“And people came home.”
Silence.
He didn’t say how many.
Neither would I.
Nathan looked at Ryan.
“Your sister would probably prefer that I stop talking now.”
A few smiles.
He was right.
“But since today is about the responsibility represented by that Trident, I’m going to risk making her angry.”
Now he looked directly at me.
“Ryan, there will be days in your career when the person protecting your life is someone whose name you never learn.”
Ryan’s eyes never left mine.
“Treat them accordingly.”
Nathan raised his glass.
“To the people behind the mission.”
Glasses rose all around the room.
I wanted the floor to open.
Not because I disliked recognition.
Because I knew exactly where my parents were standing.
I turned slowly.
Mom was crying.
That surprised me.
Dad wasn’t.
He looked older than he had that morning.
Aunt Patricia and Madison hadn’t been allowed into this reception.
For once, I was thankful for capacity limits.
Ryan stayed beside me.
He said nothing for almost a minute.
Then:
“Was that where you got the scar?”
My fingers drifted toward my side.
I stopped them.
“One of them.”
His eyes dropped.
“The one I joked about?”
“Yes.”
His face changed.
I regretted the answer immediately.
Not because he didn’t deserve the truth.
Because guilt wasn’t what I wanted from him.
“Ryan.”
“I said a stapler attacked you.”
“You were twenty.”
“I was old enough.”
“You didn’t know.”
His head came up.
“That’s what you keep saying.”
“What?”
“That we didn’t know.”
He looked angry now.
Good.
Anger was easier than shame.
