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He laughed when he talked about the first time he saw me, when I was nine and had braces

"I never had a sister," he said, sht Graham was so lucky While I had brothers, he had you Girls were always this mystery to me because reat but she was always focused on the business I was mothered by my Aunt Carol, and while she was nice, she couldn’t replace my mom"

I squeezed his hand "My mom's been in a haze for years," I said "Spencer’s a beast to both Graham and me Graham had to be my protector and parent"

"He was," Hunter said "He'd kill ht"

"Why?" I said, angry that Spencer and Grahaht they could tell me who I could be with "Of all his friends, he should be happy I' to be a Marine You're honorable More honorable than Spencer or anyone in his family"

He smiled at that "That means a lot to me"

We drank decaf coffee and shared a piece of cheesecake, talking for an hour about my classes and ould happen at boot camp He see I hated that he was leaving and I probably wouldn't see hi time

We left and walked down the street to the car and I didn’t want the evening to end When he drove entle and I shivered, not wanting to say goodbye

I could tell Hunter was torn about being witha si anyht aboutwith Hunter

I pressed roaned

"Celia," he said with a sigh "I'entleman"

"You are, more of one than anyone I know"

Then I kissed him He kissed me back, but it was hard for him to breathe because of his nose and he had to stop

"Sorry," he said with a chuckle "Not ht"

"I don't care Take me to your place," I whispered "I'd take you to ht"