And just because she could—just because she wanted to—she strode right up to Lee and kissed him. They could think what they wanted of her. They could think what they wanted of her rankings and standing and whatever frills came with the Academy. But when it came to Lee, they stood together, always.
Over Lee’s shoulder, Kat could see Ness watching them, lips parted slightly. She looked surprised but also happy, too. Like something was clicking in her mind.
Neha rolled her shoulders back, flexing her hands before her. But she’d lost that edged gleam to her eyes. Kat would have her cake and eat it too. And that would have to be good enough for everyone.
As the others laughed at Whistler’s whooping and howling, claiming the next ride, Kat turned back to Lee, repositioning her lips against his. Like the muscle memory of zipping up her all-terrain suit, they had slipped back into their familiar roles as cocky Gammas of the Academy.
Dax had made a fair point earlier that day. At least some of the other cadets knew them and wanted to trust them. They wanted something to aspire to and a competitor to rival.
And maybe she couldn’t go back to the raider she’d been before. Maybe she’d never agree with the actions the General had taken on that raid, or the mold for which they wanted her to conform. But maybe she could move forward and find a way to reshape that mold into something she believed in.
And in the meantime, she would put her head down and play the game. She was good at it. She’d been playing it for years.
CHAPTER 12: LEE
SEVERAL WEEKS later, Lee stood before his closet, consolidating the packs of protein bars his mom had drawn attention to during their call earlier, while Kat perched on the bed behind him. Leave it to Tonya to catch the patch of chaos in an otherwise tidy dark closet with half a thought and zero context.
If only he could bottle up some of her perception and spray it over his own strife. He’d done his best to ignore whatever was or wasn’t going on with the General, although he’d been keeping an eye on the pipeline ever since their conversation with Nolan on the off-chance anything strange, or excessive popped up. Something about the mundanity of the situation irritated him, like an eyelash or a speck of dust he couldn’t seem to locate—so contrary to the night they’d witnessed out in that asteroid field. But the General’s activity all seemed rather normal. Exactly as one would expect of a busy Commanding General.
More shadow market activity. A new shield tech prototype. Updates to the land agreement with the BPLM. And the creation of a new division within the Trade and Security Administration: the Audit Authority for the Investigation of Research-fund distribution.
That newest one was a mouthful. Lee hadn’t seen who the General had brought on to head this one. But it would have to be someone stuffy by the look of it.
No, the most dubious activity he’d caught onto lately was the end-of-term blowout Marco was planning. Word in the hallway was that Marco had commandeered the blaster range and had been safeguarding the door since noon.
“What do you think he’s got planned tonight?” Lee mused, peering back at Kat. She had her legs tucked under her, toying with the sleeve of her favorite of his hoodies.
“Knowing Marco? He’ll want a shakedown, mix things up before we go into this last term. I reckon nobody’s egos come out unscathed tonight.”
“So predictable.” Lee checked the date on one of the protein bars before tossing it over at her.
“Hey!” she giggled, scooping it up.
“Tonya seemed in excellent spirits,” Kat commented, tucking the protein bar in her lap.
“Of course she is. Her son and his girlfriend are coming on holiday with her next week.” Lee shot her an apprehensive look when she flicked her eyes up to his face. They hadn’t actually put labels on their relationship yet. Although, he had to admit, “girlfriend” seemed a rather weak way to label the girl he’d been besotted with since the age of twelve.
“She gets to spend one full week with her favorite person in the world, and right now, that person is not her son,” Lee said, sliding his own tender musings aside. “What do you think, are you ready to face the full attention and insight of Tonya Waters?” Lee joked, but he was only somewhat teasing. He could perfectly recall the spark in his mom’s green eyes during the call he and Kat had made onboard Segura. Knowing Tonya, she’d probably sensed the shift in them even then.
Kat looked thoughtful. “Do you think she knows about us?”
“She hasn’t said anything. But I also wouldn’t put it past her. I think she and Bri have been planning our union for ages.” Lee huffed a laugh as he stacked the empty boxes in his arms. As if he and Kat would ever truly settle down. Their lives belonged to the cosmos. They would roam and streak across the sky, as brilliant and innumerable as shooting stars. The raids just got them into the skies.
Kat had gone back to playing with the cuff of his sleeve, tugging her fingers down inside, when Lee came over to stand beside her. “She’ll be thrilled, you know. She already considers you a part of the family.”
Kat gave him a tiny smile, but the effect was ruined by her nibbling on her bottom lip. “And you’re sure it’s okay if I tag along next week?”
Setting the boxes down on the floor, Lee gently lifted her chin. “She wants you there. AndIwant you there.”
“Well, okay then,” Kat said, breathlessly.
“And don’t worry, it won’t be weird. Since technically we haven’t said anything to her, there won’t be any of those ‘you’re dating my son’ questions. My dad can’t make it, so if anything, she’ll just be starved for gossip.”
“Do you want to tell her? About us, I mean,” she asked, carefully correcting herself.
“Honestly? I can’t think of anything that would make Tonya happier. But I understand if you want to put it off,” he added quickly, eyes wavering between each of hers as he deciphered the emotion there. And then he caught the shimmer.
“No, we can tell her,” Kat said, and the ensuing smile she gave him was pure sunshine.
