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Bob Floyd was in a pickle. Now, he wasn’t entirely sure how he wound up in this situation, but here he was, going through security for an early morning flight from San Diego to Richmond, Virginia with his best friend, and pilot, Natasha Trace.
When he got a frantic call from his friend, Bradley, at the crack of dawn the day before, he wasn’t awake enough to know what favor he was going to do for the man. However, he woke up when a series of emails from both Bradley and Natasha came through his inbox, and now Bradley’s emergency deployment to the middle of the Pacific Ocean meant that Natasha now needed a “boyfriend” to take to her great-grandmother’s 100th birthday party in Virginia.
The line for TSA Pre-Check was going a bit slower than it’s usual pacing, so while they waited to move forward in the queue, Natasha turned to Bob and placed the hand not holding her luggage handle onto his arm. “Bob,” Natasha started, “you have absolutely no idea what stepping in for Bradley means to me.”
Bob shook his head, “Nat, don’t worry about it. I’m glad I was able to come.” He contemplated his next words carefully continuing, “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but why is it so important that you arrive with a partner, anyway?”
Natasha let out a deep sigh and rolled her eyes “My family has been giving me grief for years about bringing a significant other home to meet them, but our Top Gun schedule sprinkled with the various deployments make it hard to meet and get close to anyone long term. I’ve not dated seriously in a while, but they don’t have to know that.”
This was something that everyone in their unit knew too well. After the Uranium Mission, the Daggers were made a permanent station in Coronado. Their days were filled with either sitting in lectures from Naval Admirals and Captains on how to better their already impeccable flying, teaching lectures to new Top Gun recruits how to mimic their impeccable flying, or taking on the occasional mission where their particular expertise is needed. Bob and Natasha had just returned from one of those very missions a week prior and were in the middle of a much needed two week break to decompress and recoup.
“I mean, my family knows Bradley. He’d come with me during long weekends when we were both stationed on the East Coast,” she began. “They’d hinted before that they thought that we were more than friends, which is gross because all I see Brad Brad as is an annoying older brother, but we’ve been friends for so long that it made sense for him to come. Romantic partner or not.”
Bob nodded, understanding his friend’s reason. “When Bradley suggested you yesterday as his substitute, it made more sense than Hangman or Javy. You’re my backseater, my WSO, and my friend. You know me better than those idiots, and I really hate to throw you to the wolves, but you are a new face for my family to interrogate.” At that, Natasha smiled maniacally, and Bob let out an audible gulp.
“You’ll be fine, though,” she promised. “My parents are throwing this party and will be busy most of the weekend, and my brother and his family can’t make it because he’s stationed in Guam. The only person you really have to watch out for is my Aunt Margaret and my Gramma Adelaide.” She took at deep breath before continuing. “Aunt Maggie is just a busy-body and will ask a ton of questions about how we met, how long we’ve been dating, and what your intentions are for me, but Gramma is who you must watch out for. She’s a shark and may see through our ruse if she looks too closely.”
Bob swallowed. “Okay, so we need to come up with our backstory then. You think?”
“Well,” Natasha said, “I thought we’d keep it as close to the truth as possible to avoid for any hiccups.”
Nodding, Bob said, “Okay, so that’s easy enough. We met when we were recalled to Top Gun before the Uranium Mission. We got to know each other each evening after training and crushes formed. We started dating afterwards?” Natasha nodded. “Maybe the intensity of the mission made us realize we may not have tomorrow, and we need to live while we can?”
“Yes! Oh, that’s good Bobby!” she smiled, but it faded and her eyebrows furrowed. “Bob, I’m going to ask you a question and I need you to be one hundred percent honest with me, okay?” Bob nodded. “How comfortable are you with PDA?”
Bob’s mind swirled as he followed Natasha through the line closer to airport security.. He’d not had too many relationships in the past. The longest being when he was in high school with the girl literally next door, and the most recent being with a travel nurse who worked at a hospital near the base in Lemoore when he was stationed there. Public displays of affection weren’t something he was comfortable with. He was a self-proclaimed wallflower, introvert through and through, so most actions that could call attention upon himself made him itchy and uneasy.
“Um,” he stammered. “I guess it depends on what kind of PDA we’re talking about, Nat.”
