Jack
I stepped forward deliberately, clearing my throat to break the silence of the deck.
Allena spun around, her eyes widening in pure shock. She flinched, almost dropping her phone, before hastily tapping the screen to disconnect the call. With a frantic, trembling hand, she brushed the dampness from her cheeks, trying to piece her professional armor back together.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear the door," she said, her voice tight as she tried to stabilize her breathing. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her knuckles were white where she gripped the railing behind her. Suddenly, a loud, sharp rumble broke from her stomach, echoing clearly in the quiet night air.
A deep, mortified flush crept up her neck, staining her cheeks crimson.
"Sorry about that," she stammered, looking anywhere b
