Putting down the clipboard, she said, “Besides, I have a feeling he’ll be dating seriously real soon if Sasha Johnson has her way.”

“Sasha Johnson? Why on earth would you think that?”

“Because I heard she has a thing for him. She’s pretty, so there’s no reason he wouldn’t return the interest.”

“Jealous?”

“Of course not.” Bryce was about to say something else when she saw Kaegan headed back toward them. She knew Vashti had seen him, too. “We’ll talk some more later.”

Vashti nodded. “Okay, but I think we need a hug,” she said, moving toward Bryce and wrapping her arms around her.

“Hey, like old times. Can I join in?” Kaegan said when he reached them.

They both looked at Kaegan, and Bryce immediately recalled their group hugs. Knowing Vashti wouldn’t give him an answer, especially not knowing how Bryce would feel about it, Bryce said, “Sure. Just like old times.”

The three friends embraced in a group hug, just like those days when they’d needed it. Kaegan for when he had to deal with his drunken father’s treatment of him and his mother, and Vashti during those times she had to deal with her parents when she’d gotten pregnant. For Bryce, she’d never had parent issues like her two best friends, but she’d had her own inner turmoil. Especially when she’d gotten older and discovered the feelings she’d harbored for Kaegan were turning into more than puppy love. She’d been afraid if he found out that he wouldn’t want to be her friend anymore.

No one said anything as the hug between friends continued, transcending time and distance. How had the three of them lost this? A closeness that was never supposed to end? At one time she’d known them better than they’d known themselves and vice versa. She had known Vashti was pregnant weeks before she’d told her. And she’d known what days to bring one of her brothers’ clean shirts to school for Kaegan because he’d slept in a boat on the bayou the night before.

And just like she’d known them, they’d known her.

At least they should have. Vashti had. Kaegan had proved that he hadn’t. The thought of that had her suddenly pulling away and stepping back, breaking their circle of love. In her defense, Kaegan had broken it first. Glancing over at him, she said, “You can take me to the dock now.”

* * *

AS KAEGAN MANEUVERED the boat through the waters of the Gulf, he noticed that an annoying silence had fallen between him and Bryce since leaving the commercial vessel around ten minutes ago. Instead of looking at him, she was staring out over the water.

He had tried engaging her in conversation, but she’d barely said three words. And all because of the group hug they’d shared? Now she was withdrawing—retreating to where, he wasn’t sure. He refused to let her push him away. He’d been making progress; he’d been certain of it.

While she studied the water, he studied her. He couldn’t help the way his gaze was glued to her chest. He doubted he would ever forget the first time he’d touched her breasts, run his fingertips across a hardened nipple only to feel it harden even more to his touch. She had always been responsive to his fondling and he’d enjoyed introducing her to passion.