By this time, it was Natasha’s turn to go through TSA Security, and Bob didn’t get an answer. He watched his friend place her suitcase and backpack onto the conveyer belt to send through the x-ray machine. He followed behind, placing his own bags on the belt, but an anxious feeling began to take over Bob’s chest.
He had kept his feelings close to his chest, but Bob had harbored a quiet, growing affection for Natasha since their bird strike ejection. Her laughter is his favorite sound, and her smile never fails to brighten his day. He adores her smarts and quick thinking in the air, but her intelligence and wit on the ground is unmatched to anyone else he knows. However, Bob values their friendship too much to risk confessing his adoration, so he decided to keep his feelings hidden; content to be a friend Natasha can lean on, even if it occasionally aches.
When Bradley begged Bob to take his place as her pretend boyfriend for her great-grandmother’s 100th birthday celebration weekend, his heart leapt and sank at the same time. On one hand, he would get to play the part he’s dreamed of, but on the other, it’s just an act.
“Thank you, Lieutenant Floyd, you may go on through.” Bob nodded to the TSA Agent that assisted him and grabbed his luggage, he walked to where Natasha was waiting for him before they ventured to their gate.
“I mean,” Natasha continued their conversation from a few minutes before. “I was thinking some hand holding, some light snuggling, and maybe a kiss or two to throw suspicion off of us.”
“So, nothing X-Rated,” he joked, noting that the tips of Natasha’s ears turned red at the suggestion.
“Exactly! What you’d do to your high school girlfriend around her family, really.” Natasha smirked. “Although, Bobby, if you want some X-Rated fun, all you have to do is ask.” It was his turn for his face to flame. He didn’t know how to respond to that.
The airport was quiet this time of morning, but by the time Bob and Natasha made it to their terminal, the smell of fresh brewed coffee from the Starbucks was too much to handle. Leaving his luggage with Natasha, Bob retraced their steps to the café and grabbed them both the largest Americanos he could purchase and a couple blueberry muffins he saw in the bake case.
“You know,” Natasha said when he made it back to their seat, “you just paid about $8 more for that than if we’d have stopped at the drive-through location a mile away, right?”
“Well, Miss I’m-Driving-So-No-Stops-Until-the-Airport, I didn’t have that option, did I?” he joked with her, handing her the coffee and muffin he got for her.
One thing Bob had learned over the last few years was that Natasha was always late. If she was meeting you somewhere, she would be anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes late. If she was coming to yours, you had better tell her to be there an entire hour before whatever time you need her there. And forget if she was driving you both anywhere; if you had to be there at a specific time – like the airport 2 hours before your domestic flight across the country – you would barely make it in time to get through security and grab a coffee before your flight was called.
“Now boarding Flight 2415 to Richmond, Virginia.”
“That’s us, Bobbo,” she groaned, standing from her seat. “Let’s get the show on the road.”
The flight to Virginia was uneventful at best. Natasha pulled out her earbuds and started listening to her most current audiobook as soon as the plane reached cruising altitude. Bob, on the other hand, fell asleep shortly after takeoff despite the nervous energy within him.
---
“Wake up, sleepy.” Natasha jabbed Bob’s side with a finger. “We’re landing.”
Bob startled at the intrusion to the dream he was having, and he lifted his head above him to stretch the kinks out of his bones.
“Thanks,” he said. “I needed that. I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“What? Couldn’t stop thinking about dating me?” Natasha snickered. She was enjoying this all too well for his liking. Here he was, doing her a favor, and she was pestering him. But then again, she wouldn’t be herself if she wasn’t joking with the people she held dear.
“Something like that,” he muttered. In truth, he really didn’t sleep much the night before. Between packing for the weekend ahead and psyching himself up, he was overthinking the role he signed up for. What made him think that he could pull this off? Rooster, sure. Bradley was full of himself and could easily play up a non-relationship with a friend. But Bob? Bob was shy in unfamiliar environments. He was more comfortable playing D&D or World of Warcraft online with others and having to put on such a show for Natasha’s family would really be putting his non-existent acting skills to the test.
The plane landed without incident, a few obnoxious passengers clapping when the aircraft touched down on the tarmac, and the plane made its way to their designated terminal. Once they were stopped and the cabin doors opened, a mad rush of people stood and began scrambling for their belongings. Having flown commercial too many time before, both Natasha and Bob knew better than to even attempt to move yet. While they were waiting for the influx of passengers to debark the plane, Natasha’s phone pinged with a new notification.
