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While she finished up preparing soood hour on the phone with Rhett’sthe news on the had changed in hihtened, became less heavy Rhett’s mom wanted all the details, and by the end of the call, Kinsley was s ear to ear His parents were excited Rhett was happy Maybe all this was actually going to work out

A light flashed by theand she hurried to peek out again, finding Rhett’s truck now in the driveway “Ooh, he’s here Quiet”

The loud chatter behind her went silent

Sure, Rhett was going to hate this He hated every birthday, but no one ever listened to his broodiness; they celebrated his birthday anyway But this year was different, and she wanted it to feel different too For him

The door suddenly swung open and Rhett walked in

“Surprise!” rang out in the room

Rhett dropped his head and shook it, but when he lifted his gaze again, it locked on Kinsley The save her made her heart skip

“You’re lucky I didn’t shoot anyone,” he said to her, igniting laughter from his friends He shoved his keys into his pocket and walked right up to her, grabbing her hand and tugging her close “You behind this?”

Those dark eyes were full of a warht she’d reach “Of course I a hiive me trouble, just know that I asked everyone to donate whatever they could to Sailor’s instead of buying you a present since I knew you’d prefer that”

Surprise widened his eyes He glanced over her shoulder, probably at Theo before looking at her again War places that she never really thought could be touched with Rhett around “Thank you for that, Kinsley,” he said

“You’re welcome” She smiled

He dropped his chin and kissed her again before backing away, but he kept her hand in his She gave hiot your favorite kind of whiskey”

He headed toward his friends, including Boone and Asher, and she glimpsed a different side of Rhett than the one she usually saw hter, freer, ratulated him about the baby It occurred to her then that this was Rhett not just surviving but living The soldier The friend And a little part of her heart hurt, wishing he always felt this at ease

She sensed soht at her Kinsley s to hide her emotions Reuys around Rhett began razzing his

Remy said, “Men are so…”