Page 110 of Commander’s Mate

“Yeah.”

Zared noticed.

He always noticed.

He did not ask me to keep going.

So I did.

“My brother used to text me while I was working even though he knew I wasn’t supposed to answer. Memes. Bad jokes. Pictures from sci-fi shows. He thought he was hilarious.”

“Was he?”

“No.”

“You are smiling.”

“He was a little.”

“Parents?”

“Yes.”

The word nearly cracked.

I took a breath.

“Mom worries. Dad pretends he doesn’t. They probably think—”

I stopped.

Zared’s hands tightened on his knees.

Not reaching.

Waiting.

I appreciated him for it and hated that I needed to.

“They probably think I’m dead.”

“I know.”

“No. You know the concept. You don’t know my mother.”

“No.”

“She will keep waiting for someone to tell her something. Even when people stop searching.”

My eyes burned.

“I wish I could send one message. Not even coordinates. Just alive.”

Zared looked away.

“I would trade a weapon battery for that message.”

I laughed wetly.