Hailey noticed the hesitation in Max’s response. She could tell he had his own complex history with the Army, and she appreciated that he kept his tone light.
“North Africa and Europe, huh?” Hailey said, nodding thoughtfully. “That sounds like quite a journey.”
“I turned twenty-one in Iraq. I feel like I was just a kid—no clue what I was doing, but maybe twenty is too old to call a kid. I was certainly old enough to enlist and deploy.”
She paused, taking a breath as she let the day’s events settle in. It had been a significant day—onboarding with EHPD, meeting Emily, and now Max. “You’re the second friend I’ve made today, Max. First Emily, and now you. It’s been a good introduction to Easthaven,” she said with a genuine smile.
“North Africa and Europe, huh?” Hailey said, nodding thoughtfully. “That sounds like quite a journey.”
“I turned twenty-one in Iraq. I feel like I was just a kid—no clue what I was doing, but maybe twenty is too old to call a kid. I was certainly old enough to enlist and deploy.”
She paused, taking a breath as she let the day’s events settle in. It had been a significant day—onboarding with EHPD, meeting Emily, and now Max. “You’re the second friend I’ve made today, Max. First Emily, and now you. It’s been a good introduction to Easthaven,” she said with a genuine smile.