I was checking my plane when someone ran over and spun me around. I had just enough time to see it was Jake before he pressed his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. Our lips moved messily in sync as he pushed me up against the side of my plane.
"Jake," I moaned against his lips. He broke the kiss, but instantly attached his lips to my neck.
"Don't act like you don't like sneaking around," he mumbled against my skin. I laughed before playfully pushing him away from me. I grabbed his flight suit and brought him back to me. As I looked into his eyes, I thought about how we got here.
Jake Seresin and I met in Navy training. We started dating two months after we met. A few weeks ago, Jake got the news that he was being sent to the Top Gun program. The next three days were filled with me overthinking and worrying about him going. I knew that he was a talented pilot, but I also knew that sometimes his ego caused him to be unlikeable and careless.
Because I was with him in training, I saw the show he put on when we were in the air. He wasn't like that with me. He was sweet, protective, caring - everything I've always wanted in a guy.
At the end of the day, we'd sneak back to one of our apartments. Jake would spend the whole night apologizing for everything that he had done and said that day. I would spend the whole night reassuring him that I knew the real him.
After he found out about Top Gun, he came to my apartment that night and asked if I was okay. I was honest with him.
~ • ~
"Are you okay?"
When I looked up at Jake from my dinner, I could see the worry in his eyes.
"Why wouldn't I be okay?" I asked.
"The news I got today," he said slowly.
"I think they were right to send you to Top Gun," I shrugged. "You've got the best statistics, flight times, maneuvers. . ."
"Are you upset that they aren't sending you?"
My heart sank at his question. I reached across the small table in my small apartment and grabbed his hand.
"Baby," I whispered, "I'm not."
"Are you sure?" He stuttered. "I mean. . ."
"Jake, I'm not offended or hurt or angry that they didn't ask me," I comforted him.
"You're not?" He asked, his voice soft. "You've been quiet since I told you."
"I'm sorry," I sighed. "I didn't mean to make you think that I wasn't happy for you."
"Then what is it?"
When I hesitated to answer him, he used the hand he was still holding and pulled me to my feet. He led us over to the couch.
"Talk to me, baby," he said once we had sat down. I turned more toward him but focused on his hand holding mine.
"The reason I've been quiet," I sighed, "is because I'm worried about you."
"Me?"
"Top Gun is obviously sending you on some crazy, important mission," I said. My voice broke as I added, "What if you go on this special mission, but you don't come back?"
"Y/N," he tried to sigh, but I cut him off.
"What if I lose you?"
"Hey," he whispered as he scooted closer to me. He reached up and tucked some hair behind my ear, his hand lingering before finally dropping. "You're not going to lose me, baby."
"I know you're a good pilot," I started to stutter. "You're the best, Jake, but. . . We don't know what kind of special mission you're going on. Anything could happen. What if. . ."
Jake cut me off by leaning in and pressing his lips gently to mine. I let out a small whimper as I grabbed his face and kissed him back. We broke the kiss when neither one of us could breathe. He leaned our foreheads together and slightly rubbed his nose against mine.
"You being worried about me," he whispered, "it's one of the reasons I've fallen in love with you."
"One. . . One of the reasons?" I stuttered, slowly leaning back. My heart jumped into my throat when he smirked at me.
"One of many."
~ • ~
Three days after Jake was told he'd be going to Top Gun, I was told I was going as well. When I told him, he instantly told me that now we were going together so we could watch each other's backs. Whenever I showed any type of anxiety about this flight, Jake comforted me and promised that his callsign wouldn't apply to him with me.
It never has.
"Are you okay?" Jake asked, snapping me out of my memories.
"Do you remember the night you first told me you loved me?" I asked instead of answering.
"Of course, I do," he smiled at me. "You told me that you were scared about me not coming back from this mission. I told you that your worrying about me was one of the reasons I loved you. Why were you thinking about that?"
"I think about that a lot," I whispered. "I also think about what would happen if this mission went wrong."
"Don't do that," Jake shook his head. "Please, baby. Don't do that."
