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Jake never liked flying when he wasn’t the one in control. It never bothered him until he became a pilot but now there was always a small edge when he stepped off a plane as a passenger. He had just been home for a week and the end of his trip coincided with a big UT game so he decided to stop in Austin for a few days on his way back from the ranch outside of Dallas. The combination of a devastating defeat and his own personal brand of jet lag had him simultaneously exhausted and wired so here he was in a little bar in a little town about an hour away from base.
The bar was quiet without being uncomfortable, it looked like it would be easy to get service but not like he’d have to entertain the bartender. And- oh.
Hel-lo, pretty lady. She was sitting in the corner of the bar with probably the only martini glass in the place in front of her. Her chin was propped on her hand and she was focused on the book in front of her. Who the hell comes to a bar to read??? Jake probably wouldn’t have looked twice in the chaos of Austin with all of the pretty girls in their artfully cutoff shorts and carefully pressed hair. If they were in Austin, he’d have laughed it off as a gimmick, her posturing as an intellectual hoping to catch someone’s eye. But this bar was too small, too out of the way, she really just decided to bring her concerningly large book to a bar.
She took a sip from her glass and Jake winced when he noticed the bright green color. She was pretty but she had no idea how to drink. He could fix that. It’d be good for his ego after this afternoon. So he walked over, placed himself between her and the next seat (still a respectful distance away thank you very much). He braced his elbows on the bartop and casually waived a hand at the bartender before turning to look at her. Her eyes hadn’t lost their focus since he walked in, he’d have to break it himself.
“Fictional men are always better company aren’t they?”
She paused for a minute, glass halfway to her lips. She didn’t seem startled so she had noticed his approach. She blinked and turned to look at him. Her lips quirked slightly as her bright eyes focused on his face. Bingo.
"Sorry, I don't date cowboys." The girl softened the dismissal with a teasing smile but it was a dismissal nonetheless.
"What about Naval Aviators?" Jake flashed his best smile, the one where his dimples came out and he looked up through his lashes. This was a girl who liked to stand out from the norm, of course she wouldn’t be looking for a country boy in Texas.
"Ugh, even worse." The girl winced, winced .
"Really?"
"Sorry. Reflex. You say Navy, I shudder."
Jake just blinked at her for a moment as she winced again, this time in awkwardness. She softly laughed and offered an explanation.
“My dad was career Army,” she waved, Jake’s eyes caught on her elegantly shaped nails. “it kinda gets trained in.”
“Ahhhh.” Jake nodded slowly. “I was worried you were about to lecture me about the defense budget.”
“The hell would you do about that?” She had a dry humor and a warm smile, today was really turning around.
Jake shrugged, held out his hand.
“Not much. I’m Jake.”
She took the hand daintily but her shake was firm.
“It’s nice to meet you Jake.”
The bartender made his way over. Jake passed him his ID and credit card.
“I’ll have a whiskey on the rocks.” See? He wasn’t going to go with a basic beer. “And if the lady…?”
“The lady can buy her own drinks and is still working on this one.” She scrunched her nose slightly. Her tone was firm but not unwelcoming.
The bartender nodded, passed Jake’s ID back and went to get his drink, keeping a closer eye on them than before. Good. Jake was glad she had backup in a place like this.
“Army, I can forgive. But please tell me your dad taught you to actually drink.” Jake waived at the artificial monstrosity in front of the girl. She raised her brow.
“I am drinking.” Unimpressed. Noted.
“I- don’t want to impose where I’m unwanted.” God, Jake wanted to be wanted here but his mama would kick his ass if he made a girl uncomfortable. She looked at him before glancing at the nail she was running along the edge of her book, considering.
“You’re- not unwanted… But that attitude is.” She glanced up and down across his face as if she was debating her choice to let him stay.
The bartender placed Jake’s drink in front of him, they both looked up and smiled. The man’s eyes stayed locked on hers a moment longer before walking back to the patrons at the other side of the bar.
“Fair enough,” Jake could admit when he was wrong and he knows he can be an ass. “what about it is so…”
She leaned back in her chair a bit, pushing up the sleeves of her pink sweater as she turned more towards him.
“Why dismiss something that makes someone happy? Why impose artificial standards on what makes something… “real”?” She used her hands to make quotation marks in the air, watching for his reaction carefully. Jake pretended like he hadn’t been focused on the collection of varied silver rings across her fingers. “We’re literally at a bar where I can order my appletini, and you can order your whiskey, and one doesn’t negate the other.” Her face scrunched into a brief, adorable frown. “Happiness isn’t a finite resource, dismissing mine doesn’t leave more for you.” She turned her attention back to him intently.
Jake cocked his head and watched as what she had just said dawned on her. He hated the hesitation creeping onto her face and quickly cut her off.
“I never thought about it that way. It’s a good point.” He nodded and took a sip of his drink and pretended not to notice the way her shoulders relaxed.
“Just…” He turned back with mock seriousness. “please tell me you can take a shot when you need to.” She started to smile again.
