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“Yes.” I cleared my throat, keeping an eye on Colbie and the guy. “What would you like to drink?”

“I’m okay. I see Greer has a bottle of wine open. I’ll get a glass from her.”

“I’ll check on the steaks. Dad always overcooks them.” But I didn’t head for the grill. Instead, I headed toward Colbie. She and her date were chatting with Sasha and Maxim.

“Evening, lark.”

She turned and rolled her eyes.

“You’re going to sprain something if you keep that up,” I warned her.

“Marc, this is Spencer. He’s a drone technician.”

“Hello.” Spencer pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and nodded. “Nice barbecue.”

I lifted my chin.

“Marc’s a member of Hunter Squad,” Colbie said.

I slapped the man on the back. “Welcome, Spence.”

Maybe my slap was a little hard. Spencer stumbled forward.

Colbie’s gaze narrowed on me. “Aren’t you needed at the grill?”

“Nope.”

She bristled. Every time she did that I felt a shot of anticipation. I waited to see what would come out of her mouth.

Instead, there was the ping of the communicator. Colbie gave me one hot glare, then pulled her comm unit out. Her face fell. “Crap.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I’m on standby tonight. A couple of the pilots are out with the flu.”

For all our technology and nano-meds, we still hadn’t managed to find a cure for the flu.

“I’m needed to make an emergency supply drop to a small community in the Blue Mountains.” She looked at Spencer. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”

Spencer nodded. “I’ll give you a ride.”

I stepped closer. “They need you to fly tonight?”

She nodded. “It’s a shipment of urgent medicines. Save me some prawns.”

She waved her goodbyes, and I watched her leave with her geek in tow.

“Who’s the guy?” I muttered.

“He works on the drones,” Sasha said. “He’s kinda cute. They’ve been out for coffee a couple of times.”

I grunted.

“Steaks are ready,” Zeke called out.

Soon, everyone was sitting at the long table I’d set up in the yard. There were heavily-loaded plates of meat and bowls of salad courtesy of my parents. Everyone was laughing and having a fun time.

This. This was why I picked up a carbine. To protect this. The small moments that mattered.

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