“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Jax asked, smiling broadly. This was so wonderful that they were all willing to help plan this out.
“Just give her the choice, and I think this is a great idea,” Marisol smiled. “I’ll run to the store and get a few things.”
“I can make a picnic basket up in no time,” Glory volunteered.
“I already reached out to Ace, and he gave me the coordinates for a field nearby where you can land safely. He and Jessica bought several acres – and plan on building a house in the future, with a spot where he can take off or land whenever he wants.”
“He misses us, doesn’t he?”
“I think he wants to enable the two of them to fly more often. Jessica is on desk duty after the baby, and she’s probably crawling the walls.”
“Ghost, why don’t you get some flowers to surprise Mary?”
“You don’t think it’s too much? That it’s going to come on too strong?”
Alpo walked into the small kitchenette where they were drinking their coffee and interrupted.
“Nope,” Alpo said, pouring himself a cup. “Always be yourself. If it’s too strong and you have to hold back, it’s not meant to be.”
“My pookie-bear is right,” Glory nodded. “I’ve never expected him to change – and he never pushes me to do so either. I know we have moments where we push each other’s buttons… but I love his buttons.”
“I like your buttons too, babe…” Alpo winked at Glory and then looked at Jax. “Make it a point to make her feel special, because if you don’t? Someone else will. Don’t worry about coming on strong, because girls have fifty-million things spinning around in their heads – you need to be the target, the beacon, the thing they focus on.”
“But Valkyrie and Firefly said…”
“Pshaw… it took Firefly almost a year to cross a line with Melody – and Valkyrie? Well, they are different. I mean, he was pushing so hard that she would lose her temper with him – and then the big ogre would smile. Those two are sweet, but strange. You know Marisol kneed him in the family jewels… in my backyard?”
“Really?”
“Yep. Do your own thing, what feels right to you, and be clear about your intentions. Glory and I talk every morning, because I never want her to think that I don’t worship the ground that those pretty little feet walk on…” Alpo finished tenderly, looking at his wife. “You make life worth living and so much more thrilling than any yahoooooo flight I could ever take, my love.”
“Ohhhh Hunter,” Glory said tearfully, staring up at the other man with so much love and affection that Jax felt his stomach clench, realizing that he wanted these moments with his Mary.
“I can honestly say that you are a blessing to us both,” Harley said gently, touching Glory’s hand. “My brother has never been so calm, content, and deliriously happy until he met you.”
Glory laughed tearfully as Hunter grinned.
“My sister is sugar-coating it, isn’t she babe?”
“Oh yeah…”
“Really?” Jax asked curiously, seeing the looks between the trio.
“We fought like cats and dogs for the longest time, trying not to acknowledge this intensity between us – and when we were forced to face it, nearly losing the other person, it really makes you realize what is actually important in life,” Glory smiled easily, before looking at Hunter. “Him.”
“Her,” Hunter said in the exact same moment.
“What they are saying,” Harley interrupted, smiling and looking at Jax. “Is that if you talk to any number of people, they will give you different information on how you should handle a relationship – but you need to do what works for you both. If she needs to feel special, thenbethe person that makes her feel special. If she needs space, then be confident enough to give it to her… and if something feels off? You should talk and work through it together.”
“I think I’ll get her some flowers after all…” Ghost smiled. “Thank you.”
* * *
Hours later,Jax was packing the Cessna with Glory, listening to her chat on and on as he smiled easily.
The back of the plane had more than he bargained for, but it was perfect. There were two folding chairs, a picnic blanket, a basket that Glory had packed that had at least two, if not three, meals in it from what he could tell. He had picked up a dozen roses for Mary… and a little something special.
“I know when Hunter and I went flying, it was new for me so I chatted his ear off. I’m not sure if Mary has been flying, but this will be completely different from anything else she’s done, because these planes are so tiny. Just encourage her to enjoy it and relax.”