Page 59 of Ace

“Thanks for the compliment. But in some groups, I’d rather just be Blaze.”

“Understood.” Rocky tossed the ball back to Jed to serve.

When it went to Dex, he laughed and called out, “This one’s for you, babe.” And then sent it straight to her arms.

“Very funny, Ace.” She sent it back.

“I aim to please.” The ball went right back to her.

“Sometimes you do.” She sent it to him.

The rest of their teammates stood up from their ready positions, watching the ball go back and forth.

“Just sometimes?”

“Right.” She slammed it as hard as she could, but she aimed for Omar, who missed it completely and it fell to the sand. “Game.” She held up her hand.

Her team ran together and they high-fived all around.

Dex frowned. “Another?”

She studied him. “What if we just leave this championship as it is? Just like the other?”

“Oh, she had to bring it up.” Omar grinned.

“Two out of three. Come on.” Dex’s plea was almost a beg, his eyes large. She turned to the team. “You up for another? ’Cause it’s only gonna take one more.”

She moved to the back to serve.

Dex moved to the net, his eyes staring into hers. She didn’t know if he intended to make her nervous or if he was just intense because he was determined to win, but his gaze only strengthened her confidence like it always had. A little dose of Dex always helped her be better. She felt like she could take on anything even if he were the opponent. She grinned right at him and served without looking at the ball. It flew over the net and into Ivy’s lap. She didn’t return it.

“One, zero.” She caught the ball and prepared to serve again.

They played long into the afternoon. Gianna won the second. Dex won the third. They played until they were exhausted and feeling the effects of the sun. Gianna finally held up her hands. “I’m out. We’ve got to hit the showers, put on some aloe, and get ready for tomorrow’s drills, right?”

“You going up with us?” Rocky’s voice sounded hopeful.

“I can fly if Ace thinks it would be okay.”

Dex considered her. “I’ll be your co.”

She tried to hide it, but that statement shook through her. He would be her co.

For years Dex had been the pilot. He was not a copilot. Everyone knew Dex had to be in charge. He flew better that way. The team did better. He directed from the back seat. And he just couldn’t let it go. One time when they were in training, her copilot had been sick, and she’d needed to go up for an evaluation. She was desperate for a co. And he’d stepped up to help. The other pilots in the room had laughed, thinking he was kidding. Ace doesn’t fly co, that was what they had always said. But he was serious. And she took him up on it.

She’d never flown better. He hadn’t commanded from his back seat. In everything he’d encouraged her and done his job. She remembered his words still. “You got this, Blaze. Look right. Yep. Good call.”

When they’d landed, he saluted her. “I’ll be your co any time.” Then he’d just nodded and walked away while she received her evaluations. It had been one of her best flights yet.

I’ll be your cowas kind of a message between them. At least it had been. Until he’d let her down. Being her co didn’t mean much to her anymore, until now. Somehow the way he said it brought back all the old feelings of trust and strength.

“Great. Looks like I’m going up.” She smiled. “Man, I miss flying.”

What did she miss more? Flying or flying with Dex? She didn’t know if the two were separate in her mind at all. And she didn’t know if she wanted them to be.

Chapter 21

She refused to be distracted from her purpose in tagging along to Tandora, which was to ensure the safety of her beloved people. Gianna had listened to the Top Flight meeting and thought they were skirting the real issue, which of course was how they would be able to disable the weapons facility without causing any injury to the islanders. They needed someone on the ground to set off explosives or set the place on fire—whatever it took—while making certain that no people were in range, no lives lost.

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