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Take right now, for exa takeout pizza in a Holiday Inn like Trev and I used to do back in our early days, we’re currently sitting at a table inside Prime—Wes Lancaster’s newest steakhouse—surrounded by the saht Our biggest proble ourselves out of the billionaires’ brand of trouble

Soon, all of this could change, though…

After e of tests, ical assessments, phone conferences, and in-person interviews, I’ve officially reached the final candidate round for NASA’s Astronaut Selection Program

It’s between me and nineteen other men and women

And no one knows exactly how many will be chosen

“So, Luke, any NASA updates?” Thatch asks, taking a drink frolass filled with expensive bourbon

Can he readmind?

“Nope,” I ansith a slight shake of my head “Not yet”

“How many interviews have you had in Houston?” Kline asks

“Two”

“The final round,” Trevor chimes in helpfully and pops a piece of co to hear from them soon, my man You’re a shoo-in”

“I don’t know about that” I shrug “The couys with ten years of experience flying fighter jets for the navy”

Trevor just grins atfroht hours under your belt, your dad was pretty well-knoithin NASA before he died, and you’re in better shape than Ra in Houston by early next year”

“Which bookie should I sign the check over to?” Thatch teases helpfully Trevor laughs

“I hope you’re right, dude” I shrug again and take a sip of my beer

Truthfully, I really fucking hope he’s right This is what I’ve been working for since I was eighteen This is why I get up at the crack of fucking dawn every ht train Everything I do, everything I’ve acco into NASA’s Astronaut Candidate training program

This is the dream The one my father and I started to talk about when I was seven, just two years before he and my mom died in a head-on collision with a drunk driver on their way home from a work party at Johnson Space Center in Houston

I like to think he’d be really proud of et to that drea six years old and hi me into the famous NASA control room I was mesmerized Hooked Determined

“Is now the time I should disclose that I’m close friends with someone on the board?” Milo Ives offers with a little s me from my trip down memory lane