Summary: You thought you had the interest of one of the aviators who frequented your bar. He always had a soft smile when only looking at you. But when there's another girl hanging on his every word and his arm, Rooster helps you get Jake to come to his senses.
Warnings: Fluff
Length: 2300
Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Female Reader
Seriously, who let Jake on my masterlist!? This is for @cherrycola27 Top Gun Taylor challenge!
There he was. He came to the Hard Deck every Friday night like clockwork. Surrounded by his friends, he made his way through the crowd that had accumulated to shake off the work week and start the weekend. And as always, when his eyes met yours, his lips curved into that signature smile that was never quite as pronounced when he was looking at anyone else.
Your reaction to Hangman was embarrassing. It felt like you were back in your high school cafeteria, trying to discreetly check out one of the football players while sitting at the band geek table. But then there were little interactions here and there that made your heart swell with hope and desire. Almost like something could happen if you let it.
"Hey, darlin'. It's nice to see you," Jake drawled as he approached. He leaned with his forearms on the top of the bar, grinning just for you. That's when you realized you had been wiping up the same few drops of spilled Miller Lite for at least two minutes. You tossed the rag to the side and tried to keep your hands from shaking.
"Hangman. You want your usual?" you asked with a smile of your own, planting your hands on your hips and trying to keep your cool.
The tip of his tongue peeked out of the corner of his mouth as his gaze dipped down to read The Hard Deck across the front of your tank top. It felt like you and he were the only people inside the bar. The way he was always singularly focused on you when he ordered his drinks, lingering a few minutes to chat, had you flushed every time.
"Yeah. My usual." He was smirking at you, eyes so playful, like he knew you were barely functioning at the moment. He favored whiskey sours with Kentucky bourbon and egg whites, and it was actually your favorite cocktail to make. He watched you intently as you got to work, measuring and pouring, constantly in motion, working up a sweat. On the other hand, he was the picture of cool perfection, the king of nonchalance. That's why his warm gaze on your hands while you worked got you so flustered.
"You make 'em that good for everyone else, or just me?" he drawled when you were pouring it into a glass for him.
His gaze was teasing yet sincere. And you had to bite your lip to keep from laughing. "You flirt like this with everyone else, or just me?"
He didn't seem to have a response to that as he looked at you with parted lips and a raised eyebrow. But when you slid the drink across the bar, your fingers met his, and it felt intentional. "Thanks, darlin'." He locked eyes with you, his drink paused halfway to his lips. "It looks good." But he wasn't looking at his cocktail; he was looking at you, his eyes lingering on your lips as you grinned at him.
As soon as he took one sip, you saw a pair of arms wrap around him from behind. At first he looked stunned, but then he seemed to relax when he realized who was touching him.
"Minx, hi," he said, careful not to spill the cocktail as he briefly met your eyes before turning to face a woman so young and pretty, you were immediately filled with dejection.
"Hangman," she crooned in a voice that sounded like it belonged in a bedroom. "I missed you."
He just chuckled. "Just saw you all day at work, Minx."
"Nothing wrong with seeing me outside of work," she told him with a wink.
"You can't get enough of me." Jake's voice and attention seemed to have the same effect on her as they did on you, and your heart felt heavy in your chest as she rested her hand on his abs.
You took a step away from them, eager to find someone else to wait on. "Enjoy your drink," you told Jake with a smile that didn't reach your eyes. He watched you like he wanted to say something, but he did not.
You turned away from him to take another drink order, but soon you saw him playing darts with Minx, and she was laughing hysterically at everything he was saying. You couldn't look away. It was like a five alarm fire, something that held your attention even though it was making you uncomfortable and anxious. She was touching him again now, and you knew you didn't even have the right to feel jealous.
"Can I get another?" You turned to your right to see Rooster setting down his empty beer bottle with a smile.
"Sure," you replied, focusing on him instead. "How's the pool table treating you tonight?"
"Not bad," he replied, and you knew he could tell where you kept glancing. "Seems like you're more interested in darts? Or someone who is playing darts?"
You shrugged and uncapped his beer. "Don't know what you're talking about."
"Mmm," Rooster hummed before taking a sip. "What time do you get off tonight?"
You were a little startled by his question. "In about an hour."
He nodded politely at you. "That's good. I'll still be hanging by the pool table then, just in case you feel like joining me?"
"Oh," you gasped softly. "Well...."
Rooster chuckled. "Nothing makes that man more jealous than when I have something he wants. Just keep that in mind." He rapped on the bartop with his knuckles before smiling at you and strolling back to the pool table like he hadn't a care in the world.
You didn't think it was a good idea to try to make Jake jealous. If he really wanted you, he would have made a move by now, but instead he had Minx hanging off of his arm while he still managed to successfully hit the bullseye nearly every time he threw a dart.
When Jake glanced your way and found that you were already looking at him, you wanted to disappear into thin air. But instead, you quirked one eyebrow and slowly turned away from him. When your shift ended, you'd just thank Rooster for thinking about your feelings, and then head home for the night.
Or at least that was your plan, until you saw Jake try to disentangle himself from Minx, only for her to press her lips to his cheek. You felt the overwhelming need for him to pick you. And as he finally escaped from her and headed back up to the bar, you squared your shoulders.
Jake looked a little flustered this time when he asked you for another whiskey sour. "Sure. And anything for your companion?" you asked as you reached for the bottle of bourbon without missing a beat.
He glanced over his shoulder. "Nah. I only buy drinks for the girls I really like."
You paused with the bourbon in your hand. "And you're not buying her one?"
"Nope," he said casually, leaning a little closer to you while you got the egg whites ready. "Hey, so...what did Rooster want? I saw you and he were chatting a bit."
