THREE
Cooper
When I finished my reports about the interactions with the Taliban in Samangan earlier that morning, I left the CO’s office and headed to check on Jade in the metal building that served as our medical center. We hadn’t gotten along well since she arrived, but I admired her fighting spirit.
The other reason was that I hadn’t seen a sexy American woman in over a year, at least not one in person. With no females stationed at FOB Cobra, I spent long stretches of time forgetting what it was like to be around a woman. At least one I’d be interested in.
As I approached the CHU (Containerized Housing Unit) she had all to herself, I cleared my mind of all negative thoughts. Normally I would have nothing to do with a woman like her, a liberal media elitist. But in this case spending time with her couldn’t be all bad.
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.”
“You ain’t no fucking gentleman, Cooper. We both know that.”
“Whatever, man. I’ll catch up with you later.”
I jogged toward Jade before he went on about our illicit activities in Afghanistan.
“Hey,” I called out. “Hold up.”
“You can’t keep up with a wounded woman? How the hell are we going to win this war?”
“Funny,” I said, not laughing as I slowed down beside her. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“Did your CO send you to babysit me?” she asked.
“No, of course not. Although if he did, I would never tell.”
She kept up her pace. Outside the mess hall, she stopped and turned to face me.
“What?” I asked when she said nothing.
“Exactly. What do you want?”
“I thought we would dine together. If you’re wanting to go into the villages without soldiers, I can see about going with you undercover in local garb.”
“You would do that for me?”
“I might,” I said, not ready to commit fully yet.
“Fine. We can eat and talk if you’ll help me get what I need for my story.”
“What paper do you work for again?” I asked.
“I don’t work for a newspaper. They’re all dying. I write online for an audience around the world.”
“Uh huh,” I said, uninterested.
I couldn’t think clearly with her sizable breasts pressing against an Army-issued green tee-shirt at least two sizes too small. Her hard nipples were clearly visible through the cloth.
“Come on,” she said. “I’m starving.”
Behind us, Max called out, “Cooper! Come here!”
I sighed then said, “I have to go.”
“Wow. He’s got that kind of control over you?”
“You don’t understand,” I said.
“You’ll have to tell me sometime.”
“Maybe I will,” I said, not breaking eye contact.
“Come on, Cooper! Now!” Max bellowed.
“I’ll take you on a date tomorrow or later this week.”
She tilted her head to the left and peered at me.
“A date?”
I grinned.
“A working date. I’ll get you into a nearby village friendly to our side. They might answer your questions and help with your story.”
“That would be wonderful,” she said. “Thanks again. For everything”
“No problem. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Tomorrow.”
“Come on, Cooper, you shithead!”
I rolled my eyes. She laughed then turned and went inside the mess hall.
What the fuck does he want now? I wondered as I turned and walked back toward Max. I regretted having ever gotten involved with him.