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Happy Birthday, Boots (2)
Hunter and Ash rode quietly in the back of a rented silver SUV. A hired driver came with the rental and he was paid to drive them for the day. It struck Ash that he didn’t look much older than they were. He looked like he was in his early 20s. He wore plain dark clothes and had curly brown hair. She stared at the silver earring on his left earlobe as he drove on.
“You like guys with earrings?” Hunter asked. He grabbed her hand on the seat as he asked.
Ash turned to look at him, but his face was turned toward the window, staring at nothing.
[He’s jealous,] Ash thought.
It was an easy enough guess to make, but Ash didn’t guess it as much as felt it in his grip on her hand. He squeezed her hand just enough for her to notice, but not hard enough for it to hurt. It was the kind of grip that said, “Don’t forget, I’m here.”
Ash inched closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. She rubbe
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