Becky and I walked back slowly through the emptying mission room, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder for balance. Agents filtered out around us in a quiet exodus—chairs scraping against the floor, murmured conversations fading into the hallway like dying echoes. The golden light from the windows had deepened into rich amber, casting long shadows across the tables.
Danny sat near the back, his face its usual unreadable stone mask. Max remained glued to his side, eyes tracking our every step with unrelenting focus. We reached Sherry.
"What are you two up to?" Sherry asked from her seat, a playful smile already dancing on her lips.
"Partner stuff," Becky replied, keeping her tone light and easy.
"Should I be worried?"
"Nah." Becky let out a soft laugh. "He's just borrowed. But I'll keep borrowing him." She glanced at me, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Isn't that right, Bram?"
We all chuckled. I felt like a spectator in my own life, smiling on autopilot.
