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“I’ll come with you,” Melvin said.

“No, that’s okay.” I stared into his eyes and he stared back unflinchingly.

“Now, boys,” Rose said, “no fighting over me.” She stepped between us and walked toward the chow building.

“Hold on a minute,” Melvin mumbled, grabbing my arm.

I looked down at his hand and 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 Rose as she walked off.

I clenched my jaw. “A gentleman never tells.”

“You ain’t no fucking gentleman, Warren. We both know that.”

“Whatever, man. I’ll catch up with you later.”

I jogged toward Rose before Melvin could go on about our illicit activities in Afghanistan. “Hey!” I called out. “Wait up!”

She glanced back at me. “You can’t keep up with a wounded woman? How the hell are we going to win this war?”

“Funny,” I said, as I slowed down beside her. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“Did your CO send you to babysit me?”

“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.

“Exactly. What do you want?”

“I just thought we could dine together. If you’re wanting to go into the villages without soldiers, I can see about going with you undercover in local garb.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You would do that for me?”

“I might,” I said, not ready to fully commit 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 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 that looked two sizes too small. Her hard nipples were clearly visible through the cloth.

“Come on,” she said. “I’m starving.”

Behind us, Melvin called out, “Warren, come here!”