Before Noah could enter the living room, his dad appeared in the hallway.
"There's my boy." David Thompson enveloped his son in a firm hug.
"How's the university treating you?" David asked as they moved to the living room.
"Can't complain. Top marks."
He didn't bother hiding it. He knew what response his parents were looking for and he decided to make them happy.
They settled into the comfortable couch.
Caroline entered with a tray holding three tea cups.
"So tell us about classes," Caroline said, passing Noah his mug—the blue one with wobbly stars that Emily had made recently.
Noah gave them the sanitized version—interesting lectures, assignments, new friends. Nothing about knocking out Russian agents or securing tech billionaires.
"And you're taking care of yourself?" his mother pressed. "Eating properly?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Getting enough sleep?"
"Of course."