"I'm sorry," I stuttered. "But it's rational. This flight has so many parameters and so many things we have to look out for. If something goes wrong. . ."
"Nothing is going to go wrong," he said firmly.
"How do you know that?" I asked, my voice breaking.
"Because we are in this together," he said, grabbing my hands. "I know my callsign suggests that I leave my wingman hanging, but you know I would never do that to you."
* * * * *
We walked into our usual bar after a long day of not being able to get the timing right for the mission.
"It's impossible," Coyote was complaining as we walked in. "No one can do this flight in less than 3 minutes."
"Maverick can," I chuckled.
"You know what, Rosbud. . ." He started to threaten, but Jake got between us. I smirked behind Jake as Coyote put his hands up and cleared his throat. "Never mind."
I laughed when he walked over to the bar. My smile fell when I saw the new bartender behind the counter.
"I'll grab the drinks," Jake said. "You wanna go with Phoenix and get the tables by the pool tables?"
"Sure," I said. He opened his mouth to ask me something, but I quickly turned on my heel and walked over to the tables. I sat with my back purposefully facing the bar.
It can't be him. . . After all these years, he can't be here.
Throughout the night, I refused to walk up to the bar or even look toward it. All night, I wished I'd had the courage to tell Jake about him, but I was scared.
"Oh," Rooster said when he saw me start to get up. "Rosebud, if you're getting yourself another drink, can you get me one too?"
"I'm not getting another drink," I said quickly as I sat back down. Rooster didn't notice anything, but one look at Jake and it was clear that he had noticed.
Jake walked over and stopped in front of me.
"Want to play a game of pool with me?" He asked gently.
"Sure," I said, struggling to smile through my anxiety. Jake grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers as he pulled me over to the pool tables. He went to grab two pool cues while I set up the balls. I turned around, not meaning to gasp when Jake was there.
"Thanks," I forced through a smile as I took one of the pool cues.
"You jumped. . ."
"I wasn't expecting you to be right behind me," I shrugged. He studied me for a minute before turning toward the pool table. We went back and forth, taking turns hitting the balls. Eventually, Jake couldn't hold back anymore.
"How many drinks have you had tonight?"
"I'm not drunk," I smirked. I leaned down and hit the ball, laughing when it went right into the hole I was aiming at. "I'm just better at pool than you are."
"Y/N," he said, gently grabbing my elbow and turning me toward him. "How many drinks have you had?"
"Just the one you got me when we first got here," I answered, my voice just above a whisper.
"Why haven't you ordered yourself any more?" He asked. "We've been here almost three hours, baby. What's going on?"
I sighed and, with shaking hands, put my pool cue on the table. I wrapped my arms around myself and took a heavy breath.
"I know the new bartender that Penny hired."
"You do?" He asked, looking over my shoulder at him. "Who is he?"
"His name is Eric," I started to explain. The second I started, all the memories and pain came rushing back. "We went to college together. We had similar majors, so our paths crossed occasionally. And whenever our paths did cross, he'd. . ."
"He'd what, Y/N?" Jake asked gently as he took a step closer to me. I kept my arms wrapped around myself as I tried to force the rest of this story out.
"He'd hit on me," I said, tears filling my eyes. My voice broke as I continued, "He'd try to say flirty things to me, compliment me, ask me stupid questions. . . But I'd never say anything back. I never responded, and yet he still. . . I didn't want him, Jake."
He reached up and gently put his hands on my arms. He rubbed them as he whispered, "I believe you, baby."
"He wouldn't leave me alone," I said, my voice breaking again. "One night, a ton of us were at a party to celebrate the end of the semester. He was drunk and tried to. . . He tried to. . . He forced himself on me, Jake."
The second that sob got stuck in my throat, Jake pulled me into his chest and tightly wrapped his arms around me.
"I'm so sorry, baby," he whispered. I tucked my face into his chest as I sobbed into him. "Did he. . ."
"No," I said quickly, pulling just enough out of his arms to look up at him. "He didn't. I punched him and ran away."
