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Jesse sighed and shut his eyes The bus lulled hi

“Julia Mitch Lots of reasons”

Mac took a right turn and Jesse’s head swayed against theThey hit a big bump, the driveway and then pulled to a stop

Mac turned off the engine and Jesse could feel him turn to look at him

“The men in the helicopter?”

Jesse nodded, kept his eyes shut, because that just felt better than seeing himself, this house, his old friend

“It was an accident, Jess That’s what the army said”

“There are no such things as accidents,” Jesse muttered “There are mistakes Someone makes a mistake Friendly fire, ambushes, bad machinery—those aren’t accidents, they’re s happen in war so we don’t all go nuts”

I’ht was as clear as a bell, like a voice in his head I a my mind

“What happened?” Mac asked, his voice as soft and light as shadow, as starlight “With Mitch and the helicopter?”

Jesse’s skin crawled from the sympathy, from the tone of Mac’s voice, from the words he kneould come next—it’s not your fault

He fumbled with the handle, finally found it and yanked the door open He overbalanced and nearly toppled onto his driveway, but he caught hi and the pain spread like wildfire up his battered body

“Jesse,” Mac said, urgent and worried “Man, let me help you Let me—”

Jesse shook his head and held up his hand “Go hoain Go home”

Mac sighed, clearly wanting to doto fix what could never be fixed Jesse stuht beside him “Who is Julia?”

Jesse’s head shot up His eyelids flinched and his hands fisted as all that useless frustration bobbed and jerked in hiain

“Auys knew each other”