Page 221 of Commander’s Mate

“Commanders observe.”

“Boyfriends stare.”

I disliked the Earth word.

I also liked being included in it.

“Solmatu is more accurate.”

“Boyfriend is funnier.”

Degatu passed behind us.

“Boyfriend suits you.”

I ignored him.

Harper smiled.

Then she looked at the volunteer list.

“They all want to go.”

“Yes.”

“You told most of them no.”

“Yes.”

“That hurt.”

“Yes.”

“Still the right call?”

I looked down the corridor at the mechanic arguing with a shuttle chief about drive diagnostics.

“Yes.”

Harper nodded.

“Good.”

Not praise.

Confirmation.

Different.

I had once believed leadership meant knowing who to send into danger.

Farseek was teaching me the harder question.

Who do you make stay behind when they would rather bleed?

Chapter Thirty-Four

Harper