Ranger shifts under the table, pressing his nose against my boot. Even the dog is judging me.
"Fine." I drag a hand through my hair, which is probably still a disaster from sprinting six blocks in the Colorado altitude. "She's... competent."
"Competent."
"Very competent. Handled Ranger like she'd been working with military K9s her whole life. Gave me advice about stress-chewing that I'm pretty sure was also an insult about my dog-handling skills."
"Sounds like your type."
"I don't have a type."
"Your type is anyone who doesn't immediately fall for your charm. It's a sickness, Bingo."
The name lands like it always does—a small, embarrassing punch to the ego. Sixteen years later, and it still makes me wince.
"Don't call me that."
"It's your call sign."
"It's a call sign I got because you dared me to?—"
"I dared you to sing 'Happy Birthday' over comms. You're the one who decided to up the ante."
The memory surfaces, vivid and mortifying. Flight training. A bet that seemed hilarious after four beers. The moment of pure, adrenaline-fueled stupidity when I keyed my radio during a live exercise and screamed "BINGO" at the top of my lungs for absolutely no tactical reason.
The instructor's silence had lasted approximately three seconds.
The laughter had lasted sixteen years and counting.
"I was young," I mutter into my coffee.
"You were twenty-two."
"Basically, a child."
"You were a commissioned officer."
"And yet..."
Javi's mouth curls, and despite everything, I feel the corner of mine twitch to match.
"So, what's the plan?" Javi asks, mercifully moving on. "You gonna go back to the clinic? Manufacture some fake dog emergency?"
"I'm not going to manufacture a fake dog emergency."
"You could say he's limping."
"He's not limping."
"He could be limping. Ranger, buddy—" Javi snaps his fingers under the table. "Do Uncle Javi a favor and develop a limp."
Ranger's ears perk at his name. He does not develop a limp.
"I'm not going back to the clinic," I say, more firmly this time. "She made it very clear that Ranger doesn't need a follow-up."
"And you're just going to accept that?"
"Yes."
