No ideas? I have several. Maybe we could start with the way you threw me out of your room the other night?”
I glared at Solo so hard that it was a miracle the ground didn’t open up and swallow him whole. The guy had no clue about discretion, timing, life in general, if he thought for one second I was in the mood to discuss that.
“I can see you don’t really like that option. So let’s move on.” As Solo pushed off the door, I automatically took a step back into the room. I wasn’t in the mood to be dicked around right now. “How about we discuss the fact that you just told your father I was one of the best pilots you’d ever seen?”
“How about we don’t.”
“Aww, you don’t need to be shy, Panther. You can admit it: you think I’m a badass.”
My lips twitched despite myself. Who the hell was this guy that nothing seemed to faze him? It was like Solo walked around with a perpetual I-don’t-give-a-fuck mindset, and I had to admit, I wished I shared his blasé view of the world right this second. I would give anything not to feel as though I’d just let down my father. Anything not to feel as though I couldn’t act on the desire I had for this infuriating man in front of me.
But, just like the good little soldier I had been raised to be, I squashed down any and all emotions that hinted at my actual feelings. “You need to get out of my way.”
“Oooor what?”
“Or I’ll move you out of my fucking way. I’m really not in the mood for this.”
Solo took another step toward me. “What are you in the mood for?”
I went to open my mouth and throw out some kind of lie, but Solo cut me off.
“And don’t give me some bullshit answer. What do you usually feel like doing after a one-on-one with dear old Dad? I can’t imagine that’s the first time you’ve gone a couple rounds.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“I know, but tell me anyway.”
I ground my molars together, my hands balling into fists by my sides. What did I usually do? I usually got on my bike and drove all night. Or got in a plane and tore up the sky. I did whatever it took to erase his disappointment in me with a rush of pure adrenaline, and if anyone would understand that, it would be Solo.
