Xavier's POV
Poala was already seated at a table by the window when we walked in, swigging tea, gazing out toward the sea.
"Would you like me to go with you?" I asked Emelie, glancing toward the line wrapping around the buffet.
"Oh no," she said, taking a plate, offering me a nervous smile. "I can manage on my own."
It's for the best, I thought as she went to the back of the line, patiently waiting for people to move out of her way. This would give me a moment to talk privately with Poala who hadn't even turned my direction when she said, "You're walking on thin ice, buddy."
Taking a seat across from her, I wasn't sure what to say.
When we're on vacation like this, it's nice to not have everyone address me by rank, to be surrounded by people who were mostly oblivious to my presence