“Mom just texted, and Dad’s apparently in baggage claim waiting on us, and I quote ‘slow pokes,’” she rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why he couldn’t text me that… Anyway, you’ll see what I mean when we get there.”
The duo was finally able to grab their own carry-on bags and personal items to make their way off the plane, but Bob and Natasha both paused to thank the pilots before making their way to the jet bridge and into the lion’s den.
--
Bob loves Natasha’s dad. Just as soon as they made it to baggage claim, he greeted his daughter and Bob with a dad joke about flying, and while it made Natasha groan in dismay, Bob genuinely found it funny.
“That’s a real first class joke there, sir,” Bob joked back as they began walking towards the exit and parking garage. Natasha groaned again, but her father stopped their procession and turned to look at Bob and then back to his daughter before taking the younger man’s hand and pulling him in for a crushing hug.
“None of this sir shit, son,” he proclaimed. “Call me Daniel, or Dad. You know, no one else appreciates my jokes, but I think you and I will get along very well.” Daniel Trace let Bob go, and they turned to continue out of the airport.
“Great, there’s two of them now,” Bob heard her mutter as the automatic doors opened, and the stifling July heat and humidity embraced them.
“So, Bobby,” Daniel began, “d’ya mind if I call you Bobby? Anyway, Bobby, I’m not going to interrogate you on the way to the house, you’ll get that enough from my wife when we get there, but I have to say that it’s nice to meet an actual beau of my baby girl’s and not have her and Rooster pretend again.”
Natasha quickly turned towards her father in disbelief.
“Excuse me? What are you talking about?” she sputtered.
“Natasha Isabelle Trace,” he countered. “Do you really think your mother and I are that stupid? We’ve known for years that you and Bradley are more brother and sister than you could ever be anything romantic.” He paused, as if gathering his next words carefully, “you two just don’t mesh like that.”
Bob looked back and forth between the two as they approached a late model Honda Pilot parked in the corner of the parking deck. Daniel hit a couple buttons on the key fob in his hand, and the hatch of the vehicle opened for the travelers to place their luggage inside.
Once inside the SUV, Natasha unceremoniously pushed Bob into the front passenger seat so she could stretch out in the back, the three buckled up and Daniel backed out of the spot and drove out of the garage and towards the highway.
“Folks,” Daniel said, “this is your captain speaking. We will be landing at Casa Trace in roughly thirty minutes give or take turbulence and traffic. Place your tray tables back into their upright positions, and be thinking of what you want for breakfast for Bojangles as your Mama shouldn’t have to cook breakfast today.” Bob grinned as Natasha groaned again at her father’s antics. Yeah, Bob likes Natasha’s dad.
--
The drive was smooth, the traffic light, and after a short stop for biscuits and a huge carton of coffee, they arrived at a modest two-story, single-family home that sat off the road in a small thicket of tall trees. As they pulled farther into the driveway, Bob noticed an older playhouse behind the house, and a fenced off area where he thought a pool could live behind. Daniel parked the car, and the three of them climbed out of the vehicle.
Daniel had already told them to leave their stuff in the back of the car to retrieve later, so they filled their arms with the buttery breakfast goodness and went inside the house. The side door they came in led right into a good sized, yet cozy, kitchen that emanated a homely warmth that invited Bob right in. The white cabinetry, while sturdy and spacious, showed slight wear with age, and the countertops were classic laminate; both functional yet needing a bit of an upgrade to something more contemporary.
Opposite side of the surprisingly spacious room, sat the dining area that featured a rustic wooden table where the morning light was shining into the space and illuminating the figure sitting at the end of the, still donning a bathroom and holding a cup of coffee in her hand. The petite woman rose from her chair with an abrupt stand and rushed towards Natasha who had just sit the bag of food she had been carrying down.
“There’s my baby!” she gushed. “I missed you so much!” The smaller woman grabbed Natasha in a bone crushing hug, and refused to let her go even after several moments.
“I missed you, too, Mama!” Natasha exclaimed, but quickly roughened her voice. “But I have to breathe, Ma. Let up a little, will ya? I have someone I want you to meet.” The women released their embrace, and turned towards Bob.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Bob,” she gestured between the two. “Bob, this is my mom, Naomi.”
