Page 57 of Cold Silence
“Sorry.”
Jackson’s shoulders dropped. “I guess I shouldn’t have expected it with this bum leg, but…”
“Hey, man.” Travis chest bumped Jackson. “You wouldn’t have beaten me even if you were fully able.”
Jackson socked Travis in the arm.
Claire looked at Coop. “Did you want to know about your score?”
Coop shrugged half-heartedly. “Sure, yeah, if you want to tell me.”
“Better than Gage and Travis both,” Claire said.
Did Travis note a hint of enjoyment in her tone?
“Nice,” Coop said and then looked at Gage. “But I mean, how much of an achievement is skunking an OG like you.”
“Old guy? I don’t think four years difference in our ages qualifies me as an OG, but whatever.” Gage laughed.
“It’s nearly impossible to best me at anything, so congrats.” Travis held out his hand to Coop. “Travis Chapman.”
“Cooper Ashcroft. Former Ranger.” He punished Travis’s hand with his grip. “Gage sang your praises. Maybe too much. So what are you not telling us?”
“I’m just that fine.” Travis laughed.
“I don’t think I can survive all this testosterone in the room.” Claire waved a hand in front of her face and laughed. “I hate to break up the party, but I need things secured for the night, and I really want to get out of here.”
Travis was unreasonably proud of her for holding her own with the guys. But then she dealt with tough guys all the time in testing, so this was nothing different.
She took the virtual device from Jackson.
“We’ll bring a car around,” Gage said. “And let’s keep your stalker guessing by using the back entrance tonight.”
She held up the device. “I just have to lock this up and grab my things, and then I’m ready.”
The guys departed.
Travis stayed behind. “I’ll accompany you.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m safe in the building.”
“I know. Just humor me.” He looked her in the eye. “It’ll be good practice for Saturday night.”
She started down the hallway, and he followed. “I don’t need practice to be close to you. I once wanted nothing more than that.”
“Me too.”
He tugged her to a stop. “Why did you really end things, Claire? Was it the job? Your fear of losing me? You didn’t love me? What?”
“All of it except loving you, but I honestly couldn’t see how we could be together when we lived in different states and neither of us wanted to give up our jobs.”
“Wanted to or is it still want?”
“I can’t leave this program. Maybe two years from now when we’re scheduled to complete, but not now.” She started walking again. “So nothing has changed, has it?”
“No, nothing.” He tried to hide his sadness, but Claire’s assessing gaze said he probably didn’t manage it.
Julie stepped out of a room and nearly plowed into Claire. “Oh, hey. Glad I bumped into you. I was thinking after Coop’s trial that our guinea pigs aren’t in uniform, and you didn’t mention their branch.”
