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“Then you’re understanding perfectly,” he corrects with a laugh “They confuse everyone That just means your mental health checks out Now, the people who say they love and relate to them—those are the ones orry about”

“How did you rin, while the rest of the room continues to erupt in all sorts of verbal chaos Which, oddly enough, I’ enjoyable To be honest, I’m surprised at just how much I love Harrison’s friends’ brand of fun and crazy I can’t rehed this much If ever

“Different places,” he answers, his voice low enough to only reach my ears “I work for Cap’s father’s coby with Kline, Thatch, and Wes The others have joined the group in one way or another over the last few years, and we’ve gotten closea book club not long ago too, but that’s a long and coe story”

I bug out ”

“Oh, it is But it’s a story for another time What about you? I haven’t met any of your friends since I’ve been out in California with you Who do you hang out with?”

I wish I had a better answer to that question than I do, but I don’t

“I don’t really have friends, I guess” I shrug “Coworkers, but they coo Just my team They’ve been the only constants in my life since my brother left town”

Harrison frowns

“What?” I ask

“It’s just…what a horrible set of constants”

I sigh “They’re not that bad” I lift one shoulder and laugh a little “At least, not all the time”

“But really, Officer, he only hits me sometimes,” Harrison deadpans, and I roll my eyes

“I’m not an abuse victi around”

Harrison lifts his eyebrows fully “Exactly”

“Can we change the subject, please?” I beg, done trying to explainway too much fun to spoil it now

“Of course Sorry”

“It’s all right I just…I just want to spend the rest of the night getting to know your friends”

“No problemouse “We’ve taken a vote, and the men have decided to steal you away for a little bit”

Harrison starts shaking his head before Thatch even finishes his sentence

“I don’t think that’s—”