Page 229 of The Baby Bargain

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"Is um… Chase said Daredevil is your favorite. That you used to read it together?"

"I don't know about favorite, but—"

"You really identify with his need to protect everyone with violence?"

"Hey, I'm not the one listening to music about how my ex should die in a fire."

"Do you have an ex?" I ask.

"I have a brother who won't forgive me." His smile is bittersweet. "Sorry, it's not your problem."

I bite my lip. "He forgives you."

Hunter looks at me like I'm crazy.

"He wants things to be easier. He wants to make up."

"Maybe."

"You could push him."

Hunter shakes his head. "He asked for space. I gave it to him."

"Offered to disappear from his life?"

His laugh is sad. "Am I really that obvious?"

Yeah, he is. But only because I know his brother so well. "You're like Chase."

"Really?"

So much. I can tell already.

"It's got to be hard, loving someone who can't move on." He takes a long sip. "I guess neither one of us is great with comfort."

"You've known your brother for longer."

"You know him better."

Do I really?

"You probably know him better than anyone," Hunter says.

I guess I do. I'm Chase's only confidant. His closest friend.

He's mine.

Doing this together—

It changes things.

"Can I offer you more advice you don't want?" Hunter asks.

"Can I stop you?"

"Yeah. I'm big on boundaries."

"You sound like a shrink."

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