“In what situation would I ever need to take a shot?” She laughed. “But yes, I can. And I’m sorry for the social commentary, this is what you get when you interrupt my John Stewart Mill reading.” That little loss of confidence was back.
Jake winced with his next sip more from the shock of her words than the burn of the alcohol. He turned back to her quickly.
“You’re reading philosophy at a bar????” He knew the book looked intimidating but figured it was some kind of fiction with an ornate cover.
She looked slightly bashful but was clearly preening under the attention. This was going to be so much fun.
“You don’t?” Teasing smile and she bit her lip as Jake just kept staring at her. “Where else would I do it?” Half shrug.
“You got me there.” Jake waived his hand in defeat.
She chuckled and didn’t move away when he leaned in to pull the book closer to himself. He flipped between a couple of pages before returning to where she had it open.
“Hasn’t Utilitarianism been debunked?” Her face dropped in annoyance.
“‘Debunked'’ is a strong word.” Jake looked up in amusement. She sighed. “But yes, like most, if not all, systems of determining societal-slash-governmental morality, it is better in the theoretical than the practical.” She frowned.
Jake leaned in, watching her face carefully.
“You want it to work don’t you?” She sighed and put her chin back in her hand.
“I really, really do.” Jake stifled his laughter and instead pulled out a sympathetic face.
“It’s a shame that real life is so messy that we have to balance pragmatism with the nice, pretty theoretics.” She looked at him, considering.
“That’s surprisingly insightful for a Navy guy. Guess you aren’t all just pretty faces.”
Jake’s jaw fell open.
“Seriously? We were having a nice conversation and you have to bring stereotypes into it?” Her lips pulled up in amusement. “Doesn’t that go against your whole, ‘don’t dismiss my happiness’ thing?”
“And what are you doing to break stereotypes?” Her voice was incredulous. Jake raised his brows at her. She gestured up and down at him. “You’re practically a walking Ken doll.” She scoffed and Jake threw his head back in laughter. She hid her smile behind her glass.
“Well thank you. I think.”
She shrugged.
“It’s the best compliment you’re going to get unless I forget you’re Navy.” She admitted.
“Well, thank you for the compliment and for managing my expectations then.” Jake’s voice was dry.
“I’m all about managing expectations, flyboy.” She was almost smug.
“Alright then, what are the odds I leave today with your number?” Jake let the condescending nickname go and was mesmerized with the flash of shock and excitement that so quickly turned to an apologetic grimace. He winced and nodded.
“That low huh? Guess I should have figured.”
“It’s not you. Really! I just don’t give my number to guys… in bars…at night…” Her eyes were darting across his face quickly as she trailed off. Jake propped his chin on his hand.
“So if we… had met in a coffee shop… at… say, 10am…” He waved his hand. She licked her bottom lip. “You’d have considered breaking your other rule?” He finished.
She furrowed her brow in confusion.
Jake leaned in so there was only an inch between them, watching her eyes dilate with the proximity.
“You’d have thought about dating a cowboy?” He raised his brows, pushing his best earnest expression.
It took her a moment to react and then surprise-amusement-regret-embarrassment-amusement flashed before his eyes. She leaned back the tiniest amount to duck her head and nodded.
“Yeah, I’da thought about it.” Under her breath and with the strongest drawl he’d gotten from her all night.
Jake calmly leaned back in his chair and she looked up to track the movement.
“Damn.” He kept his voice soft too. She grimaced again, looking so regretful Jake wanted to push for it. Instead he sniffed and cocked his head at her nervous expression.
“What are the odds I get your name?” She jolted up in surprise.
“Oh!” An embarrassed smile. “Good. Very good.” She nodded. “It’s Crissa.”
“Crissa” Jake mouthed and she laughed lightly. He nodded as his eyes scanned the bottles behind the bar.
“You approve?” Her voice was teasing again.
He bobbed his head left to right and back again, pretending to consider.
She laughed. “Do I get to keep it?”
“I’ll allow it.” He nodded. She raised her brows.
“You’ll allow my name?” Dry, warning. Jake just smiled. “I should hope so. I suppose I’ll allow you to stay.” She flipped her shiny brown ponytail towards him.
Jake laughed and gently squeezed her wrist.
“Thank you, your majesty.” Mock earnestness seemed the way to get her flustered and… bingo. Her bottom lip was drifting towards her teeth even as a smile was pulling again.
“Now,” Jake waved at both of their now empty glasses, “can I please get you something?” She blinked, hesitancy creeping onto her face. “Some water? Something? I feel like I should compensate you somehow for interrupting your quality time with Mr. Mill.” He nodded towards her book.
Crissa glanced down in surprise at the open book and laughed. She shut it and glanced at her watch.
“You really don’t have to get me anything. You’ve already made up for the interruption.” That sweet, bashful smile pulled one of her cheeks up enough to show off one dimple. “But I will have another drink, whether you buy it or I do.”
“Hasn’t anyone ever taught you this? You’re a beautiful girl in a bar. You’re supposed to get free drinks.” Jake waited for her to tease him back, not the surprised regret he was met with. She looked down at the hand he still had gently resting against her before responding.
