“Lana didn’t exactly let me take a room,” he admits. “But I helped find out who was trying to break into the academy, so when Owen tried to order me to leave, I refused. I offered to dig the trench for a second fence they’re going to put in. I’ll be honest, I don’t intend to leave when I’m done, either.”
“You must be so tired!” I protest. “You can’t just …”
“I don’t care,” he cuts me off, reaching across the table to take my hand in his. “It’s worth it to be near you. Even if we’re not going to spend every second together, I’d rather be here.”
I take in a deep breath and shake my head.
“They can’t let you work so hard without sleep!”
“I’m fine,” he assures me, smiling. “I might look tired, but I’m good. You don’t have to worry about me.”
He makes it sound like nothing, but it’s not nothing.
And that’s when Pris arrives at the table with our bowls of soup.
“First course is served!” she announces.
Falcon raises an eyebrow at her. “How many courses are there, exactly?”
“As many as you like. The next course can be a club sandwich, mini tacos, or my academy famous all-day breakfast. Your choice.”
“The breakfast sounds great, with extra everything. Thanks.”
Pris nods and looks at me.
“Oh, um, I might have more soup,” I admit.
I haven’t tasted it yet, but it feels like I haven’t had tomato soup in the longest time, and I’m actually salivating just having it in front of me.
“Okay,” Pris says. “Just wave when you’re ready for the second course.”
She walks away with the tray. I look back at Falcon.
“Is everyone around here so friendly?” he asks.
“Pretty much,” I admit. “I mean, aside from the security guards.”
“I’ve noticed,” Falcon says, smiling wryly.
It stings that Lana doesn’t trust him, but I don’t know what I can do about that.
I wish I could do something to help.
“This looks good,” he murmurs, changing the subject.
He picks up a piece of bread and rips it in half.
I watch him dunk a piece into the soup, soaking it red.
He puts the piece in his mouth and makes a satisfied sound.
I do what he did, and the creamy white swirls into the red, making a more familiar orange color in the bowl. I soak the bread and then take a bite.
It’s even better than the memory of the soup I enjoyed so much in the past.
The richer, tangier taste is something I could get used to, for sure.
I eat it quickly, finishing a few seconds before Falcon does.
