“We’ll go to Napa. I’ll be a better friend. A better man. Just don’t die on me. Maddox’s” — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“I’m trying here.” Ben leaned forward, all earnest concentration. “You were my best friend, and I used that as a...shield, sort of.… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Come meet my friends,” Maddox said when he approached. “Did you like the music?” “You were unbelievable,” Ben said truthfully. “And your… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Ben?” His dad’s voice was softer than he could remember hearing it. “Are you guys...still just friends?” Ben couldn’t keep back his… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“God, please spare Ben. I don’t care about my sorry self. Just save him. Maddox’s hurried prayer was his last conscious thought. *” — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“And there, in the doorway someone had left open was Ben. Ben, wearing jeans and an old Pride T-shirt, one that might have been… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Your ass is flapping in the breeze,” Maddox warned with what felt like his first real laugh since this whole thing started. “Shut up.”… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Transport got in sooner than we thought.” Still in uniform, Ben sounded exhausted and looked worse, dark circles under his eyes. But he was… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“I can’t say too much without putting my neck on the line, but this isn’t the Navy forcing him out.” “Oh, we’ll talk.” Ben’s… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“I just don’t think dating’s going to make you as happy as you think. You could wait—” “Ben.” Maddox touched his arm lightly, making… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“This may be your craziest idea yet, and considering you followed me over the side of a cliff that’s saying something, but all right.… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“I had another idea.” Ben rolled so that he could grin down at Maddox. “Yeah?” Maddox generally liked Ben’s big ideas—not that he wasn’t… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“It wasn’t until Maddox said no that Ben realized that he’d wanted the repeat more than he’d wanted to get laid, and that knowledge… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Maddox had been kissed there before. Polite little explorations, tentative tongue flicks, quick forays before the main event. But Ben made a meal out… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Yeah, I figured you’d be down about that.” The LT sighed and leaned against a shelf, an uncharacteristically casual gesture from the man. “But… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
