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“Ryan” This ti I already knohat she’s going to say, and I don’t blaoodbye, went our separate ways

“I know,” I tell her, not needing her to explain I shouldn’t have called, shouldn’t have put her in this position “Everything’s okay with you?” I ask, steering the conversation away froh waters

“Yeah,” she says softly “You?”

“Yeah” We’re both silent for aher I already know she’s doing good I’ve asked around, stalked her social o,” I finally say “I just want you to know I’ back, I hang up

“Cruz,” Antwon Stark, uys and I are going to head to Trolley’s You down?” Trolley’s is a bar near the base where everyone goes to have a drink, get dinner, chill out e have downtime

I stare atif ed her to co her back, a text coh from her

Tords: I’m sorry

“Yeah,” I say to Stark, “let’s go”

Ryan

Seven Months Later

“Oh my God, you’re here!” My mo “Lether happy tears from her eyes, and assesses me from head to toe like she does every tihanistan and was able to put in for my leave for the last teeks of December As soon as I arrived on US soil, I drove home to see e for the holidays, but luckily, instead of surprising both ive hi home this year

“Welco

“Thanks” I glance around the house “Where are Faith and Chloe?”

“They’re at the boutique,” Mom says “It’s crazy busy with the holidays They’ll be over later with Caain