Bob reached out his hand, “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Like her husband at the airport, Naomi ignored his proffered handshake and grabbed the young man into a hug so tight it had to rival the one she gave her daughter. Releasing him, she grabbed his chin and looked him in the eye. “None of that crap, sweetie. You call me Mom or Naomi, you hear?”
Bob smiled when she squished his cheeks.
Yeah, Bob was enamored with his friend’s parents, and he could get used to this fake boyfriend gig.
--
The morning was peaceful just through breakfast, and it was as soon as the last fast food wrapper was balled up and tossed into the trash, that it was go-go-go for the three Trace family members. Bob, valiant as he could be, asked time and again what he could do to help, but no one would let him do anything.
Naomi, however, did interrogate Bob and Natasha as she began pulling out boxes of pasta, vegetables, cubed cheddar cheese, and an ungodly amount of Duke’s mayonnaise for her famous pasta salad. Nothing too in depth to start with; the usual “how did you meet?” Work. “Natty said you’re her WSO, but I’m not sure what that is, so what do you do?” I operate the weapon systems on our jet. “Do you have any brothers and sisters?” Two of each. But it was just after she bowled up the side dish, that she turned to her daughter and boyfriend, that she asked her real questions.
“Bob,” Naomi began. “How do you feel about Natasha being a fighter pilot?”
“Mom-” Naomi held up her hand to stop her daughter’s protesting.
“It’s a valid question, Natasha Isabelle.”
“Well, ma’am,” Bob started, quickly rectifying when the older woman glared at him. “I mean, Naomi, Natasha is one of the best pilots I’ve ever had the privilege of flying with. She’s intelligent and quick with her thinking behind the controls. She doesn’t second guess her actions because she knows what she’s doing, and somehow, she is able to anticipate the moves of the other Daggers.” Bob paused in his praise of his pilot before looking towards Natasha icing a cake and continuing, “and for some reason, she trusts me implicitly when I’m instructing her on dodging enemy aircraft and artillery.”
“Except for a certain bird strike incident,” her mother queried. “Right?”
“Yes, Ma’am – I mean, Mom?” Bob said in almost a question, looking back at her. “That incident came out of nowhere, and unfortunately, we were not able to avoid it and ejecting.”
Naomi looked at Bob intently, reading him like an interesting mystery novel she just couldn’t solve yet. “Well, I’m so very glad you both are safe after that. I know you’ve flown hundreds of times since then, but events like that just never leave a parent’s mind. We could have lost Natty that day, but we didn’t, and in some way, I suspect we have you to partially thank for that. Don’t we? So, thank you, Bob, for protecting my baby girl. And thank you for the obvious love you have for her.”
Bob opened his mouth to protest, but Natasha came up to the two having finished her part in the party prep. Playing into the role of girlfriend, she snaked her arms around his lean torso and snuggled into his side. Naomi, watching this exchange with eager interest, smiled as she watched Bob turn and press a kiss to her daughter’s forehead. She wasn’t going to say anything to them, but the satisfied grin Natasha made afterwards was telling on just how much her daughter loved the man beside her.
“Okay, you two,” Naomi clapped her hands to gain their attention. “It’s two o’clock, and the party starts at four thirty. Dan has already brought in your luggage and put it in Natty’s room, but you’re going to have to shower separately if we want to get ready and be at the senior citizen’s center to help set-up.”
“Mom!”
“Naomi!” Both Bob and Natasha cried out and blushed at the implication they would even try to shower together.
“Dan and I aren’t naïve, Natasha Isabelle,” her mother scoffed. “We know and accept that you’re an adult with a serious boyfriend. Just try not to make us grandparents before your wedding.”
Both Naval aviators blushed a crimson red, and Natasha grabbed Bob’s hand to drag him up the stairs to get ready.
--
The party was already a success, and it had barely started yet. The Chester Senior Citizen’s Center was less of a community hall like Bob envisioned and more like a posh country club with an attached 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, and swimming pools.
When they arrived at the center, Bob could admit to himself that he was more nervous at meeting Natasha’s Gramma Adelaide than he was meeting Daniel and Naomi. When he finally went to meet the centenarian, he made sure to have Natasha at his side, holding her warm hand tightly.
“Ready?” Natasha asked, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and nerves.
