Page 259 of 5+Us Makes Seven

The door to her CHU opened, and she walked out. The setting sun lit up her face, making her skin glow. She nodded her head when she noticed me. I smiled and stepped faster. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Max making a beeline for her too. Fuck.

“Hey,” I said. “Your bandage is off. How are you feeling?”

I stopped in front of her, hoping Max went away.

“Better, thanks. The CO yelled at me. How pissed is he?”

“I’ve been avoiding him all day,” I said with a sheepish grin.

“I don’t blame you. That guy has issues.”

“He’s kept us safe.”

“Hello, beautiful,” Max Ericson said as he walked up.

Jade turned her head to the huge, burly man everyone hated.

“Hey yourself.”

“I heard you got in some trouble today,” Max continued, ignoring me.

“Yeah, and I took care of it,” I said. “We were on our way to eat.”

“We were?” Jade asked.

“Yeah, we were.” I held my hand out. “You ready?”

“I’ll come with you,” Max said.

“No, that’s okay.”

I stared into his eyes. He didn’t flinch.

“Now, boys,” Jade said. “No fighting over me.”

She stepped in between us and walked toward the chow building.

“Hold on a minute,” Max mumbled, grabbing my arm.

I looked down at his hand then up to his face.

“What?”

“About the secret operation.”

“Yeah? What about it? I said I’m getting out.”

He laughed, his bulky body shaking.

“There’s no getting out once you’re in, stupid.”

“We’ll talk about it later, okay?”

“You gonna hit that?”

He nodded at Jade as she walked away.

“A gentleman never tells.”

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