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Tammy should’ve known it would come to this.
No, scratch that. She had known, had known from the day that Symbiosis had first moved into the colony and struck up a friendship with Cal, that this would happen sooner or later. They were too close, too similar in their interest for it not to.
She’d just been ignoring all the warning signs that whispered to her that the day was coming. That it would be soon. That the inevitable confrontation would be upon her and that she better be ready for it.
And now that day was here.
The day of her most difficult battle so far. When she, kind and accommodating as she was, would have to put her foot down, or she’d keep losing ground until there was none left to stand on.
Part of her was actually a bit angry about it, not much, but that same part had hoped that she could’ve trusted Sym more than this, that he wouldn’t go there. Foolish. Optimistic. But that didn’t change the reality of the two men standing side by side, silently staring, and awaiting her next move. Allied against her.
Taking a deep breath, she braced herself for what was to come, staring down into the wood grain of the counter before her. A moment of tense silence seeming to last for an eternity before she spoke, ever gentle, yet unyielding.
“Sorry boys, but you know the rules. Only one serving of dessert per person.”
Silence greeted her, and against her better knowing, she glanced up.
And just as she’d expected, where Cal had once stood alone, she was now faced with a united front of two sets of sad puppy eyes.
It took Tammy her all not to immediately falter, but no, she had to stay strong. Had to brave this. The cafeteria rules were there for a reason, and she was not going to lose on her own battleground.
No matter how adorable the opposition was.