Chatter starts to die down as people see Kynan with Bebe by him, and it’s clear he’s going to make some type of speech.
“Hey,” I hear from beside me. I jump, startled, then smile at Malik as he casually holds a beer in his hand. “Some party.”
“I’m glad you came,” I say, bumping my shoulder against his. “I know crowds aren’t your thing.”
“Meaningless drivel of conversation’s not my thing,” he corrects me. “Just greater chance of finding it at a large event like this.”
“Noted,” I reply with a laugh.
Kynan holds his hands up, someone gives a wolf whistle, and everyone quiets. He looks out over his domain—his people—and there’s pride etched on his face.
“Okay, everyone,” he calls out over the last few people who don’t realize a speech is forthcoming. “Pipe down for about two minutes, then you can go back to all of this wonderful food and liquor I’m providing for you.”
Everyone moves in a little closer, circling around the base of the stairs to be able to hear.
“As you all know,” Kynan announces imperiously. “We’re here tonight to celebrate this woman beside me.”
Kynan is clearly enjoying the limelight while Bebe looks like she wants to melt into the floor. While she’s the sweetest, nicest woman ever, she’s also a bit of an introvert, perhaps given all her years locked away.
“Bebe doesn’t like me drawing attention to her, and I promised I wouldn’t make her give a speech, so let me just ask all of you standing here to raise your glasses to toast this woman.”
Everyone does as asked, beers, wine, and highballs rising high into the air.
“I could give you story after story of how Bebe has masterfully managed to take down the bad guys. She’s what I would call the heart and breath of this organization, and her innovation and determination are unparalleled. The world became a better place—certainly safer—when she came to join us. And so, it’s my great pleasure to announce that today, President Alexander signed a presidential pardon for Bebe as well as ordered her entire record to be expunged. It’s definitely a big deal… one we are all honored to celebrate with our Bebe. She wore her conviction like a badge of honor, and everyone in this room knows it was with the utmost integrity she took the fall for her crimes in order to save her country. It’s the highest order of heroism, and we both spoke via speakerphone with President Alexander this morning as he was signing the pardon, and he made sure Bebe understood our country was indebted to her for her actions.”
It’s at this moment Kynan risks a glance at Bebe, who is no longer blushing but actively crying. It stuns Kynan as he takes her in—tears streaming down her face as she listens to him.
He wisely decides to wrap it up. “So, let’s everyone toast to Bebe’s pardon, proclaiming our gratitude that she belongs to us, and well… everyone, let’s just have a great time tonight.”
Everyone yells and cheers. Kynan grabs Bebe and gives her a hard hug, then releases her so she can melt down the staircase and disappear into Griff’s arms.
“You’re crying,” Malik observes, tipping his head to look at my face.
I hadn’t realized it, and I brush the back of my hand across a wet cheek. “It’s just so wonderful, right?”
“Right,” he replies. He puts his arm around my shoulder, giving me a slight squeeze. I take a moment to lean my head against his shoulder before we break apart.
There was nothing awkward about it, either. Just a second where I got emotional, he acknowledged it without making a big deal or making me feel stupid about it, and then it was over.
“Want to get some food?” Malik suggests.
“Sure,” I reply, following him through the crowd to the buffet tables the caterers had set up.
There’s a short line, and we file in behind Cruce Britton. He glances over his shoulder at us, smiling brightly.
Turning, he holds his hand out to Malik, who takes it for a short pump. “Hey, man… good to see you back here.”
“Thanks,” Malik replies. “Good to be back.”
It’s strange in a way how even though Malik has technically been a member of Jameson for over six months, he’s still such a newbie since five of those months he spent as a prisoner. No one really knows him all that well and vice versa. In fact, these two men have only met on one other occasion, and that was the night before Jimmy and Malik were shipped out to Syria. It’s ironic it was the first time Cruce had met Jimmy as well, but he would never get the opportunity to know him any better. It’s a bitter pill to swallow as I watch the two men chat as we inch forward in the line.