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Pacing anxiously as the people started trickling into the venue, Jade checked over her list to make sure nothing was forgotten.
Drinks? Check.
Food? Check.
Music? Check.
Dress? Check.
Shoes? Che-
“Crap! Where are my shoes?” She mutters as she looks for them. “Gotcha!” She says once she spots them under the table. She slipped them on and made her way out to join the party.
She spots two of her favorite people and roommates, Alyssa and Scarlett, and rushes towards them. “Hiii girls! I can’t wait to go home and we can binge on movies and not worry about parties!”
Aly laughs. “I can’t wait to see all the hotties coming with Bob!”
Scarlett laughs. “More like Jade can’t wait to see Bob in his uniform.”
“Oooh you’re blushing,” Aly teases when she catches sight of Jade and her flaming cheeks.
Jade playfully rolls her eyes and laughs with her friend.
*******
“So… will the famous Jade be at this party- I’m sorry at this gala?” Hangman teasingly asks Bob.
The quiet WSO couldn’t help the blush that came to his cheeks.
“Leave him alone Jake,” Phoenix says with a warning tone to her voice.
“No! I’m genuinely curious. He’s always talking about her and I want to meet the girl that has stolen his heart since she accidentally beat him up in elementary school. He has their prom picture and the one of them from his naval academy graduation taped in his locker! I need to meet her.”
Bob groans and laughs. “She didn’t beat me up. She was excited to practice a boxing move from her pa. She felt so bad and was crying. She was 6,” he recalls the story and smiles warmly as he tells his friends.
*******
MANY YEARS AGO
“Booooobbbbyyyyy!” Jade kept calling out as she was searching for him around their shared area of the families’ ranches.
She spots him under a pecan tree.
Taking a running start, Jade reaches him and tackles him face down to the ground and then she pulls his arm behind him as she sits on him. “I beat you up!”
Bob winces in pain at suddenly being on the ground, thinking he really was getting bullied.
When she doesn’t see him playfully fighting back, Jade’s lip trembles and she starts crying, thinking she injured her favorite person.
“No no no. Don’t cry Jade. I’m okay, see?” He says softly as he hugs her after standing back up.
“Are you sure?” Jade asks sniffling.
“Yeah. I mean it hurts a little but I like you more now. Now we can be crime fighting husband and wife!” He says excitedly as he takes a superhero pose, causing Jade to giggle and do her own pose.
*******
PRESENT
The cheers that erupt when the aviators arrive at the gala were deafening.
“Your boyfriends are here,” Jade teases Aly and Scarlett.
“You mean your future hubby,” Aly teases back, wiggling her eyebrows.
“It’s a good thing she got a manicure,” Scarlett whispers conspiratorially to Alyssa when Jade is distracted.
As they all look to where the commotion is, Jade smiles widely when her eyes land on her handsome best friend. Her first crush. Her only crush. Her best friend.
Jade gasps happily and takes a running leap to Bob. He easily catches her and spins her around.
With foreheads touching and sharing a longing look, they smile shyly at each other. “Hi,” they say at the same time before sharing a tender kiss.
The rest of the Dagger Squad clear their throats in unison and stare at the couple.
“Everyone this is Jade, my best friend and girlfriend… Jade, this is everyone,” Bob says, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her shoulder.
Hangman stares in shock. “ The stealth pilot has smooth moves,” he mutters in disbelief.
Phoenix rolls her eyes at Hangman and moves to hug Jade. “It’s so nice to finally meet you in person!”
“Bobby was just scared we’d be too chaotic if we ever joined forces,” Jade teases, hugging her back.
They spend the next hour chatting and making introductions, making sure to include Alyssa and Scarlett in the conversation.
*******
As the party continues, the dagger squad and the locals all interact and enjoy the evening of stories of the heroic team.
Bob discreetly nods to Alyssa and Scarlett. Both know what the nod means and they rush to their assigned posts.
Alyssa rushes to tell the DJ to play Chris Lane’s “Big, Big Plans” while Scarlett hands a flash drive to the event coordinator.
The music stops and dims to focus on the projection screen.
The song starts playing in sync with the slideshow of Bob and Jade through the years. Their childhood play dates. Their middle school dances. High school ups and downs. Prom.
Phoenix is smiling widely and giving Scarlett a thumbs up that they were able to secretly put this slideshow together.
Jade turns around to look at Bob only to find that he’s gone. Then she looks down and sees that he’s not gone. No. He’s kneeling. With a ring on his hand.
She can’t help it and just nods before he even asks the question. “Yes! Yes!”
Bob laughs as he stands and kisses her while sliding the ring on her finger. “Marry me Jade. We’ve known since day one we were headed here. There’s never been any doubt that you were the one for me. Even when you would tackle me. I told you when we were kids we’d be crime fighting husband and wife. Now let’s make it official. Marry me.”
Jade nods excitedly. “Yeah!” She kisses him again and starts giggling happily.
Cheers and bottles of champagne erupt around them.
*******
“So what happens after the gala Robert?” Jade asks, leaning her back against his chest.
“What happens? Well, we go on actual dates... Not the phone or video kind. We hold hands. We kiss. And then we plan our wedding my love,” he replies, lifting her hand so they both could admire her engagement ring.
“I love you Robert.”
“I love you too, future Mrs. Floyd.”
Jade then gasps. “Did you have me plan our own engagement party making it seem like it was for the Dagger Squad?”
Bob kisses her deeply. “I love how smart you are… Mrs. Floyd.”