“Oh.” Breaking eye contact with Kaegan, she lowered her gaze to the clipboard, needing to record the last bit of information regarding the weight of the netted oysters into the log. Moments later, she glanced up and saw Vashti and Kaegan with their heads together laughing. She remembered those times in the past when the three of them would goof off or share laughter over something they’d thought was amusing at the time.

At that moment he looked over at her and caught her staring. If she looked away now it would be like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. For all he knew, she could have been looking at both him and Vashti.

He smiled over at her. “I’ll be back in a minute. I need to let the guys know I’m leaving, but will be returning with their lunch.”

“That should make them happy,” Bryce said, trying to sound upbeat but beginning to feel rather nervous at the thought of being alone on a boat with him. Why? They’d spent the last three evenings alone in her house while she studied.

“Yes, I’m sure it will.” He walked off toward the rear of the huge commercial boat, where Sawyer and a few other men were hoisting nets over the side. She couldn’t help it when her gaze followed him.

“Hmm, looks like I’m not the only one admiring a nice piece of male flesh today,” Vashti said.

She rolled her eyes at her friend. “Whatever. Put a man with a great tush in a pair of jeans and I can’t help but stare.”

“Even if the man is Kaegan?”

Bryce nodded. “Even if it’s Kaegan.”

Vashti nodded. “Well, just so you know, I was glad to see you here this morning. I admit I was a little surprised.”

Bryce drew in a deep breath. “I figured volunteering to help out today was a way to repay him for helping me study.” She paused a moment, then added, “And just so you know, Kaegan and I are officially friends again.”

She saw the huge smile that lit Vashti’s face and her best friend all but jumped up and down and clapped her hands. Bryce figured she needed to clarify a few things for Vashti, like she had for Willa and Faith that morning. The last thing she wanted was for Vashti to get any crazy ideas. “I said we were officially friends again, Vash. Don’t get anything more into your head.”

An innocent look appeared on Vashti’s face. “What makes you think that I will do something like that?”

Bryce gave her a look as if she couldn’t believe she would ask such a question. “Because I know you. You’re in love and married to a wonderful guy. You’re pregnant. You have a son and two daughters. Other than your crazy-ass parents, your life is as close to perfect as it can get, and being the type of friend you are, you want mine to be just as glorious. It’s not.”