Page 295 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“Harsh, but fair.”

The waitress returned with our coffee. I took a sip while glancing out the window. Several people passed by, wrapped up in their own worlds, oblivious to anything else.

I finished my coffee as quickly as possible, ready to leave. If Jade called, I didn’t want to be anywhere near Max or his crazy plans, legit or not.

The mystery of the night before continued to play itself out in my mind as I craved answers. Max rambled on about something, but I tuned him out.

After I drank the last of the bitter brew, I slid the cup to the center of the table then stood. He glanced up, making eye contact. I hated everything about him.

“I’m leaving,” I said. “You can email me the information, but I’m probably not going to change my mind.”

“At least read the shit, bro. You can do that for me, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll read it. Thanks for the coffee.”

“Still a cheap bastard, huh?” he said then laughed.

I turned and walked to the door, already wrapped up in my thoughts. The image of her face when I first slid into her flashed through my mind as I walked home, deciding what to do next.

SIXTEEN

Cooper

When I got back to my apartment, I called Logan, my old bunkmate in Afghanistan. We hadn’t talked in almost a year, but with everyone else from Afghanistan coming back into my life, I figured I should search him out too. Maybe he had the answers I sought.

“Hey, Cooper. It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, I’ve been laying low since I got out.”

“I hear you. What’s up?”

“Want to grab a beer? I’ve got some stuff I want to talk out.”

“Oh no,” he said, chuckling. “More of your crazy theories on the origin of the universe or why oranges are the perfect fruit?”

I smiled.

“You remember all that shit?”

“Dude, we spent so many hours together. Your stories and monologues kept me going.”

“Glad I accomplished something over there. Let’s grab a beer tonight.”

“I had some plans, but I’ll change them. Where do you want to meet?”

“Let’s go to that joint down Seventy-Fifth Street. What was the name?”

“The Irish Paddler?”

“Yeah, that was it. We met there before we shipped out. Remember?”

“How could I forget. One of the craziest nights of my life.”

“I don’t think we’ll get that crazy tonight.”

He laughed.

“That’s what you always say. I’ll meet you there around seven. That work for you?”