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“Yeah, you made that quite evident last time we met.”
“What’s up?” I asked, getting straight to the point. “If this is about the past…”
“No, no,” he interrupted. “I want to talk to you about a new opportunity. What are you doing these days?”
“Nothing much,” I admitted.
“You did all that complaining back in A-stan, but you’re enjoying that money, aren’t you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, not believing what he was saying on the phone.
“Look, let’s meet up, okay? This is a solid idea, and you’re the perfect partner.”
“I don’t know, Max.”
“You fucking afraid?”
“Man, don’t do that to me.”
“Do what?”
“Try to manipulate me. It doesn’t work.”
He laughed.
“Not anymore, huh? Anyway, what do you say? At least hear me out.”
“Fine. When do you want to do it?”
“You got time now? I have a hot date tonight.”
“Sure, now is fine. Where you at?”
“Let’s meet at Lucy’s Diner on Fifty-Third Street.”
“I’ll see you there in half-an-hour,” I said then ended the call.
Whatever he had in mind, I was not interested, but he wouldn’t stop bugging me until I told him in person and made it abundantly clear we weren’t going to go into business together ever again.
*
On the walk to Lucy’s Diner, I wondered what Max might want. Why had two people with connections to Afghanistan come into my life at roughly the same time?
I had sought out Jade, but Max had showed up on his own? Was it just a coincidence? None of the world made much sense. Ever since I returned, my view of the world had changed.
All I thought about was coming up with a way to get over the guilt attached to the money I had made illegally while serving my country. It didn’t matter how many times I told myself we hadn’t hurt anyone.
When it came down to it, I had participated in a scheme that had made many people wealthy. The money I received was enough for me to do nothing for a while, but I had to come up with my next step.
Jade didn’t seem to be the type of person who would date someone without a job or any prospects for the future. And I wasn’t going to let her go easily this time around
When I made it to the diner, I saw him sitting in a booth next to the front window. He nodded and smiled as I walked up to the door and opened it. I walked over to him and sat down.
“What’s up, bro?” he asked, more jovial than I remembered him.
“Same old, same old. You?”
A waitress walked up, pad of paper at the ready to take our order. He ordered a coffee with no sugar or milk. I did the same. When she left, he looked across the table.
