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"I made it for my brother"

"Lincoln was in the Marine Corps?" She sounds confused, as she should be

"No, I was"

She turns quickly and looks at me with awe "Really? When?"

"I went in when I was eighteen Got out two years ago at twenty-four"

I watch as she leans back against the workbench and crosses her arht below her breasts, which pluainst her blouse All sorts of lewd thoughts run throughto happen between us

BesidesEirls

"Did you serve in Afghanistan?"

"Yes"

She waits fortime I don't talk about my time thereever And I can tell by the look on her face she knows not to push it

"Well, thank you for serving our country I wish I was brave enough to do so like that"

I' that enthralls me She always says the opposite of what I think will come out of her completely kissable lips And she doesn't do it in a calculated way to achieve a certain result No, it comes out of her perfectly shaped mouth with natural sincerity

I shrug my shoulders at her but secretly I'm pleased she appreciates the sacrifice it takes to serve No one's opinion of my service, except for my father and brother, really mattered to me before

Pointing at the piece I ask, "How did you know that was the Marine Corps Globe & Anchor?"

"Well, you're not the only forrumpy Marine veteran as in the first Gulf War"

She hasti a real conversation with so but I press on

"Oh yeah Who is that?"

"His naate father Danny is my sister-in-law I assume you know my brother, Ryan?"

"Yeah, I know Ryan I'll have to talk to her about this guy next time I see her"

"Sarge is a hoot He actually walked Danny down the aisle when they got married Sometimes Ryan flies him and Danny's friend, Paula down here to visit You should make an effort to meet him next time he comes"

I senuine s to me? "I'll do that It will be nice to talk to another Marine It's been awhile"

She cocks her head at me "Don't you keep in touch with the friends who you served with?"

I nod "So on with our lives"

"I bet you forged friendships there that will last a lifetime, huh?"

This question ht about that When you are in extre But there is a lot of pain and uard now and this conversation needs to wind down

Now

I stand up fro to the door "Well, it's late Go ahead and pack up and I'll see you on Monday"

E s, boss"

I watch as she pulls her phone out and turns it on, grabbing her purse while it boots up She takes a quick glance at the screen and gri at her But I'h I sort of want to

She walks to the door and turns toplans this weekend?"

I needed that question My priorities coht into place I hope she's not trying to ask oodin any way

I answer cautiously "Not really I'll probably just hang out at Linc's place"

"That's cool"

Well, da more and that makes me curious now "What about you?"

Her eyes light up "Yeah, I'htclub"