Page 313 of 5+Us Makes Seven

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Later that evening, my phone rang. I grabbed it, thinking it might be Cooper, but I saw Max’s name on my screen. What the hell? Is Laura okay?

“Hello?”

“Hey, Jade. What’s going on?”

“Um, not much. Is Laura okay? Why are you calling?”

“Laura was fine when she left this morning, although it hurt a bit to walk if you know what I mean.”

He guffawed while I groaned internally.

“That’s great, I think. Why are you calling?”

“I wanted to thank you for hooking me up with her. Damn! She’s fine.”

“No problem. Just be nice to her. Don’t fuck her over.”

“I fucked her over, under, and around, if you know what I mean.”

His laughed screeched through the phone again. I scrunched up my face, thankful he couldn’t see me.

“That’s great. I’m going to go now, okay?”

“Wait,” he said. “Hold on.”

“Yeah?”

“Will you do a story on me?”

“Um, what kind of story? I don’t do journalism anymore.”

“But you know people, right? You could submit it somewhere?”

“Maybe.”

“I’m opening a new security company, and I need to launch big, you know? Kinda like me.”

“Whatever you say.”

He chuckled.

“Come on, now. Your friend must have told you.”

“I haven’t talked to her yet.”

“Well, she might not tell you, but it’s fucking huge.”

“What’s huge?”

“What do you think?”

“Look, Max, I should go…”

“I mean the story, you dirty woman!”

“Seriously, I need to go.”

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