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“How’d you find runtled as she felt

He scoffed at her question, and he eased down beside her, resting his own plate on his knees “I’d be a piss poor CPO if I didn’t spot you sneaking out Why are you out here by yourself?”

“I needed some solitude”

He was quiet for a moment as he took a sip of his diet soda

“Want ive you so to Miles’s forty-five-foot sloop, moored at the pier

“Don’t be silly,” sheher eyes on her plate She sensed his concern but didn’t want to meet his eyes

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“Should you callsnippy

“I’ my lunch”

“While watchinglunch to me”

“What’s going on with you right now?” he asked keeping his voice determinedly level, even while she could hear the ies of his words

“Nothing I told you, I just felt like being alone That’s all” She glared at the scuffed toes of her white canvas sneakers, feeling stupidly emotional for no reason whatsoever

He re at his salad with the plastic fork

Her vision went blurry, and she willed back the tears, feeling silly for being so unreasonably eht now But a tear escaped She sniffed desolately and wiped her cheek against her shoulder

“Vicki” His voice had gone deadly quiet She could hear the alarm and concern in it “Please, tell me what’s…”

Miles’s voice interrupted whatever he’d been about to say “Here you are!”

“Shit,” Vicki muttered, beneath her breath She surreptitiously swiped the back of her hand across her face

Sam Brand and Miles joined them

“Well, I don’t bla out here, there’s a nice fresh breeze co a sip of his beer

Her straitlaced brother was now a bro who barbecued, wore board shorts, and had easy conversations with his buddies while clutching an open bottle of beer in his hand

If Vicki wasn’t feeling so inexplicably ruity of it

Ty leaped to his feet, spilling a little of his drink as he did so, and positioned his shielded her from view Typical chivalric Tyler Chambers