both of them? — and he didn’t like it. His head was still throbbing, and lying out in the sun wasn’t helping, but in his image-is-everything world he had to show the JOs what a stud he was, 24/7. Even to all-talk-and-no-action Coach.
“What do you want to do today?” Coach asked.
“I dunno… Dry out. Go back to the ship. Get a sunburn. Get laid.”
“In that order?”
Trench took a swig of water. “You had your chance, man.”
Coach said nothing. The other squadron pilots were playing water volleyball in the pool, which was lined with tourists sunning themselves in lounge chairs.
Trench noticed Macho come into the pool area from the jungle path. “Oh, shit,” he groaned. “Here comes Nurse Ratched.” Behind her was a girl, tall and trim… and Macho was talking to her! Together they walked up to the group of Firebird pilots poolside, and it appeared Macho was introducing the girl to them. She shook hands with each one.
Trench propped himself up on his elbows to see better. “You gotta be shittin’ me,” he muttered.
Coach was watching, too. “You think that’s the new guy?” They observed her for a few moments: long legs, flowing dark hair, and then a shot of the goods once she removed her beach cover-up.
“Whoo, baby,” Trench answered, a small smile forming on his lips.
* * *
Shane was excited to meet her new squadronmates. She just knew Tiffany was going to be her new BFF, and meeting these fleet aviators wasn’t as bad as they said it would be at Intel Officer school. They seemed nice, and clearly Commander Wilson was an inspirational leader. And surrounding them was a tropical paradise the like of which she only seen in the movies. She couldn’t wait to tell her mother.
“You ‘girls’ done with volleyball?” Macho asked the men.
“Just waiting to thump you,” Irish said in retort. “Let’s go!”
Macho whipped off her t-shirt and jumped in the water, while Irish smiled at Shane. “C’mon, Fung, you’re on our team!”
Shane looked about, nervous. Fearful of showing too much at this first meeting, she should have insisted on remaining at the condo. Boys looked at her body differently than they did other girls, had since middle school. She couldn’t help her height or what God gave her. Yes, her girlfriends always said, you are blessed, but there are worse problems for a girl to have. Shane Duncan, though, wanted to be known for her professional ability, and this first impression was not the one she had wanted to make.
“New guy, you in the squadron or not?” Irish persisted. From the water Macho looked at her quizzically, as if to say,