C. Brown - Fraternizing

Standing enclosed between the two men, I had never felt so free. To hear those words come out of Cassie’s mouth was the key to freedom. I was floating on cloud fucking nine, and nothing else factored into my moment of happiness as I stood to lose so much, but gained so much more in return.

I mouthed I love you as I was led out of the room, feeling queasy that her mom was still there with her, but also fulfilled that I had gotten her. Cassie was all I had ever wanted from the very beginning, and if it meant losing everything to gain her, it was the sacrifice that I was willing to make.

I walked out of the hospital, looking like a criminal as curious eyes glued onto me as I stood encased between two stern faced, uniformed gunnies. But the accusations, the punishments—none of it was enough to take away what I had just won. Cassie Bennett was the ultimate prize, and the love she gave me was worth more than anything else. My temporary punishment was no match for my lifelong gain.

As I was led into the back of the duty car, a satisfied grin creeped across my face.

Like Cassie’s butterfly, in every way that mattered, I was finally free. 

A-duty: assistant to the Duty NCO 

Barracks Whore: female who sleeps around with males in the barracks 

Blouse: long sleeve top to the cammies, covering the green t-shirt 

Boot Bands: elastic bands used to keep the pant legs tight around the boot. 

Bootcamp: training to transform civilians into Marines. Performed at Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego. 

Boot Marines: military slang term for a new Marine 

Brig: military prison 

Buddy Program: going through entry level training with a friend/buddy  

Cammies: camouflage utility uniform 

Chevrons: symbols of enlisted ranks above private 

Chief Instructor: head instructor in charge of all instructors, insuring proper training to students. 

Chow: food 

Commanding Officer (CO): in charge of the entire unit 

Company Gunny: Gunnery Sergeant in charge of everyday operations for the unit. 

Company Honorman: top graduate out of bootcamp 

Court Martial: a judicial proceeding 

Cover: headgear 

Devil Dog: nickname for a Marine 

Dog Tags: the informal name for the identification tags worn by military members. 

Duty NCO- Non Commissioned Officer responsible for patrol and security of a specified area (Corporal or Sergeant) 

Field Day: detailed and thorough cleaning of an area 

Firewatch: acting as a patrolling security guard 

Groupie: usually a female who actively seeks out military members 

Gunny: nickname for Gunnery Sergeant 

Headgear: hats, helmets, caps, etc… 

Knife hand: fingers extended and joined with the thumb along the side of the hand. Used to point at someone or something. 

MCT: Marine Combat Training (skills training for non-infantry Marines)

MOS: Military Occupational Specialty (job classification) 

NJP: Non-Judicial Punishment 

Oorah: spirited cry used to respond to a verbal greeting or show great enthusiasm. 

PCS: Permanent Change of Station (transfer to another base) 

PFT: Physical Fitness Test (semi-annual test measuring strength, agility, and endurance.) 

PT gear: Physical Training gear (green workout clothing) 

Seabag: duffel bag used to carry one’s personal belongings 

Service Charlies: consists of green trousers and short sleeved, khaki shirt 

Seven Ton: a large military truck 

TAD: Temporary Assigned Duty (temporarily detached from home unit for a short amount of time) 

Tag Chasers: see groupie 

UA- Unexcused Absence 

Walking Mattress: derogatory term used to describe females who sleep around 

Wall Locker: closet style storage area

Stay Tuned for….

Compromising

The exciting conclusion to Alex and Cassie’s story! 

As always, I have a whole host of people to thank.

I want to thank my wonderfully, supportive husband, who provided his expertise on the Marine Corps to help make this book possible. Thank you for your service, for your support, and for your love. I found my “ALEX” when I married you, babe!

I want to thank Leeann, for your undying love and support of my work, and everything you have done to help get my name out there. You rock. Someday I’ll be in GA so we can meet. J

Steph, Michlene, and KaTonya…what the hell would I do without you girls? You were all excellent beta readers and I appreciated every tweak you had me make. Even when I got crazy and neurotic, you stood there, tapping those fingers, waiting for me to calm the hell down. Thanks for the lifelong friendship as well as your love and time.

To Jen, my super awesome editor who always makes my crap look and sound amazing, you have no idea how much I adore you. Thanks for loving my work, pushing me, and working your ass off to make it the best product that it could possibly be. I’m forever grateful.

To the bloggers, those who I have worked with before and those who decided to take a chance on my book, THANK YOU! You are an author’s lifeline and I am so grateful for you. Ena Burnette, you are an amazing woman. You’ve gone above and beyond for me, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

To my writing girls, Karina, Claribel, Gail, Syreeta, Emmy, Trevlyn, and Madeline. I’m not really sure if I would have much sanity if it weren’t for you girls. And Madeline, you know I owe you more than I could ever pay. You’ve done things for me that were above and beyond friendship. I’m eternally grateful.

Shanora, you’re my right hand in all of this. Your kind words, your advice, your shoulder to cry on and your ears to listen have given me such strength along this journey. Thank you so much.

To Najla and Jen, the cover and the aesthetic appeal do not go unnoticed. Your ladies have a gift. Thank you so much for making my book so beautiful.

To my friends and family. You know me better than most. I know that I’m crazy and when I get an idea, it consumes me and I run with it. You all have listened to me talk, scream, cry, and vent about these characters and this book, and you are still there, rooting me on. Unconditional love is what I call it, and I am grateful for it.

And last, but certainly not least, to the readers. Where the hell would I be without you? For those who have loved my previous work, to those taking a chance on me for the very first time, I can’t say it enough how incredibly lucky I am to have you. I could write a million books, but if you didn’t read and recommend them to others, they wouldn’t reach very many people. You mean the world to me. THANK YOU! 

I am a proud Marine Corps wife, married to my very own “Alex,” with two kids, living in the beautiful state of Hawaii.

My lifelong love of books made me pursue a career in education where I was quite content until I had to move again for my husband’s career. I decided to follow my dreams of writing a book. Now, here I am.

I look forward to hearing from you…

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