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Story: Shadowed Witness

Bryce didn’t look up from his plate. “That is categorically false.” He cut a corner off his own steak and offered it to Houston. “I’ve been doing it since we started dating again.” He planted a quick kiss on Corina’s cheek, and she leaned into him.

Allye grinned. “All right, you love birds. Remember there are other people present.”

Bryce cocked his head. “You hear something, Corina?”

“Nope.”

“Didn’t think so.” He kissed his wife again.

Allye kicked him under the table.

“Ow!”

She mimicked his head movement from a moment before. “Oh, that’s funny. Eric, did you hear something?”

Eric just shook his head, but she saw the hint of a smile as he lifted a spoonful of mashed potatoes to his lips. Everyone else chuckled, and Bryce gave them a mock glare before throwing up his hands.

“Fine. No more PDA—for now.”

Allye’s phone rang.

“Rude,” Bryce teased.

“It’s Mom.” She swiped to answer it. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Hi. Where are you?”

“Eating at Bryce and Corina’s.”

“Oh. Did you forget about dinner?”

She groaned. “Oh, Mom. I’m so sorry.”

Her mom’s sigh came through the line. “It’s okay.”

“Could we do tomorrow? Or dinner Tuesday?”

“Tomorrow’s out—I’m meeting with Thomas Marshall about a newspaper article he wants to run about local real estate, and I’ve got a house to show Tuesday evening.”

“I could do early. Or late.” She waited for her mom to think through her appointment schedule.

“Around eight?” she finally said. “We should be done by then, but I’ll have to call you.”

“That’s fine.” She paused. “I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you Tuesday.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

She blew out a breath and slipped the phone back into her pocket.

“What was that?” Bryce asked.

“Mom and I were supposed to go to Zhan’s for dinner. I completely forgot.”

“You’ve been doing that a lot lately.”