Page 99 of Keeping Amanda
He was close with his fellow pilots, but that was entirely different.
Shrugging off the thoughts, knowing he was feeling particularly melancholy after seeing Mandy exuberantly greet Buck at the base the second they’d arrived on US soil, Obi-Wan headed for the door to the hangar.
“Where’s the fire?” Edge called out. “Thought we were going to meet up at Anchor Point?”
Obi-Wan turned and faced his friends. “Can’t. I’ve got a meeting I need to get to.”
“A meeting?” Chaos asked. “With who? We just got back.”
It was time to let his friends in on the secret he’d been keeping. Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan said, “I’m a consultant on a project in town. About Night Stalkers.”
His friends walked closer, asking questions as they came toward him.
“What project?”
“There’s a project about Night Stalkers? Did the Army sanction it?”
“What are you consulting about, exactly?”
Obi-Wan prepared himself for the ribbing he was about to get. “It’s a movie. I was asked to be their military advisor. I’ve been working with the producer, director, and script supervisor on the script, and now it’s time for filming to start. I have a meeting tonight that includes the lead actor and actress, and then I’ll be spending as much time as I can on set once filming starts.”
As expected, his friends were quick to start with the taunts.
“Ooooh, fancy pants!”
“Are you gonna leave us to marry a famous actress?”
“He doesn’t need to marry her. He can definitely have a good time while she’s here though.”
“Who’s the director?”
“Screw the director, who’s playing the lead? What’s the movie about?”
Obi-Wan grinned. He loved these guys. They were his best friends, and he was a lucky-son-of-a-bitch to get to work with them every day.
He told them as much as he could, and when he was done, was surprised when everyone took the information in stride. He figured they’d rib him way more than they had. But Casper and Buck were too ready to head home with their girlfriends, and the others were probably more interested in having some real food and a beer at Anchor Point.
Their long-held traditions were changing. At one time, no one would’ve missed the post-mission Anchor Point visit, but change wasn’t a bad thing.
“Have fun. But be careful,” Pyro cautioned. “Rumor has it that Carmen St. James is a bitch.”
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. “She’s not going to want anything to do with me. I’m just the military advisor.”
“Whatever, Obi-Wan. You’re hot,” Mandy said with a grin.
“Yeah. If she doesn’t take one look at you and decide you’re her next conquest, she’s stupid,” Laryn agreed.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, ladies,” he said with a chuckle. “But that’s not gonna happen.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Sure it’s not.”
“Stop flirting with my woman,” Buck complained, pulling Mandy tighter against his side.
Mandy elbowed him. “He’s not flirting, Nash. Geez.”
Buck grinned at his copilot and gave him a chin lift. “Have fun. Don’t work too hard.”
