"I just…" Trudy began, then faltered. She considered saying, 'don't mind them,' but that was her go-to for making Riona's blood boil, so she searched for a better way to phrase it.
After their last interaction—or more accurately, the lack of one—Trudy had a revelation: Riona might have completely misunderstood her. Calling her a 'hypocrite' suggested that Trudy's actions didn't quite match her feelings, which was a bit of a stretch.
"There might be a misunderstanding here," Trudy finally said, hoping Riona would clarify exactly what had led to the 'hypocrite' label.
Riona, with a dismissive snort, turned her attention back to the sea. The mild waves rolled in and out with a rhythmic sigh, bringing with them the scent of the salty water to her nose.