The final school bell finally blared.
I held Alyssa's hand as we walked out of the training hall.
Gerald's car was already parked outside, waiting for us.
When he spotted me, he leaned out the window and offered an invitation.
"Come eat with us tonight? Alyssa hasn't stopped talking about you."
Alyssa's head snapped up to stare at him, her eyes wide with blatant disbelief.
"You're the one who wanted to have dinner with Aunt Helena."
Gerald immediately clamped a hand over her mouth.
I shook my head, giving him a small, apologetic smile.
"I can't, I'm on duty tonight. I have to watch over the kids who stay in the dorms. You two go ahead and have fun."
Gerald paused for a beat, his voice dropping lower, softer than before.
"Senior, I'm flying out first thing tomorrow morning for Ca
