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He kissed her gently, lying there for a few moments as their breathing slowed. Blake got up without a word, and after disposing of the condom, he lifted the covers and slid her underneath before he joined her, spooning her as they lay on their sides, his arms wrapped around her.

“Never doubt what you mean to me, Han. I do need you.”

Hannah didn’t answer, just stroked his forearm until he dozed, falling into a deep sleep.

When he woke up the next morning, she was gone, and a piece of paper sat on the pillow she’d slept on almost every night for weeks.

I’m sorry, but I need more.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“GET THE FUCKING lead out of your asses! What the hell is wrong with you this morning?” Blake had been yelling at his squad since he walked through the door. The little shits just wouldn’t listen today for some reason, and he was not in the fucking mood. He still couldn’t believe Hannah had left a fucking note and snuck out of his place like a damn cat burglar.

And taken his heart with her.

God, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be sick or put his fist through a wall. When he’d read those six little words, his stomach had dropped out and he’d started to sweat, sucking in air like it was running out.

Now, he was doing everything he could not to think about her, about how she’d ripped him up. How could she not see how much he cared, how he was trying?

Several of the boys faltered as they tried to do another push-up, and it sent Blake into a rage. “Jesus, you know, what? If you’re going to act like sissies, then just run.”

“Come on, Sarge, we’re tired,” Gonzales griped, bent over sweating.

Before Blake told him where he could take his weak-ass excuses and shove them, Sparks called from behind him. “You guys head in for class. I’ve got to talk to Sergeant Kline.”

His squad filed past, shooting him mixed looks of anger, confusion, and hurt, and Blake hated himself for taking his frustrations out on them. Shit, he really shouldn’t be around people today.

He turned around to face Sparks and crossed his arms. “What?”

Sparks’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Dude, what is your issue this morning?”

“None of your business. Why does everyone feel like they have to get a tour inside my head? Can’t a guy just be in a bad mood?”

“A bad mood is one thing, but you’re torturing the kids and, frankly, scaring the shit out of me.”

“I know.” Blake leaned against the fence, gripping it until the metal bit into his skin.

“What’s up?”

Blake laughed bitterly. “I’m fine. Free as a bird and doing fine.”

Sparks appeared shocked. “What do you mean? Free from what? From Hannah?”

“It’s just over,” Blake said.

Sparks put a hand on his shoulder. “You want to talk about it?”

Blake jerked away and stood up, facing him. “If I’d wanted to talk, I would have knocked on your door and said so.”

“Look, I get you’re pissed, but I’m your friend. You’ve heard enough of my shit that the least I can do is return the favor.”

Blake let out a heavy sigh, running his hands over his head. “She’s just obsessed. She wants me to go down for this memorial thing they’re doing at Fort Hood, honoring Jenny and other people killed in service and support to the US military. She thinks that I haven’t let Jenny go, that I’m still holding on.”

“Are you?”

Sparks’s searching look seemed to have detected something, but Blake scoffed anyway. “No. I’ve moved on, and I’m happy. Hannah makes me happy, but she can’t see that.”

“Have you told her you love her?”