Chapter 1767

The crew clinked glasses and drank rounds.

Debra smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. No one noticed it, except Marion.

He squeezed her hand, knowing she was thinking about Andrew.

Sitting close, Liza caught Debra's mood too. She didn't know the whole story, but she had heard bits about it back home.

Mid-party, Debra hit the bathroom. Liza followed.

The rowdy guys stayed behind, betting and drinking. Outside, it was dead quiet.

Debra washed her hands and saw Liza behind her.

"Let's head back," she said.

"Nah, it's too loud in there," Liza replied. "Let's chat."

Debra hesitated, then nodded.

She'd buried herself in work in the past two weeks, thinking she'd accepted Andrew's death.

But she hadn't. In the quiet, he still haunted her.

They sat by the second-floor window, watching the snow blanket the city.

"I didn't expect so much to go down while I was gone," Liza said, listening to Debra unload.

She regretted ever leaving. She should have stayed and been there for Debra's roughest days. "Stuff happened," Debra said. "No point dwelling on it. I get the logic, but my head won't let it go."

"I only met Andrew a few times," Liza said. "But he reminds me of Fermin."

Debra turned. "How?"

"He loves you like Fermin loves me," Liza said, leaning on the railing. "If Fermin ditched me, I'd fall apart way worse than you. You're too cool-headed. I look up to you for how you face danger solo and how sharp you are. Andrew's passing hurts you, but you shove it down. Me? I'd bawl and mope until time dragged me out. Then maybe I'd start over."

She paused. "Maybe I get why Andrew did it. He made you so tough that even if he left, you'd keep going."