Unknown (Unknown Series Book 1) by Wendy Higgins Read Free Book Online

at one along with Mom and Abuela.
    “Me too,” Tater said. “Army.”
    “Now, just hold on a minute boys. I know you’re both fired up, and I understand, but you have a plan already in motion. A good plan.”
    “With all due respect, Mr. Tate. I want to change my plan.”
    I sat up now. Rylen’s serious eyes flicked to me, then back to Dad.
    “Take it from me as someone who went straight into the military from high school,” Dad said. “It will be worth it for you both to go to college and join as officers. The pay is better, the opportunities—”
    “I don’t care about any of that,” Rylen said. He sounded more passionate than I’d ever heard him. “I don’t really care about college either. I just wanted to play football a little longer, but that doesn’t matter now. I don’t want to wait.”
    “You won’t be a pilot if you’re not an officer,” Dad told him.
    At this, Rylen’s jaw rocked, contemplating. “I know. But I applied for the CAP scholarship to get my pilot license. If I get it, I’ll have my license before I graduate. That will be enough for now.”
    “It’s enough for you to just have a civilian pilot license?” Dad challenged. “Because having a license doesn’t mean you get to fly Air Force jets, son. Isn’t that your dream?”
    Ry’s jaw locked for a handful of tense seconds before he said, “Dreams can change, sir. I’m ready.”
    A tremble began at my core and spread outward until my hands shook. Rylen was not impulsive. He was thoughtful and decisive. If he joined the Air Force now they would own him and move him anywhere they wanted. He wouldn’t be in Reno for the next four years with the freedom to visit every summer and holidays.
    “I’m ready now too,” Tater said. “I don’t care about being an officer. I’ve watched you my whole life. There’s nothing wrong with being infantry. Soldiers are badass. The Airborne—”
    “Jacob, I’ve shown you what I wanted you to see.” Dad’s voice with Tater was much sterner. “From the outside it looks like fun and games. Jumping out of airplanes, working your ass off at P.T., Drill Sergeants screaming in your face.” That sounded like fun and games? “But it’s hard damn work with a lot of unnecessary drudgery.”
    “I don’t care, Dad!” Tater jumped to his feet and pointed at the television. “They need us. You saw that. I don’t want to wait!”
    Dad’s body was tense as he rubbed his face in his hands. Dad had badly injured his knee in a jump as an Airborne Infantryman years ago, forcing him to become a recruiter. I know he’d seen a lot during his stints overseas, but he never spoke of it. Not once. From the tension rolling off him, I’m pretty sure those scenarios were running through his head right now . . . only with Tater’s face instead of his own.
    He lifted his head, eyes rimmed in red. “I want you both to give it one week. One week from today, if you still feel this passionately about joining, then we can talk. But there is no shame in getting your education and waiting it out. The country will still need you three or four years from now. Maybe even more so. And as officers you’ll have more power to help. Just . . . think about it. Okay?”
    Both boys nodded their heads. Dad stood and came over to me, leaning down to kiss my head. He crouched and met my eyes. His were dark and round.
    “I love you.”
    I immediately choked up. He hadn’t been as affectionate with me lately since I began ‘blossoming’. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it. “I love you too, Daddy.” He stood and left us.
    Watching Tater and Rylen sitting there, staring off into space, it was hard to see them as anything more than just boys . I tried to imagine them in boot camp in three months. Then heading out into danger. I wanted to beg them to go to college, but my opinion wouldn’t matter. I could only hope they’d change their minds in a week’s time.
    Tater eventually stood and trudged to his