He looked away quickly.
That small movement nearly broke me.
“You came for me,” he said.
“Yes.”
“Even after all the things I said.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I looked at the Trident.
“Because what you did to earn that has nothing to do with how badly you behaved this morning.”
A long silence.
Then I added,
“And because you’re my brother.”
He nodded.
His voice was almost gone.
“Okay.”
We sat there together.
For the first time in years, neither of us needed the other to be smaller.
Eventually Ryan asked,
“Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask.”
“That doesn’t mean you’ll answer.”
“Now you’re learning.”
He nudged my shoulder.
“Did you know anything about my training?”
I smiled.
“A little.”
“How much?”
“I knew when Hell Week started.”
His head turned.
“How?”
I gave him a look.
He stared.
“No.”
I said nothing.
“Emily.”
“I didn’t interfere.”
“That is not an answer.”
“I knew people.”
His mouth dropped open.
“You knew people there?”
“I have worked with Naval Special Warfare for years, Ryan.”
He shot to his feet.
“You knew my instructors?”
“Sit down.”
“Did they know you were my sister?”
“Some of them.”
He covered his face.
“Oh my God.”
