“So you’re living together. In a relationship and living together,” Tess said, then took a shaky swallow of her wine. “That’s nice.”
“So, Sam, what are you studying in school?” Connie asked, trying to keep the peace.
“Mathematics.” I gave her a thankful smile.
“You want to teach?” his mom added, and my head swiveled to the opposite end of the table.
“No, ma’am. I tutor now, but it’s not my strong suit. I’m more interested in applied mathematics.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, and Mrs. Bowden cleared her throat.
“Grace was going to be a teacher,” Ian Bowden added. “She thought it would be a perfect fit once Grayson came home to take over the shop.”
Take over the shop? He’d never even mentioned it.
Joey sat up a little taller and all but stabbed her chicken. This was definitely going down as the most awkward meal I’d ever had. What was I supposed to say to that? “I’m sure she would have been a wonderful teacher.”
He looked somewhat appeased.
“Math, huh?” Parker raised her eyebrows and leaned forward to make sure I saw. “I bet that’s useful while you’re helping Grayson study, right?”
Crap. I should have asked him what he did tell his family.
Grayson tensed beside me. “Parker?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Gray. I didn’t tell you. I found your study guide today at the hospital.” She threw his 5&9 cards into the middle of the table.
“What is that?” his father asked in a tone that was anything but forgiving.
I reached across Grayson and snatched them, putting them in my lap. “I’m sorry, I must have left those in Grace’s room today.”
“Right, because you fly helicopters.” Parker laughed.
“Helicopters?” Grayson’s dad shouted. “Gray?”
Grayson stared straight ahead, unfocused, so I looked to Mia, who looked devastated. “Gray?” his mom prodded.
Silence stretched. Not even silverware hit the plate. “Tell me this isn’t true, Grayson. We forbade it. You agreed.”
“I never agreed,” Grayson said softly, finally looking up at his father. “You assumed and never asked what branch I chose after I graduated. You simply assumed it was the engineer corps because it’s what you wanted.”
Answering questions about my collegiate career would be less awkward at the moment, and I slept with my teacher.
“You will quit immediately. This isn’t up for discussion.” His father slammed the side of his fist on the table, bouncing the flatware.
“This isn’t something you quit. I’m under a contract with the government.” Grayson’s voice was even, but it scared me more than his outburst had this morning.
“You will find a way!”
“No.”
His mother gasped.
“You got your degree in maritime engineering. Masters & Son, remember? You doing a few years in the Army Corps of Engineers while we waited here at home. That was the agreement. You come home, and I agree to let you and Joey both manage the shop. You getting yourself killed playing pilot wasn’t in the deal.”
Wait. Was he using Joey to leverage Grayson? Joey all but slammed her glass on the table. Yep.
“And that hasn’t changed. But I’ve always wanted to fly, to serve my country. I’m doing just that.” If his grip hadn’t intensified on my hand, I would have thought he really wasn’t affected.
“What is going to happen when you crash, Gray?”
“Well, I’m banking on that not happening, Dad.”
It was like watching a macabre tennis match, everyone’s eyes darting between the two of them.
“And when it does? When you screw something up, read a gauge wrong? What are we going to do when you get yourself killed?”
“Then I guess you can cremate me and put me up on the mantle, where you can control everything I do. Or better yet, put me in the shop with you.”
Why wasn’t someone stopping this? Everyone from his mom through his sisters looked shocked, but no one did anything.
“Don’t upset your mother.”
“Then have a little faith in me, Dad. I’m not asking for a lot.”
Mr. Masters’ jaw flexed, like Grayson’s did when he was ready to lose it. “How did you even get into flight school? Who the hell would let you in?”
“I’m a good pilot.” Grayson’s voice dropped while his father’s raised.
“It was a nightmare teaching you to drive a car, and now you think you’ll be capable of flying a helicopter? Respect your goddamned limits, Grayson. How good could you possibly be?”
“Language,” his mother whispered, like the swearing had been the most offensive thing said.
I’d had enough. My mouth opened before my brain caught up. “He’s good enough that he finished Primary at the top of his class as the best pilot. Good enough to select the Apache, and good enough to be selected for class leader.”
Grayson’s grip tightened almost painfully. “Sam, don’t.”
“Someone has to,” I hissed at him.
“So you’re not moving home? I thought you’d be gone for three years after you graduated,” Tess asked, her tone accusing.
“I’m contracted for six years after I graduate flight school. I’m trying to get stationed at Fort Bragg, which is only four hours away. I will still be close enough to come home on weekends”—he looked at Joey—“and I will keep my promise.”