Page 28 of Viking

Heat coils low in my stomach, igniting like a spark in dry grass. My fingers twitch, every ounce of exhaustion evaporating.

LOGAN: Careful. You keep talking like that, and I’ll be halfway home before the briefing is over.

LILA: And here I thought you were a professional.

LOGAN: I am. I’d just rather be personally responsible for making you blush.

Ryan’s voice snaps me out of the haze. “James, who are you texting with that dumb smile on your face?”

I glance up, already regretting it when I see his shit-eating grin.

“None of your business,” I mutter, eyes dropping back to my phone.

Ryan crosses his arms. “Oh, it’s my business now. You’ve been grinning at that screen like a kid who just got permission to stay up past bedtime. Don’t tell me it’s Townsend you’re texting. Tell him to get his ass in here and finish this brief so we can get some dinner. I’m starving.”

I snort, fingers already moving before I lose my nerve. I haven’t been this bold with Lila, not even in Vegas.

LOGAN: If you were here, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands to myself.

LILA: Who says I’d want you to?

I shake my head, fighting back the smile on my face.

Dalton leans in, blatantly curious. “I’m guessing it’s not Townsend,” he says, smirking at Ryan who reaches across the table to fist-bump him.

I ignore them, my pulse thudding in my ears as another text pops up.

LILA: You’d keep me in bed all day, wouldn’t you?

LOGAN: Sweetheart, I’d skip the demos and keep you in bed all weekend if you’d let me.

I swallow hard, the ache of missing her hitting me like a sucker punch.

LOGAN: You’re lucky I’m in uniform, or I’d tell you exactly what I’m thinking.

LILA: Tell me anyway.

LOGAN: Sadly, it’ll have to wait. Townsend just walked in and said we have some dinner tomorrow. Know anything about that? Apparently, our public affairs coordinator set it up.

LOGAN: Here I was planning on taking you on a date.

Her reply is instant, like she’s been waiting.

LILA: Sorry, Captain. Duty calls.

I laugh, pocketing my phone, my body thrumming with anticipation. Ryan claps me on the back, and I barely feel it, already counting down the hours until I see her again.

“Well,” Ryan starts, giving me a look like he knows exactly who it is, “you tell Valhalla to keep it up. You’re a hell of a lot easier to be around when you’re smiling like that.”

“Valhalla?” I ask, squinting at him like he’s inhaled too much jet exhaust.

He grins. “Yeah. It's Norse heaven. Where Vikings end up.”

I watch him walk off, wondering when the hell my best friend turned into a damn poet.

Tyndall AFB

May 4, 2024