Top Gun: Bringing Back That Loving Feeling (Maverick x Author)

Chapter 27: A Rough Childhood

I donned a thin, black dress for my dinner that night. I was dreading meeting my "husband-to-be", but I still dressed nicely for him. I wish I was dressing up for a date with Maverick instead of a date with a boy I've never met. I would much rather eat dinner with someone I love than with a stranger.

After I finished getting dressed and put everything I needed in my purse, I sighed. I dreaded the upcoming night; I didn't want to think this new man was going to be better than Maverick. But I guess Iceman's right, and I can't marry Maverick became he's getting married to Charlotte.

I don't know what to do.

I walked out of my hotel room and I went down the hallway, approaching the elevators. Ever since yesterday, I haven't seen Charlotte. I haven't seen her out in the hallways, cleaning someone's room. She would be basically nowhere. Every time I'd encounter a cleaning cart, I would check to see if Charlotte was the maid who was hauling that cart.

But it was never her.

I texted her before I went out with Iceman and Slider, but she never responded to my text. I have a feeling something's wrong with her. Not with her feelings, but her life. Is there something in her life that's bothering her and that's why she's not appearing anywhere?

I walked out of the hotel, and I finally reached the parking lot. I got in my car and moaned for the millionth time that day. Iceman wants me to go everywhere with him. But most importantly, I was going to meet a guy that Iceman wanted me to meet against my will.

I can't have that friend of Karen's as a boyfriend.

As I started driving down the road, I thought of nearly everything that happened during my vacation. It all started when Charlie simply took me out to a bar. If only I never decided to break up with my ex-boyfriend, I would've never gone to that bar that night. The only problem I have with relationships is that I never know who to fall in love with. I fell in love with Johnny just because he was hot. I didn't care that he was in a gang and he smoked and stuff. I just admired him because he was hot.

But then I met Maverick.

Maverick made me realize that you can't fall in love with a person just because they look good. You have to really know them and, most importantly, you have to know what they're like on the inside. It's not the outside of a person that counts, it's the inside. I needed to love Maverick for who he is. And that's exactly what I did. He's still hot, but I still love him for who he is.

But now people think I can't date Maverick.

This isn't right; this is wrong. I can't give up Maverick.

I never will.

It took me some time to find the Italian restaurant where Iceman said was the place we were eating at tonight. It was at a Bravo! Bravo! is some Italian restaurant, and I've eaten at that place once when I was a child. Unfortunately, that place filed for bankruptcy in 2020, and most of their locations around America closed. This one, however, was open, and it seemed very busy tonight.
(Disclaimer: there is no Bravo! in San Diego. I just have it in this story to carry on its legacy. Even though there's probably only 5 locations in America now, I recommend it. They have great Italian food! And I can't go to that place without laughing now lol)

I parked my car in the parking lot and got out once again. I found Iceman's car in the parking lot; it was a gray SUV. He was already here, waiting patiently for me.

I walked inside Bravo! only to find people standing at the doorway, waiting for their tables to be ready. I honestly didn't know this many people liked Bravo. But where's Iceman?