Chapter 0220

Dad stares at me and then up at Jackson again. “What?” he asks. “I was just being polite

((

“Jacks is…not great with polite,” I say, pressing myself warmly to his side. “Actually, I think he’d probably rather fight you than do the small talk thing.”

Jackson scowls, already coming back to himself a little. “Ari, I don’t want to fight him –”

“I know,” I say, nodding and smiling up into his face. “Just can we all maybe take a bit of space? Try this again over midwinter, maybe over dinner?”

“Or an activity,” Rafe suggests, knowing that even a dinner might be a bit much for Jacks. ” Or a great, great deal of whiskey – barrels of it.”

“Enough,” dad snaps good–heartedly at Rafe, waving a dismissive hand at all of us as he turns away. “Fine, fine! We’ll do it all later! I need much more information anyway.”

to the bed with mom at his side, and then I grin between Jacks and Rafe.

Jacks,” I

murmurs, glancing after my

condescension, patting him on his shoulder with a laugh. I laugh too and Jackson gives a tentative smile,

opens his mouth, I think to ask a question, but the door opens again – suddenly, I long for a lock on it – and a professor I don’t recognize

around, a clipboard in his hand. “I’m looking for Cadets Sinclair, McClintock, and Clark?”

steps hastily in front of me, asking whether the professor is looking for Jesse or Rafe Sinclair, and in the intervening moment Jackson hands me his cap, which was apparently tucked into his back pocket. Hastily,

Rafe glances back at

the professor says, looking anxiously over at the

the hell is going on. But he doesn’t say

he says with a sigh, “the three of you

go all the way around before we see the professor at the door giving us a strange look. Jackson just clears his throat and awkwardly lowers me

again. “It’s not an issue that Cadet…Clark…” here she glances at me, and inwardly I cringe at how obvious she’s being, “was

the professor says, giving her a deferential bow. “The rules are to cross the finish line, full stop. I think,” he glances at my dad here, “they were written that way with this express situation in mind.”

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