I opened my mouth, and then closed it, really thinking about his question.

Had I?

Yeah, probably.

The Ardens saved me, taking me in when no one else would, and I wanted to

repay their belief in me. Before they came into the picture, I learned early on just how fucked the world could be. Seeing the world through my eyes left me on the

brink of insanity. In an effort not to get committed, I kept my mouth shut. Most

times. Only once had I broken my silence. Although when I did, it eventually led

me to Kelsey, then the Ardens, the road there was a massive bitch.

My time in school didn’t fare much better, my grades were meh, and friends

were non-existent. Through photography, I found a way to watch the world from

behind the safety of a lens. The camera allowed me to be part of the crowd and

yet still keep my distance. The only time I set the camera down was with Kelsey,

Becca, and Carl.

Even with the achingly familiar rapport rising between Kayden and I, old

habits die hard. I couldn’t share that with Kayden, not now. Too many broken promises stood between us, so instead, I went with a different answer. “Maybe, a

little, but honestly, it was because of the GI Bill. With my grades, scholarships

weren’t an option. Serve four years with the marines and get a free education. At

the time, it sounded good.” Needing the spotlight off of me, I turned it around.

“How about you? How’d you get into the Corps?”

“Did it on a dare.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep, had a friend who dared me to join. Shocked us both when we both

made it through.” At my disbelieving snort, he raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Never would have pegged you for someone who joined the most intensive

military boot camp on a dare.”

“Thought you had me figured out, huh?” he drawled. “Sorry to burst your

bubble.” A totally unrepentant grin appeared. “My mom’s a nurse. Retired now.

My dad still teaches history at the local college. Grew up pretty standard, small

suburb in Southern California. Did the whole outdoor activity circuit; surfing, biking, skating.”

“Yeah, I got that part.” I had even teased him about it at one point.

He continued, “Senior year in high school, my buddy Zach ended up in the

hospital after taking a spill on a motorbike. When he got out, he had this bug up

his ass about taking life by the horns. Somehow, we both ended up at the

recruiter’s office. Then it was off to San Diego.”

“Your parents must have loved that.”

He grimaced. “Mom took longer than Dad to accept it. I’m the first military

in my family. I think they were hoping I’d outgrow my rebellious phase.”

Hearing the love and respect as he talked about his family, reminded me of

how much family meant to him. A bittersweet emotion rose, but I pushed it back.

There was no reason to be jealous of Kayden, that was how family should be.

For a moment, I could feel Becca’s arm around my waist, Carl’s arm resting

on my shoulders as Kelsey instructed us to “Smile on three! One…two…three. ”

as we stood on cracked asphalt under the South Carolina sun after I completed

boot camp at Parris Island. Sorrow and anger rose in a rushing wave. I turned away, threw an arm over my eyes, and tried to breathe around the pressure.

“Hey.” Next to me, his weight shifted on the sofa, then a warm hand cupped

the side of my face. “You with me?” Kayden’s question was soft.

I forced myself to nod. When I dropped my arm and opened my eyes, I

couldn’t get my voice to work.

Kayden’s face filled my field of vision. Concern and something else,

something much more tempting, watched me.