"That's my girl," he smirked as he reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. I smiled, but it didn't last long.
"I transferred schools the next day," I finished. "I couldn't be around him."
"I don't blame you," Jake said to comfort me.
The tears returned to my eyes as I whispered, "What if he recognizes me, Jake? What if he sees me and. . . tries again?"
Jake quickly pulled me back into his chest and tightly wrapped his arms around me. He rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head.
"He is not going to touch you," he said firmly. "I promise, baby. That son of a bitch will not lay a finger on you."
"He's gonna see me eventually," I stuttered. Jake pulled out of our embrace and looked down at me.
"You don't ever have to walk up to the bar," he weirdly promised. "From now on, I will get all of your drinks."
"We can't do this forever."
Jake smirked before leaning down and gently kissing me. When he broke the kiss, he kept his forehead pressed against mine.
"Watch me."
* * * * *
A little while later, Jake and I walked back to the tables where our friends were complaining about the mission. Eventually, I couldn't avoid walking by the bar.
"Where are you going?" Jake asked, jumping when I got up.
"I have to use the restroom," I said, sending him a look. Jake instantly looked behind me at Eric.
"I'll go with you," he said, taking a step toward Eric.
"No," I said quickly. I cleared my throat and lowered my voice before saying, "I'll be fine. The bar is busy. I doubt he'll even notice me."
I quickly kissed his cheek before turning around and heading toward the restroom.
I was wrong. Eric noticed me as I walked past. Before walking into the restroom, I glanced at Jake. One look at the anger in his eyes, and I could tell that he had seen Eric watching me.
When I finished, I walked out to see Jake walking toward the bar. I slowly walked toward him, weary about what he was going to do.
"What can I get you?" Eric asked Jake.
"Two beers," he said. Anyone who knew Jake knew the tone of voice he was using - barely holding it together and ready to pounce in the blink of an eye. "One for me and one for my girlfriend."
The way he said 'girlfriend' made Eric freeze. He slowly looked up at Jake and studied him.
"Who's your. . ." Eric stopped when his eyes landed on me. I avoided his eyes as I walked over to Jake. "No kidding," he laughed. "If it isn't little. . ."
Before he could say my name, Jake hit his hand on the bar.
"Jake. . ." I tried to stop him, but the look in his eyes as he scanned Eric told me that I couldn't stop him if I tried.
"Don't you ever say her name," Jake threatened. "Especially not in front of me."
"Why does it. . ."
"In fact," Jake cut him off, "if your grubby little eyes ever look my girlfriend up and down again, I will rip them out of your skull."
"Jake," I said, gently grabbing his arm. He glared at Eric before finally turning toward me. The second he did, his eyes softened. "Please, don't," I quietly begged him.
"But I. . ." He started to whisper.
"He's not worth it."
I held my breath, waiting for Jake to respond to me. He studied my eyes, clearly seeing the fear in them. He reached up and gently ran his thumb across my jawline.
"But you are," he annunciated.
He slowly lowered his hand and paused for a second before turning toward Penny, who was eyeing her new bartender.
"Penny," Jake said, "would you mind getting Y/N and me two beers?"
Penny nodded and grabbed the two beers. She paused and glanced at Eric before putting them on the bar. Jake took them and put them in front of me.
"Y/N, will you take these back to our table?"
"Jake. . ."
"Eric and I need to talk."
"Jake, please," I sighed. He looked at me and gently put his hand on my arm.
"It's okay, baby," he whispered. He handed me the beers and kissed my cheek. As he turned toward Eric, I saw the look in Jake's eyes change. Drastically.
I started to walk away, but I caught Jake's threat.
"I know what you did," he started, his voice low and filled with nothing but threats. "I know what you tried to do to her in college."
"It was. . ."
"Don't you dare try and say that it was a misunderstanding," Jake practically growled at him. "It wasn't. You tried to flirt with her and ask her out, but she turned you down. She constantly turned you down."