“Oh, I don’t- People don… Nevermind.” She shook her head, before pulling it back up to look at him. “Thank you.” It was quiet and determined.
Jake blinked at her before offering a gentle smile and an even gentler squeeze. This time he lifted his hand from her wrist to flag the bartender down again.
She leaned closer to his side, nearly shoulder to shoulder.
“You could sit down, you know?” He looked down at her and she had that mischievous look in her smart eyes again. Jake took the opportunity to take in the way her face fit together. Her bangs brushed across her brows and framed her lightly freckled cheeks. When she smiled, her dimples came out and her eyes scrunched. Her sharp jaw and bone structure contrasted with the sweet roundness of her cheeks and her long lashes. He smiled softly.
“I am capable of sitting down, you are correct.”
She rolled her eyes and bumped her forehead against his shoulder with a groan.
Jake chuckled as the bartender finally came up for their orders.
“Two appletinis please.” Jake put up two fingers as he calmly ordered. Crissa’s head shot up in surprise. “Two shots of Tequila, and I’ll close out.” The bartender nodded and Crissa chuckled. Jake patted her thigh before pulling the empty barstool closer to hers and sitting.
“Please tell me you’re actually going to be able to shoot that Tequila and you’re not just using it as a cover for that girly drink you just ordered.”
Jake put his hands up in surrender at the thick sarchasm in her voice.
“I’ll do my best. But you know you really shouldn’t dismiss other people’s drink choices. Don’t yuck my yum.” Jake regarded her seriously as the bartender placed their shots in front of them.
“Don-” Crissa laughed. She licked the back of her hand and turned to look at him as she grabbed the salt. “Don’t ‘yuck your yum’?”
Jake shrugged.
“I have nieces and nephews.”
Crissa pursed her lips together in amusement.
“Niblings.”
“What?” Jake froze, the salt hovering above his hand.
“Niblings. It’s the gender-neutral, plural of the children of your siblings. Plus it’s adorable.”
Jake mouthed the word before nodding.
“That is… so much better.”
“Isn’t it?” Crissa giggled. They both picked up the slices of lime from the top of the glasses.
“Now,” He turned to fully face her and nodded to the shot. “You gonna show me how it’s done?”
She looked at him and smirked. He raised a brow and she reached over to grab his wrist. She quickly licked the salt off of his hand, downed her shot, and turned his hand to bite into the lime he was holding, fighting back a reaction to the liquor.
The bartender walked back over with their two other drinks as Jake sat in mild shock. Crissa looked up cheerfully.
“Thank you!”
He nodded at her and left again as Jake shook his head.
“What’s gotten into you? And don’t say Tequila because you only just had that.”
She giggled.
“I don’t know. You must be one of those bad influences my parents warned me about.” But her eyes were bright and amused.
“In that case,” Her face dropped a little. “Come ‘ere pretty girl.” Jake grabbed her hand and she laughed. He took his shot the same way she took hers. She squeezed his hand when he grimaced at the burn. He smiled at the sight of the flush traveling up her face and squeezed back before letting go of her hand.
“Here,” she picked up one of the stems, “Cheers.”
“Cheers.” They bumped the glasses against each other and Jake took a sip.
“Well?” She was expectant. Jake paused to consider.
“Better than I expected.”
“See!” She hit his arm and reached for her glass as he laughed.
“I’m glad I tried it but I think I’ll stick with my whiskey.” She shrugged.
“I hoped I’d convert you but oh well.”
“Well, the good news is that we’re here, in a bar, where you can order your appletini, and I can order my whiskey, and one doesn’t negate the other.”
She smiled, embarrassed again and bit her lip as she ducked her head. He nudged their shoulders against each other.
“I learned that from a pretty insightful girl I met at a bar this one time.”
“Sounds like you should keep a girl like that around.” She looked up at him with a smile and a nudge back.
“I’m trying to!” The smile froze and then fell.
“Right, sorry.”
The bartender handed Jake his check and he quickly filled it out before tucking his wallet back into his pocket.
“Alright, well here.” Jake grabbed a napkin and scrawled his number across it. Crissa watched him intently. He knew he was going to miss that focus the moment he left. “You never said anything about taking phone numbers from guys in bars at night.” She smiled at his gentle teasing and took the offered napkin, letting out a soft laugh at the Flyboy: written above the number. “And just in case you find yourself in a coffee shop, say, around 10?” He pinned her with a look. “And you want to give me a call.”
“Okay.” Her voice was quiet and she looked thoroughly flattered. “Thank you.”
Jake smiled back and grabbed her hand. He kissed the back of it and admired the surprise spreading across her face one more time.
“You’re welcome, your majesty.” He gave her her hand back and tipped an invisible hat at her. “Goodnight ma’am.” Bringing the drawl out in full force.
She opened her mouth as if to respond but just shook her head and laughed. Jake turned and his ears caught a soft, “Goodnight!” as he stepped outside.