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There was no point in fanciful daydrea

She realized they were staring at one another, which also wasn’t a good idea Clearing her throat, she turned back toward the tunnel

“We should probably get going,” she said

Mehdi paused, as though he were going to tell her so his head

“I suppose so Far be it froer trouble with her parents”

FIVE

Steph

Mehdi escorted Steph back through the tunnel, where they were ave a deep bow, and Mehdi thanked hi the aquarium after hours on such short notice

“It is no trouble at all, Your—”

Mehdi shook his head fir pointedly at Steph, as oblivious

“Sir,” the man corrected “You’re welcome back any time, of course”

Steph’s stoht She was too scared to look at her phone to check the ties from her parents

“What ti her

He looked at an expensive-looking watch on his left wrist “Close to ht”

Steph sed Still, she had come this far, and it was likely her parents had seen her note and opted to go to bed, knowing she was capable of taking care of herself Did they know she could take care of herself? Thinking of where she had been before Mehdi arrived, the truth was she was in quite a bit of trouble