Yeah.
That’s a stupid question.
“You already know the answer to that.”
Silence.
Then—
Russ nods once.
Slow.
“Yeah,” he says. “I do.”
Another beat.
Then—
“Gear up,” he adds.
Just like that.
Decision made.
Mission set.
I push to my feet.
Ignore the pull in my ribs.
Ignore the warning.
Doesn’t matter.
Nothing else matters right now.
Because there’s only one thing running through my head—
One thought I can’t shut down.
She didn’t check in.
And I didn’t go back.
Didn’t fix it.
Didn’t—
My jaw tightens hard.
Because I don’t get to think about that now.
Not when there’s still time.
Not when there’s still a chance.
I grab my gear.
