Page 294 of 5+Us Makes Seven

Whatever he had in mind, I was not interested, but he wouldn’t stop bugging me until I told him in person and made it abundantly clear we weren’t going to go into business together ever again.

* * *

On the walk to Lucy’s Diner, I wondered what Max might want. Why had two people with connections to Afghanistan come into my life at roughly the same time?

I had sought out Jade, but Max had showed up on his own? Was it just a coincidence? None of the world made much sense. Ever since I returned, my view of the world had changed.

All I thought about was coming up with a way to get over the guilt attached to the money I had made illegally while serving my country. It didn’t matter how many times I told myself we hadn’t hurt anyone.

When it came down to it, I had participated in a scheme that had made many people wealthy. The money I received was enough for me to do nothing for a while, but I had to come up with my next step.

Jade didn’t seem to be the type of person who would date someone without a job or any prospects for the future. And I wasn’t going to let her go easily this time around

When I made it to the diner, I saw him sitting in a booth next to the front window. He nodded and smiled as I walked up to the door and opened it. I walked over to him and sat down.

“What’s up, bro?” h

e asked, more jovial than I remembered him.

“Same old, same old. You?”

A waitress walked up, pad of paper at the ready to take our order. He ordered a coffee with no sugar or milk. I did the same. When she left, he looked across the table.

“I’m looking for a partner.”

“I don’t want to be part of any of your schemes.”

He laughed.

“Damn, bro. Jump to conclusions often? This is totally legit.”

“Yeah? And what is it?”

“I’m starting a security company. I’ve already got three big name clients lined up, and I need to find people like you who I can trust.”

“You want to hire me?” I shook my head. “Not interested.”

“No, bro. I need a financial partner.”

“Oh, so you want my money.”

“Well, yeah, but you too. I like how you think things through all the time. We made a good team back in Afghanistan.”

I took a deep breath and shook my head.

“It’s not for me. Not now.”

Do not tell him about hunting down Jade.

He stared into my eyes, his brow furrowed as he studied me.

“Will you at least think about it? I’ll write up an official proposal with all the terms and details.”

“You can do that, but I’m telling you I’m not interested.”

“Before you even know the details, bro? That doesn’t sound like the Cooper I remember.”

“We all change. At least some of us do.”

---