"Oh my gosh, look at those guys over there!" Kat squealed with excitement, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous twinkle as she grabbed your arm. “C’mon, I wanna go flirt with them!”

The pilots, most of them young and cocky, competed for Kat's attention like it was the last piece of meat on a carcass. They leaned in, their muscular arms flexing as they talked over one another. And Kat basked in the glow of their attention, tossing her hair and laughing a little too loudly at their jokes.

You felt invisible next to Kat, a shadow in the brightness of her spotlight. But Bradley's eyes held yours with a gentle curiosity, as if he saw something in you that the others didn’t care to.

“Hey…” Bradley’s voice was a soft rumble, cutting through the noise of the bar. His gaze remained on you, full of curiosity and interest. “What’s your name?”

Kat’s laughter stumbled for a second, her eyes darting from Bradley to you. The sudden feel of jealousy from her was palpable, leaving a sour taste in the air. “I’m Kat—”

“I was talking to your friend,” Bradley interrupted, not even sparing Kat a small glance.