Page 274 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“I’m out of here.”

As he approached the door, I stepped aside.

“That’s better,” Logan said, following him.

I hung back, looking across the sand at Jade.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

The other two men walked awake from the quarters.

She took a deep breath, shaking her head.

“I came because you were yelling. I’ll go.”

“No, wait,” she said, putting her hand on my arm.

“Yeah?”

“I’m leaving soon, and you seem to have little time for that romantic date you promised me. I need something to remember Afghanistan by.”

I smiled, my heart still racing.

“Fine. I’ll stop by tomorrow. If you need anything just yell. I’ll come running.”

“Clearly.”

“He won’t bother you again. I can promise that.”

She moved her hand away. I missed her touch.

“Have a good night, Jade.”

“You too, Cooper.”

I walked outside her CHU, closing the door behind me. The half-full moon had risen in the sky as I walked to the sleeping quarters I shared with Logan.

I saw Max standing outside the door. He punched his fist into the palm of his other hand and shrugged his shoulders a few times.

Do you want more? I’ll give it to you.

He tilted his head back and puffed out his chest. I stopped in front of him.

“We can’t be fighting over pussy, bro.”

“I’m not fighting over anything.”

“Oh, so you didn’t sucker punch me?”

He laughed.

“What do you want, Max?”

“I want to make sure you don’t open your stupid mouth to that reporter chick about what we got going on.”

“What you got going on,” I said. “I’ve told you I want nothing to do with it anymore.”

“And I’ve said you don’t have a choice in the matter.”

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