She’s silent for a moment before she bumps her shoulder into mine. “Did I ever tell you about my nan?”
I shake my head no.
“God, she was a hell of a woman. She was a boomer, of course. Married my grandpa, had my mom and my aunt young and then ditched his abusive ass. She worked hard, went back to school and got her masters degree in human sociology. She taught at the local university for twenty years before she retired.”
I smile. “She sounds amazing.”
Bec nods. “She was. Strongest woman I ever knew. First person I came out to, too. She gave me a cheeky grin and said, ‘yeah,baby girl, I know. Don’t care who you love as long as you choose someone who treats you like the queen you are.’”
“That must’ve been validating.”
“Most affirming moment of my life,” she agrees. “She studied human behavior her entire career, even predicted the Brotherhood’s rise; said all those small changes would lead to catastrophic proportions.”
My brow crinkles. “How horrible to have that knowledge but not the power to do anything about it.”
Bec looks off into the distance. “She fought like hell to get people to listen, so much so that the university basically gave her two options: retire peacefully or be escorted off campus. She chose the former in order to preserve her name and the research she dedicated her life to.”
I rest my chin on my knees. “That’s awful.”
Bec looks back at me. “She died right before the Reckoning. As horrible as it sounds, I’m glad she didn’t live to see all this fucked up shit.”
“I understand,” I say, thinking of my own father.
Bec wraps her arm around my shoulders. “Nan always used to say the same thing to me whenever I was feeling down, or insecure, or sorry for myself. I didn’t really get it at the time, but now it’s sort of my mantra.”
“What is it?” I lift my head, attention piqued.
Her gaze is unwavering. “You must, so you will.”
The words flow over me and into me, wrapping around my very soul like an impenetrable armor. “I must, so I will.”
Bec nods. “Exactly.”
“I like it.” The smile I offer is weak. “Can it be my mantra too?”
“Why do you think I told you, silly?” She stands, extending her hand toward my seated, pale form.
I grasp her hand and let her haul me to my feet. I take a deep breath, feeling slightly better, both physically and emotionally. “Thanks, Bec.”
“Anytime, city girl.” She pulls me in for a hug. We squeeze each other tightly, both of us communicating what words could never say.
She was my first friend here. Her brutal honesty, coupled with her dry humor and genuine kindness, makes her easy to love, and I’ll forever be grateful for her willingness to take me under her wing and help me see the truth.
We both pull away sniffling. She rolls her eyes and wipes her tears, both of us laughing at our own emotions and instantly lightening the mood. “Thank you for being my friend.”
Bec shrugs. “You’re not so bad once you crack through that shell of propriety and haughtiness.”
“I beg your pardon, madam?” Hand over my heart and mouth agape, I feign offense. “Me, haughty?”
She snorts with laughter. “I shit you not, you talked like that a few weeks ago.”
I laugh too. “Oh, come on. I wasn’tthatbad.” Bec stares me down, unconvinced. “Okay, okay, fine.”
We’re both still laughing when the ferry slows, coming to a stop at the Resistance’s usual port. It’s unmonitored, apparently, since there are no Brotherhood guards stationed here. Our laughter dies, the only sound now the whistling wind and the creaking of the ship.
Bec loops her arm through mine, a silent show of support as we head toward the van. Bec and Benji climb into the back, where he’ll monitor the traffic and the Brotherhood’s movements via satellite to ensure we’re not walking into an ambush. I hop into the front seat with Maverick, who starts the car while pointedly avoiding looking in my direction. The rumble of the idling engine is the only sound in the cabin, aside from our breathing.
“Mav?”