“No, but I guess as ready as I’ll ever be,” Bob replied, trying to muster a confident smile.
They entered a side room of the grand hall, the space filled with laughter and chatter, and the clinking of punch filled wine glasses and sparkling cider filled champagne flutes. One of Natasha’s cousins had curated a playlist of their great-grandma’s favorite songs through the decades, and a few couples were already on the dance floor swaying to the beat. The entire facility was alive with celebration for Adelaide’s 100th birthday, and after being introduced to more Trace family members than he could remember, Bob followed Natasha as they weaved through the crowd to stand beside the birthday girl, who was laughing and chatting with some of her friends and relatives.
Gramma Adelaide sat regally in a high-backed chair with her silver hair styled elegantly. Her eyes sharpened and narrowed slightly, scrutinizing her great-granddaughter and her boyfriend with an intensity that made Bob shift uncomfortably. Natasha made quick introductions, and then to Bob’s surprise, Gramma Adelaide smiled warmly at the two of them.
“Nice to meet you, Bob,” Adelaide said. “Natasha, darling, would you mind fetching me another glass of punch? I’d like a word with your young man.”
Natasha hesitated, glancing at Bob, who gulped and then nodded reassuringly. As she walked away, Adelaide gripped Bob’s hand tightly, and gestured for him to lean closer to her.
“I know you’re not really dating my great-granddaughter,” she said in a low, conspiratorial tone.
Bob’s heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth to protest, but Adelaide raised a hand to silence him.
“Save it. I’ve been around long enough to see through these things. But that’s not what’s important here.”
Bob swallowed hard, feeling a wave of anxiety begin to overtake him. “I’m sorry, Adelaide, I didn’t mean to—”
Adelaide cut him off with a piercing look. “Listen to me, young man. Natasha Isabelle may have her reasons for this little charade – and I suspect it’s to get her parents off her back about settling down – but I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at her while you’ve been here. You care about her, don’t you?”
Bob nodded, his throat tight. “More than anyone I’ve ever been with.”
“Then tell her,” Adelaid said firmly. “Life is too short to waste precious time on pretense. She deserves to know how you feel. You may never get another chance.”
He nodded again, overwhelmed by the wisdom and urgency in her voice. But before he could respond, she leaned even closer, her eyes narrowing into a serious, almost threatening gaze.
“And if you hurt her,” Adelaid added, her voice dropping into a dangerous whisper, “I will have to kill you.”
Bob’s eyes widened, and he felt a chill run down his spine. Natasha chose that moment to return to the duo, her own eyes narrowed in suspicion of her grandmother. “Gramma,” she scolded, “did you give Bob ‘The Shovel Talk’?”
“Whatever would make you think that, dear?” her great-grandmother blinked innocently at Natasha. “Now, thank you for the drink. You and your young man should go dance and enjoy yourselves.” The older woman made a shoo motion with her empty hand and turned to greet another party guest with a bit smile and a hug.
Having been dismissed, Bob turned to Natasha and grinned. “So, what do you say, Nat? May I have this dance?” He held out his hand to her, and together they walked towards the makeshift dance floor. A slow, instrumental version of What a Wonderful World began playing over the speakers, and he pulled her close and began dancing to the classic.
“Bob,” Natasha started, “I cannot thank you enough for coming with me this weekend. It really means something to me, and I’m sorry that Rooster and I ganged up on you and pressured you to—”
“Nat, no,” Bob took a deep breath and looked at her. “Don’t even start that. I wasn’t pressured to do anything. Haven’t you realized by now that I’d do anything for you?”
Natasha smiled, “And I’d do whatever I can for—”
“No, Nat, I don’t think you get it.” He sighed, a bit dismayed that she hadn’t picked up on what he was trying to tell her. He’d been schooling his feelings for his best friend for so long, and he thought it was obvious as both Bradley and Jake had tried to convince him to ask Natasha out, but it was apparently not as obvious as he thought.
“Get what, Bobby?” Natasha looked genuinely bewildered. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. But Natasha, there’s something I need to tell you.” He pulled her a bit closer, and took a deep breath. Her brows furrowed further in confusion, but she nodded, still swaying with him.
