ALEXANDER
Kyle finally reached for the map and rolled it up carefully after the discussion settled.
“I should get back to the men,” he said.
I nodded once.
“Go ahead.”
That was enough for him.
No unnecessary words.
No lingering around.
Kyle gave one final glance toward the desk before turning and walking out of the office quietly.
The moment the door shut behind him, the room felt different immediately.
Less formal.
Cole leaned back deeper into the chair across from me, stretching one arm over the side casually.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
But the silence wasn’t awkward.
It never was between us.
Years of friendship had made silence normal.
Finally, Cole exhaled quietly through his nose.
“You know,” he muttered, “I still wish I was coming with you.”
I leaned back in
