Page 79 of SEAL by Fate

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COLETTE PASSED STORMY the bowl of popcorn as they watched the scary movie. “Gray called again today.” When Stormy didn’t respond, Colette looked at her sister’s profile. “Did you hear me?”

“Yes. I’m not deaf.” A month had passed since she’d spoken to or saw Gray. She’d rejected all his attempts to talk to her.

“Why are you being so stubborn? Obviously, he cares for you.”

Stormy frowned. “Sure, maybe, but I’m doing the right thing. He’s a lawman and I’m…well, I’m the woman that almost got him killed.”

“It wasn’t your fault. You had no clue.”

Shaking her head, Stormy grabbed a piece of popcorn and popped it into her mouth. “Think about it. He just felt sorry for me and that’s why we—”

“Tell me all about it.” Colette curled closer.

“Nope.”

“Why the hell not? We’re sisters.”

“I don’t want to ever talk about it.”

“You’re spending a lot of energy flogging yourself over things that you had no control of. Ask yourself what his feelings were like before he knew you were Duncan’s ex.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she mumbled.

“Maybe you’re just afraid.”

She then turned and looked at Colette. “Afraid?”

Shrugging, Colette sighed. “I mean, he was different than all the other men you’ve dated.”

“I dated a criminal, so yes, Gray is very different.”

“I’m talking character and looks. You’ve always gone for the clean cut, safe men, but Gray is far from being safe.”

“I think it’s understandable why I’ve always gone for the “safe men” as you refer to them.”

Colette sighed. “Oh no, here we go again.”

“What?” Stormy scrunched her brows.

“I’m a woman now, sis. It’s time you stop thinking you’re the mom and more a woman who has needs.” Colette popped a kernel into her mouth.

Stormy let her hand drop to her lap. “You’ll always be my sister.”

“Yes, and I love you, but I want you to be happy. Tell me you didn’t care for him.”

“I cared for Gray a lot, but…”

“What?”

“I don’t know.” She placed the bowl on the table.

Colette groaned. “Yes, you do.”

“I had hoped that Gray and I could see each other after all this. He even asked me to marry him.”

“He did?” Colette shifted, turning to face Stormy.

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