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“I’m sorry about this. I promise to never ride with anyone again. Let me go talk to her.” He kisses the tip of my nose and leaves.
I rush to brush my teeth, wash my face, and throw on some clothes. When I get to the living room, Dani gives me a sad smile and a little wave. Liza ignores me completely. Nate pats my shoulder on his way to my room.
“Liza’s team has a small problem. She may need to work tonight. We need to get back early,” Bryce tells me.
“Oh, okay. Well, do you have time for me to make everyone breakfast?”
Liza starts to talk, but Dani speaks up. “That sounds nice. We were going to stop somewhere anyway.”
“You sure, Dev? You could always go back to bed.” Bryce tucks my hair behind my ear and looks at me sadly.
“There’s plenty of food. I’ll get started while you pack.”
He searches my face for a short second then kisses my cheek and walks back to my room.
Quinn comes in with two coffee mugs and hands one to Dani. They turn on the TV to Bill Tames’ Sunday morning program. When Dani learns that we know him personally, she launches into a hundred questions about our trip and mentors. Liza picks up the student newspaper on our coffee table and looks at me with unbelieving eyes when she sees the front-page article.
“This is you?” she asks, pointing directly to my name.
“Yes,” I confirm, turning to the kitchen.
I gather all the ingredients and prepare one of my mom’s recipes, wishing like hell we weren’t having breakfast with Liza. I’d like to think she’s no threat, but I’d be lying to myself. Even though Bryce gives me no reason to worry, she’s definitely got an agenda.
“You’re talented; I’ll give you that.” Liza’s voice jars me out of my thoughts. “Heard that about you for weeks, never believed it.” She sits at the kitchen bar, staring at me.
“Not sure if that was a compliment or an insult.”
“Bryce and Nate have mentioned your knack for words and pictures. Even Nicole said the pictures you took were cool. When Bryce said you were celebrating your work, I assumed it was a puff piece, but the article was good.”
“Why do you act so surprised? You don’t know me well enough to make assumptions.”
She shrugs unapologetically and looks at me with the same distaste I’ve become used to.
I square my shoulders and swallow hard, staring right into her cold eyes. Confrontation has never been my style, but she’s testing my patience.
“Listen, Liza, I’m not sure what your problem is, but you need to get over it really quick. I’ve never done anything to you, but the few times we’ve been around each other, you’ve had this silent communication. It’s obvious you’re interested in Bryce, but you need to forget about it. If you think throwing yourself in his line of sight constantly is going to get him into your bed, you’re mistaken. Just because there’s distance between us doesn’t mean shit. Bryce is faithful and dedicated. You’re wasting your time on the wrong man.”
Her face changes and fire blazes in her eyes. Suddenly, it’s clear; she not only interested in Bryce; she’s really interested in him. Anger washes over her, and she glares at me before finally speaking. “I’m going to say this as respectfully as possible, seeing I’m in your apartment. You are delusional. What are you, like
twenty? I can see how you would build it up in your head about plans for the happily ever after, but I’ll bet anything I have that there is no wedding next summer. Bryce has the potential for an incredible future with the Navy. You’ll never understand what that is.
“He may think he loves you. I’ll give you both that. But the first time he’s on a ship for months at a time, not many men can handle the temptation. I can personally attest to this. My half-sister is a product of an on-ship tryst. Only other Navy people can truly understand the lifestyle.”
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh is all I hear as my ears ring with her declaration. She smiles smugly, and my skin starts to crawl.
“Did you insinuate that Bryce will cheat on me? Not only that, did you also imply my wedding will be canceled because I can’t be a Navy wife? And what does my age have to do with anything?”
“Truly, I’m trying to give you advice and insight. Will Bryce cheat? I can’t say for certain, but the chances are there. As for being a Navy wife, you aren’t cut out for it. That’s written all over you.”
Quinn and Dani come into the kitchen, and Quinn hisses, “besteria cadela.”
“Don’t speak cheerleader language.” Liza insults her openly.
Then it hits me, and the thought slips out of my mouth, “You don’t really have to work tonight, do you?”
She shrugs, non-committal.
Anger pulses through my veins, and I open my mouth to scream when Nate comes into the kitchen and immediately assesses the scene. He gives me a questioning glance, and I jerk my head, too mad to talk.
