Karin followed her hosts' lead, going so far as to take a step behind them. Again she felt the uncomfortable self consciousness that comes with being an interloper: Where the gathering throng were mere observers, she had inserted herself into this small event, intruding perhaps where she did not belong. She did not fault her fellow tenants, gracious and generous as they had been; rather, she saw in their interactions a kind of comfortable familiarity, and felt disinclined to strain it by her being there.
"Thanks, guys," she said, still smiling as she looked up to the skies. "One way or another I'll pay you back for letting me shoot that one off. But I'll leave you to it." She raised one hand to her face, tucking away a loose lock of hair. "I hope I see you both around."