““Thanks," Jack said. "My car's back at the store.If we can just make it there." Will noticed me for the first time. "Hey. A girl." He studied my face for a moment, and then he gasped and stopped walking. "Nikki Beckett. You'd better get out of here before my brother sees you.He'd freak." "And,we're walking," Jack said, heaving Will forward. "Oh,hey,Jack.Didn't see you there." Will smiled again,undisturbed. His eyes glazed over and he seemed to have forgotten all about me. Jack looked at me around the slumping head of his brother. "Will was wounded. And discharged." Will swung his head around to face me. "They expected me to wear pants!" He prayed the last word across my face, and I gagged at his foul breath. "Like,all the time...It was so hot." He stared at me again. "Hey, you look familiar.Hey,Jack,'member that girl-?" "Yes," Jack interrupted. "You know,the one who totally messed you up-" "Yes," Jack cut him off again. His eyes met mine,and he gave me an apologetic grin. I felt my own lips turning up.””
