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“Let’s get you to the showers,” River said.
“Where’s Crew?” I asked.
“Probably asleep by now. He returned a few hours ago.”
Jesus Christ, that guy was fast.
“Sleep sounds good,” I admitted and sniffled.
“As soon as we’ve fussed over you in the shower and in the infirmary,” Reese replied. “First things first, though—before Danny beats me to it.” He paused and touched my cheek, affection seeping into his eyes. “Welcome back, Operator Tenley. You passed Hillcroft’s selection with flying colors.”
Operator Tenley.
All right, I might cry some more now.
I threw my arm over my face and completely lost my composure, and it felt like a whole year’s worth of tension and emotions just burst out.
Operator Tenley.
I’d fucking made it.
EPILOGUE 4
That following December
Red-eye coming in for landing too early for Joel’s comfort
In DC
Joel Hayward-Jones
“Dad, wake up.”
I flinched and cracked my eyes open—fuck me, my neck hurt. I groaned under my breath and rubbed the sore spot, then turned in my seat. Mattie was right behind me in his own aisle seat.
“We’re about to land,” he informed me.
“Right.” I was gonna blame my exhaustion on Elliott. I didn’t sleep well without him next to me.
Asshole.
I let out a yawn and reached across a sleeping Julian to make sure Blake’s seat belt was fastened, and then I shook her leg gently. “Wake up, honey.” I wasn’t waking Julian until I had to.
“Noooo,” she complained.
“We’re landing soon,” I said.
“See if I care,” she huffed.
The pre-preteen attitude was fantastic.
Jack was in the middle of waking up Crew behind us, so we had that covered.
Forty-five minutes later, we were greeted by a snow-covered DC, and we aimed directly at the cabstand.
“I miss the West Coast already,” Crew yawned.
Eh. I kinda loved the East Coast in the winter. Christmas should have snow.