Your heart skipped along a little faster, your blood running a little hotter as you glanced up at Jake. There were some cracks in the facade now; he only looked like the picture of indifference, because now he seemed a little apprehensive.
"He invited me to hang out with him after my shift ends," you replied with a shrug.
Jake's lips parted, but no sound came out. When you slid his drink to him, he finally asked, "So are you going to? Hang out with Rooster?"
This time you leaned on the bar and eyed him up and down. "Probably. He's cute, and he told me he'd help me get better at pool."
Jake scoffed. "He's not that good at pool," he muttered, and you were immediately rolling your eyes and backing away as Minx kissed him on the cheek again right in front of you.
"Enjoy your drink," you told him as he was dragged away. And you finished your shift with a bit of a bounce in your step, because Jake ignored Minx and kept turning to see where you were.
When you clocked out, you decided to touch up your makeup and fix your hair before breezing right past Jake and heading for the pool table where Rooster was talking to his friends. "You mind if I take you up on that offer?"
Rooster turned around to face you with a grin. "Not one bit," he said, handing you a pool cue and nodding toward the table. "You wanna break, or you want me to?"
You bit your lip, wondering if Jake was watching. "You can. I am actually pretty bad at pool," you said with a laugh.
"No problem. We can teach you a lesson the same time we teach Hangman a lesson," Rooster said, and you watched him send the colorful balls gliding around the table. "I'm solid, you're stripes," he informed you, and when it was your turn to take a shot, Rooster came to stand next to you. "You want me to help you?"
"Yeah," you told him, too afraid to see what Jake and Minx were up to.
"I'm going to touch you. Okay?"
"Okay," you told Rooster, and he was immediately guiding you a few feet to your right with his hands on your hips. "Hey, why are you being nice to me?"
Rooster laughed and bent you at the waist a bit, getting your pool cue into position. "It's fun getting under his skin. And nobody likes Minx." He leaned in a little closer and added, "Also, I expect priority service at the bar from here on out."
"I knew there would be a catch," you mumbled, taking your shot and sinking one of your balls into the corner pocket.
"There's always a catch," Rooster told you, giving you a fist bump and helping you get lined up for your next shot on the other side of the table.
And that's when you spotted Jake, holding darts in his open palm and staring at you with Rooster. He looked concerned and maybe a little hurt, but you forced your focus back to the table and let Bradley place his hands on your arms while he stood behind you.
"He likes you," Rooster muttered with a laugh. "Look at him turning red now. Shit, this is fun."
You couldn't help but laugh, too. "If he really likes me, he better come over here soon."
"He will," Rooster promised, bending you into position again. "Ready for the grand finale?"
"Mmhmm," you hummed, and immediately you felt the prickle of his mustache against your neck. You were about to tell him how much it tickled as he guided your arms through your shot, sinking another ball into the side pocket.
But the plan worked. Before you could say anything to Rooster at all, Jake was storming around the table and slamming the darts down next to the 8 ball.
"What the hell, man?" he asked Rooster, brow creased and cheeks flushed.
"What?" Bradley asked, donning a tone of complete innocence. "We're just playing some pool. RIght?" he asked, turning to you with a smirk.
"That's right," you agreed. "Rooster was helping me with my form. Thanks, Roos."
Jake's eyes narrowed to slits as he positioned himself between the two of you with his hand on your arm. "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone, please?"
You just shrugged. "Whatever you have to say, you can go ahead and say it here." But now Minx was calling for Jake, and you felt your shoulders slump as you rolled your eyes.
When you started to turn away from Jake, he stroked your arm with his thumb. "Wait, darlin'. Please." He took his hand in yours and led you away from the pool table and to a quieter corner. "What are you doing with Rooster?" he asked softly, green eyes focused on yours.
"What are you doing with Minx?" you managed to ask as he leaned in a little closer to you, linking his fingers with yours.
He laughed softly. "Apparently I'm learning a lesson in just how much I want you."
"Oh," you gasped, bringing your free hand up to his chest. "How much?"
He dragged his thumb gently along your bottom lip, a crooked grin settling on his handsome face. "A whole lot."
And then your eyes fluttered closed and you were kissing him, your fingers sliding up his neck and into his silky hair. You didn't know where Rooster or Minx or anyone else had disappeared to, and you didn't care. Jake was nibbling on your lips before gently slipping his tongue into your mouth. He tasted like bourbon, and you pulled him closer with a sigh.
Then he was smiling against your lips, and Jake trailed kisses along your jaw until he was whispering next to your ear. "Will you let me buy you a drink?"
You laughed, rubbing your thumb in small circles on the back of his neck. "You only buy drinks for the girls you really like."
"Mmhmm. Which is why I'm buying all your drinks from now on, darlin'."
You smirked at him, and led him away from the pool table, giving Rooster a fist bump when you passed him. You barely noticed Minx pouting by the dart board as you turned to Jake and asked, "How about we take a raincheck on you buying me a drink?"
His face fell a little bit, but he nodded and tried to pull his hand out of yours. "Oh, okay."
"I'll take you back to my place instead," you told Jake, pulling on his hand until he was right next to you. You kissed him again, your lips lingering on his. "And I'll make you the whisky sour of your dreams."
He was smiling again and wrapping his arm around your waist. "Lead the way, darlin'."
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Thanks for indulging my quarterly need to write about Hangman. Thanks to @wkndwlff for everything with this fic!
Art Details Series: Women & Books
| Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale, Victor Gabriel Gilbert, Lilla Cabot Perry, Louis Emile Adan, Thomas Benjamin Kennington, Seymour Joseph Guy, Delphin Enjolras, Ethel Porter Bailey |
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