“Natasha, I know this whole thing started as just me pretending to be your boyfriend – which your Gramma saw right through, by the way – but it’s not really an act for me.” Natasha stilled, and Bob smiled sadly, sensing her upcoming rejection. Unfortunately, rejection was something Bob was slightly familiar with, being the wallflower and nerd he’d been his whole life. “The thing is, I care about you. A lot. More than just a friend, and I’ve been too scared to say anything. Your Gramma Adelaide saw through it, though, and told me I needed to fess up my feelings.”
Natasha’s eyes widened, and for several moments she was silent. Bob looked down at their feet, which had now slowed to a complete stop as he kept speaking. “I know me saying something has messed everything up, but just forget I said anything, okay? That’s the last thing I want to happen, and while things may be a bit strained and awkward for a couple weeks, we’ll move on from this.” Bob released her from his hold and began to step back. “Better yet, I’ll talk to Captain Mitchell about maybe Fanboy and I switching pilots for a while to practice working with others until we’re back to normal--.”
Natasha took a hesitant step into the spot Bob just moved from, closing the gap he had purposely made. “Bobby,” Natasha smiled, almost bashfully, “I feel the same way. I’ve been too afraid to admit it, too.”
Relief and joy spread through Bob at her admission, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. The weight of unspoken words was lifted off his shoulders. He pulled back slightly to look into her face, and what he saw made his heart swell with love.
Natasha’s face was filled with warmth, longing and wonder, and Bob was certain it reflected his own. He slowly lifted his hands to cup her face and his eyes searched hers for any sign of hesitation, her hands lifting to caress his chest in a soft touch. With a gentle, almost imperceptible nod, she gave him the courage he needed to take their friendship to the next step. Bob leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a tender, electrifying kiss. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them suspended in a moment of pure, unspoken emotion.
They broke apart with a soft sigh, and Bob and Natasha pulled away from each other. Their eyes slowly opened and locked on each other, basking in the warmth of their newfound connection. The sudden sound of applause broke their trance, and they turned to see Natasha’s family looking on from a few yards away. Daniel, Naomi, and Gramma Adelaide - not to mention several aunts, uncles, and cousins Bob doesn’t remember names for – beamed with joy and approval.
“Finally,” Gramma Adelaide exclaimed. Natasha blushed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink. She glanced at Bob who was equally flustered but couldn’t help the grin spreading across this face. Her parents approached them with open arms, their expressions a mix of amusement and happiness.
“It’s about time,” Daniel said, clapping Bob on the shoulder. “We’ve heard Natasha talk about you for two years now, but she kept saying that you two weren’t together, but her mother and I just knew there was something there. Seeing the way you two have looked at each other since you got in today confirmed her feelings weren’t unrequited.”
Her mother, eyes sparkling with joy, hugged her daughter, then Bob, tightly. “I’m so happy for you both. Welcome to the family, Bob, officially this time.”
A few additional congratulations came in from her family, but the general atmosphere of celebration and laughter continued around the party. The initial awkwardness of being caught kissing Natasha for the first time in front of her family faded as they were swept up in the love and support of those closest to the woman in his arms. For the first time in a long time, Bob felt a sense of belonging and acceptance that he hadn’t anticipated, and his heart swelled with gratitude for this family’s open embrace of him and his and Natasha’s new relationship.
Later, as the evening wound down and the crowd began to disperse, Gramma Adelaide proclaiming “I’m too old to party late into the night again,” Bob and Natasha found a quiet corner to catch their breath. Natasha leaned her head on Bob’s shoulder, and a contented sign escaping her lips.
“Tonight was… something,” she said softly, and Bob spotted a small smile playing on her lips.
He chuckled, squeezing the hand she had placed on his knee. “Yeah, but in the best way possible.” He looked into her eyes, his expression sincere before leaning in and kissing her softly. The kiss didn’t linger, but when Bob pulled back, he laid his forehead against hers and said, “I’m really glad I said something.”
“Me, too,” Natasha whispered, turning her hand over and entwining her fingers with his. When they returned to California, he knew they’d have to address the squad – and accept some good-natured ribbing from Bradley and Jake – but until then, they could sit and bask in their newfound happiness. It was in that moment, sitting next to his best friend, his pilot, his love, and the person he hoped would be his future, that Bob knew he had taken the first step in a beautiful new chapter in life.
So Bob was no longer in a pickle, but he couldn’t help but be thankful things played out as they had.