Page 47 of Forever Flustered

“What’s up?” Alpo asked bluntly, rising to his feet. “Did something happen?”

“Yes,” Eli bit out tersely. “I’ve been recalled. I fly out tomorrow.”

A ripple rolled through the crowd – alarm, awareness, disbelief, and underneath it all, a recognition of duty and commitment. If any of them had their leave canceled, while they wouldn’t have liked it – they would have responded, heading back to their assigned duty stations… just like Eli, she realized. Her time to spend with Eli before he returned to Afghanistan just got reduced from days to hours.

“What happened?” Harley asked in alarm. “Did something happen? Was someone shot down?”

A redhead – Melody - shot to her feet, her expression devastated as she turned and walked away from the crowd of friends. Firefly stood up and ran after her, concerned.

“Harley! That was cold – even for you…”

“We all know what happened when Greene was shot down…”

“It was a valid question that had to be asked…”

“Then you already know he can’t answer you,” someone snapped back loudly as several men nodded in grim understanding.

“It’s confidential,” Eli said tersely. “I am flying out at nine in the morning. My flight has already been arranged.”

“Are you in danger?” Sidewinder asked bluntly – and the entire group seemed to tense at once. Maureen was pretty sure her heart stopped beating a while ago. “Are we going to get called back?”

That question hung in the air, waiting. Sidewinder had only been home a few months, and some of the rest of the team also had reason to be concerned. Didn’t Loki – currently seated next to Teflon, who looked just as concerned – didn’t they come home recently? Could they be called back to action too?

“No,” Eli bit out in obvious resentment and frustration. “You’re not going to get recalled – not that I’m aware of, and I really can’t say much more,” he repeated once more before looking at Maureen. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she immediately replied, trying to be supportive while everything in her screamed in denial. “I can take you to the airport in the morning.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

“Well, this sucks,” Sidewinder volunteered loudly in sheer disgust – and a ripple of uncomfortable laughter flowed through the group of friends. Thumper got up and moved toward the door, opening a box and withdrawing a blanket that said ‘Flyboys’ on the corner, bringing it to Harley. The blankets were quickly passed out around the fire to help with the cool evening temperatures that were dropping. It was the end of March, and things would be warming up soon in Texas – but not quite yet.

A moment later, Maureen felt a blanket being put over her shoulders and looked up into Eli’s tortured gaze. “I’m sorry,” he repeated just to her, brushing the tip of his nose against her cheek and dropping a light kiss. “I’ll tell you more later when we’re alone.”

“I thought it was confidential?” she murmured softly, looking at him questioningly.

“It is,” he admitted in a hushed voice, his eyes holding hers. “But I feel like I can tell you anything - and know that I can trust you to keep it a secret, between us.”

She nodded, flushing with emotion at the sweetness of his unexpected words and what they felt like in her heart, her soul. Maybe things weren’t as broken as she thought – and maybe Harley was right about this being a longer game. Maybe Maureen was misreading things with Eli, because these were not the words and actions of a man choosing to distance himself. These were the words and actions of a partner, a soulmate, a lover – who was broken up and facing a reality that he couldn’t escape from.

“Forgive me?” Eli whispered against her cheek – and she nodded. She would forgive him anything. He moved, pulling up a chair beside her so they could sit together. He was sitting with her – not his brother, not anyone else – her. He was choosing to spend his last hours here in Texas at her side. Nervous, Maureen looked toward Sidewinder, who was watching the exchange openly… and held up his beer in a salute.

“Welcome to our little Flyboys family, Maureen,” Sidewinder called out openly as the others held up their drinks, sodas, and bottles of water in a mock toast, calling out loudly, ‘To Flyboys!’… and Maureen smiled, exchanging a quick look with Eli – who smiled at her.

“To Flyboys,” she murmured, leaning to the side and placing her head on Eli’s shoulder.

“To friends and family,” Eli added just before he kissed her forehead.

Hours later, Maureen and Eli pulled back up to her house. No one offered Eli a couch, offered for him to stay at Flyboys; no one said a word. It was as if they all knew that he was spending his last hours with her – and it meant the world to Maureen. Those doubts, those fears, all of those feelings of being rejected or left alone… they were still there, but a louder voice, a greater feeling, was pushing them all to the side.

“I screwed up,” Eli began the moment that they walked into the house, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m the reason that I got recalled back. I thought I had coverage while I was gone, but my boss called, tearing me a brand-new one. I’m being recalled from leave for failure to file paperwork, mismanagement, and staffing issues as a direct result of…”

“Eli?” Maureen interrupted softly, laying a hand on his chest to stop him. It didn’t matter. None of it did. He was here for a little while longer, and that was what mattered currently. Getting worked up and stressed out during their time wasn’t going to change matters or help things.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated for the tenth time, his eyes torn and full of regret.

“Come with me,” she offered, pulling him toward her office and smiling. If she couldn’t give him her heart yet, then she could bring him comfort and relieve some of the tension that plagued him for a brief moment. As they stepped into her converted garage, flipping on the dimmed lights, she saw the understanding written on his face – and the hesitation. “Change out of everything and lie down on the table, covering up with the sheet.”