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“I’ed

“Calder said most of your crew has a couple of weeks off after you finish the return-to-port duties” She nodded like a poker player who knew she had the winning hand

“Did he, now?” I glared right at Calder, who had turned toward us at the sound of his na officer and the chief of the boat had both been bugging us about scheduling our leave, stressing the i deployment But that didn’t er than we absolutely had to

“Dude You’re not going to be able to go anywhere on base without people talking about this anyway” Calder shrugged “You ht as well come”

Oh fuck I hadn’t even thought about that If the kiss was viral, thatI hatedfor it to die down, knowing people were talking as soon as I left a roo looks and whispers I’d had ever since Steve and I imploded

“Yes, come” Jane patted my arm “It would h these days, and knowing he has so me such joy”

“Morumbled

Meanwhile,Jane, who had always made me feel so welcome And it didn’t matter whether it was now or next hen Arthur shared news of our convenient breakup, she was going to be bummed, and that sucked

I needed an out, and no one was givingmy best friend

“I need to check the leave calendar before I can consider the invite Calder, I think I left ave him another hard stare until he nodded

My phone was perfectly safe deep in my pocket, but I needed an escape Once ere outside and out of view of the s, I whirled on him “Way to help me out”

“You need a vacation” Calder leaned against the car “Senior Chief says it The co you, you’re planning on turning your leave into another mentorship or other opportunity at the base You can’t work all the time”

“Says the guy ants to advance ashis prediction, which was correct, but I didn’t see the problem

“Maybe But I kno to relax”

“And joining your fa to set me up with Arthur?”