I looked over my shoulder to see Eric scoff and cross his arms over his chest, instantly getting defensive. He started to look toward me, but Jake instantly stepped so he was blocking me.
"I'm only going to give you one warning," Jake threatened. "You will not come anywhere near my Y/N again. You will definitely not force yourself on her again."
"Or what?" Eric challenged, instantly making me cringe.
My heart was in my throat as Jake leaned so he was halfway across the bar. He lowered his voice, but I could still hear him.
"Or," he sneered, "I will kill you."
"Yeah, right," Eric tried to scoff off Jake's threat.
"I'm not kidding," Jake snapped. "Something you should know about me, and learn it fast, is that I will do anything I have to to protect my girl."
When Jake finally turned around, he saw me standing not too far. His eyes softened as he walked over to me. The second he was next to me, he wrapped his arm around my waist and led me over to the tall tables next to the dart board.
He took the beers from me and put them on one of the open tables. I started to sit down, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the dart board.
I felt myself start to relax as he handed me the blue darts. I laughed, officially relaxing when Jake stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I let him make a show of helping me line the dart up. We threw the dart, making it hit close to the bullseye.
Jake slowly lowered my arm without stepping away from me. I turned toward him, remaining close to him.
"Thank you," I said softly. "When I saw him. . ."
My voice got caught in my throat, and Jake gently grabbed my arms. He waited for me to find my voice.
"It was like I was thrown right back to when it happened," I whispered. "And I couldn't come back. I tried, Jake. I swear I tried."
"I know you did," he nodded as he started to rub my arms.
"I should've told you," I whimpered. "I should've told you about him the second I walked in and saw him. I'm sorry, Jake."
"Don't do that," he shook his head. "Please don't apologize for something that isn't your fault. I understand why you didn't tell me, and it's okay. I know now. I can protect you from him."
"I don't doubt that you can protect me," I said with a small smile. I put my hands delicately on his chest before wrapping my arms around his neck. "You protect me in the air, so of course you can protect me on the ground."
"Just call me your personal guarddog," Jake smirked. He looked into my eyes as his hands slid down my back until they stopped at my ass. I smirked when he squeezed.
Avec : Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Ed Harris, Bill Camp, Topher Grace, Zach Woods, Raff Law
Synopsis : À la disparition de sa mère, Becket Redfellow comprend que la fortune familiale dont il rêve reste hors de sa portée. Relégué au bas de l'ordre de succession, il refuse pourtant de renoncer à cet héritage qu'il considère comme légitime. Son ambition prend rapidement une tournure criminelle : éliminer méthodiquement chacun des héritiers qui le précèdent afin de devenir l'unique bénéficiaire de l'immense patrimoine familial.
Mon Avis : John Patton Ford signe un thriller teinté de comédie noire qui s’amuse à dynamiter les codes du film d’héritage et des querelles familiales. L’ensemble séduit par son regard acéré sur les privilèges et l’avidité, même si son ambition finit par dépasser parfois son efficacité narrative. La mise en scène privilégie une élégance froide, portée par une photographie soignée et une atmosphère volontairement cynique. Le scénario, construit autour d’un plan de vengeance au sein d’une dynastie fortunée, réserve de bonnes idées mais manque par moments de surprises pour maintenir pleinement la tension. Glen Powell apporte du charme et de l’ambiguïté à son personnage, tandis que le reste du casting contribue à renforcer le côté satirique du récit. Techniquement maîtrisé, le film joue habilement avec les décors luxueux et les contrastes de ton, mais son rythme irrégulier atténue l’impact de certaines scènes. Au-delà de l’intrigue criminelle, « L’Ultime Héritier » propose une réflexion amusante sur l’argent, le pouvoir et la famille. Un divertissement élégant et mordant, imparfait mais suffisamment original pour mériter le détour.
🎬🎬🎬 3/5 - Sympa, Plaisant !!!
À ranger à côté de « Noblesse oblige » de Robert Hamer (1949), pour son humour noir et ses intrigues d’héritage.
