I kept my fingers flat on the page and read the same sentence three times without taking in a word.

“You’ve got a real quiet way about you for somebody claiming twenty years of service,” Evan said.

“Most real field-grade officers would’ve torn into me by now.”

“Sit back down, Evan,” Mason said, taking two quick steps toward our row.

Mason glanced nervously at his watch, his thumb rubbing the side of his wrist bone as he looked up at the departure monitor overhead.

“We’ve got eighteen minutes before general boarding,” Mason added, his voice dropping lower as he tried to catch Evan’s eye.