Ch. Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 49 Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 49

Chapter 9 

One disaster after another. 

Grayson tested positive for HIV. 

When the lab results came back, both families lost their minds. So did all his army buddies. 

“You gave this to me. Didn’t you?” 

Grayson’s eyes were bloodshot. Locked on Claire, who looked just as wrecked. 

Claire’s voice shook. “That’s… that’s not possible. It wasn’t me.” 

Grayson’s eyes closed. His whole body sagged. 

Then something clicked. 

Right after Claire got back from Paris-someone at a barbecue tried to warn him. 

“Dude, Claire got real messy overseas. Watch yourself.” 

He’d laughed. Called the guy jealous. 

Wasn’t laughing now. 

News traveled fast. 

The Laurent-Hart scandal blew up base-wide in under twenty-four hours. 

Walter Reed kicked them both out. Too much bad press. 

Both sets of parents collapsed. Hospitalized within days. 

Then Grayson and Claire disappeared. 

Rumors started flying. 

Some said their families quietly shipped them to Switzerland. New identities. New lives. Gone for good. 

Others said Grayson snapped. Pushed Claire down the stairs outside her apartment. Killed her and the baby. 

Chapter 9 

Then locked himself in a motel room and slit his wrists. 

Stories kept changing. Different version every time someone told it. 

But whatever really happened-didn’t matter to me anymore. 

Time moved on. 

Annie learned to walk. 

She stumbled around the backyard chasing monarchs. Tiny feet unsteady on the grass. Like some drunk little rabbit. 

Sunlight caught her cheek. Made her glow. 

I crouched down. Held out my arms. 

She squealed and ran straight into me. 

I scooped her up. Pressed my face into her hair. 

And smiled. 

Turns out life without Grayson could be pretty damn good. 

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