Page 80 of The Scout

“But if it does?”

His jaw ticked, his expression hardening. “Then we handle it.”

It was so simple for him. So absolute. And maybe I needed to hear that—needed to believe that these men, these soldiers, would find a way no matter what.

I sighed, shifting slightly, my fingers toying with the sheet. “I don’t have many people left, you know.”

Ryker watched me, silent.

“I mean, obviously Will.” I swallowed. “And Pia and Sasha. And Aunt Maude.”

His brows lifted slightly. “Aunt Maude?”

I let out a small laugh. “She’s my dad’s sister. She lives up in Sumter. She’s … different. Kind of eccentric. But she cares about me.” I hesitated. “I probably don’t let her in enough.”

He didn’t say anything, just ran his fingers through my hair, listening.

“I should probably call her before tomorrow,” I admitted. “Tell her what’s happening.”

Ryker’s body went stiff.

I sighed, shaking my head. “I know. Bad idea.”

“You can call her after,” he said, his voice low, firm. “We’ll go see her when this is over.”

I smiled, tilting my head. “Yeah?”

His lips curled slightly. “Take me up to Sumter. Let me meet this aunt of yours.”

I let my fingers trace along his stomach, teasing. “You sure you’re ready for that?”

“I’m ready for whatever you throw at me, Isabel.”

I laughed, rolling onto my side, facing him fully. “Well, in that case, we can swim in the lake behind her house.”

Ryker snorted. “With the gators?”

I grinned. “You’re not scared of a few alligators, are you?”

He shot me a look, deadpan. “I’m not scared of anything. But I also don’t fuck with prehistoric murder lizards.”

I laughed, shaking my head, then sighed, my expression softening. “I’d like for you to meet her.”

His thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “Then I will.”

My heart squeezed. I didn’t want to think about what might happen tomorrow, about what might go wrong. I wanted to think about the people I had left, the ones I loved.

I thought about Pia. About Sasha.

They weren’t just a roommate and a coworker. They were my closest friends. The kind of friends you kept for a lifetime. The kind you wanted standing beside you for every big moment.

Like bridesmaids.

The thought sent a slow, unexpected thrill through me, my pulse skipping.

And Ryker—he caught it.

His pupils flared just slightly, his grip tightening on my waist. “What are you thinking about?”