red hill - jamie mcguire

“Oh.”
“Do you wonder about your parents”
“Yeah.”
“Your high school friends”
“I’ve been away a long time. I joined right out of high school. You lose touch.”
Talking to him was so frustrating. He didn’t offer any extra information at all. “Aren’t you worried
about them Your parents”
“My mom is the daughter of a war widow, and then became one. If anyone can survive this, she
can.”
“You really think she made it”
“We’re from North Carolina, and the coasts were the first to get hit. I talked to her while Dana
was in surgery. She was reporting all kinds of crazy shit going down, but she was at her neighbor’s
house, and he’s a hardass former marine. I believe he’s keeping her safe. I have to.”
“Is everyone you know military”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Not everyone. I lived in Jacksonville. Right next to Camp
Lejeune, which happens to be the largest marine base on the East Coast. I’d say Mom has a good
chance.”
I smiled. “I’d say you’re right. So you’re a marine, then I’m going to go out on a limb and say
you’re not air force.”
He smiled. “What makes you say that”
“I don’t know. When I think air force, I think lanky pilot with glasses. You look like a jarhead to
me.”
“Oh yeah”
“If you don’t want to answer, just say so.”
“I’m just enjoying the commentary. I am air force, actually. I’m a PJ.”
“PJ. I’m assuming you don’t mean of the pajama variety.”
He chuckled quietly. “No. Of the pararescue variety.”
“Oh.”
“ ‘Oh.’ You say that like you know what it is.”
“I have an idea,” I said, maybe a little more defensive than I would have liked.
“Okay,” Joey said, holding up his hands. “Most people don’t. Well, some people don’t.”
“Some people. Like females, you mean.”
“Yes, that’s what I mean.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh. You’re one of those guys.”
He shook his head. “I’m not. Don’t peg me like that. I have a lot of respect for—”
“The girl that was in your truck” I said, watching for his reaction.
“Dana.” His eyebrows pulled together and he picked at his boots. “I’d just got back, and our
friends threw a welcome-home party. It was stupid. I should have just . . . I should have just stayed
home with her. Enjoyed her. She was the only one I wanted to see, anyway.”
“She was yours.”