Page 22 of Wicked Healing

“Oh,” her mother said thoughtfully, and Erin realized she’d screwed up. Scheisse.

“And he appears to be attractive,” Linda said, voice careful. “That picture you sent me was something.”

“Yes, he is,” Erin agreed, “but he has a lot on his plate right now, Mom. I’m sure he’s not interested in a relationship. He’s getting out of the facility soon and he has to find a place to live. He doesn’t want to move back in with his parents and I don’t think he has any idea what to actually do. He said he joined the Navy directly out of high school and never even had an apartment.”

“Oh, my,” her mother breathed. “Yes, that would send someone into a tailspin if they’ve never had to do it before. On the other side, though, he can choose to go anywhere he wants to in the world.”

“That’s what I told him,” Erin said. “I think he needs to be near a VA for checkups and stuff, but I believe he’s done with the military.”

“Well,” Linda said thoughtfully. “You know…”

Erin tensed. “I don’t like the sound of that, Mom. What are you planning?”

“I’m not planning anything,” she said defensively. “I was just going to say, you have that apartment over the barn.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “Mom, there is no way he would move into my barn. I’m not sure I would even offer it to him. That’s a pretty big presumption.”

Her mother sighed on the other end of the line. “I know dear, but if he’s in that much of a pickle he might appreciate having the option, you know?”

Her mother’s words lingered in her mind as Erin took Wicked to the hotel where she’d booked her stay. Some of the staff looked at the dog with concern in their expression, but no one approached them. As soon as they were in the room she removed Wicked’s leash and prosthetic, checking the skin beneath. It looked fine, though he’d been on it a good bit today. She dug her Kindle from her backpack and sank into the chair in the corner. Wicked jumped up onto the bed and watched out the window. They were seven stories up, though, and she doubted he could see anything.

She sat in the chair pretending to read for the better part of an hour, but her Kindle kept going to sleep. Huffing, she set the device aside. Night had fallen outside and she wondered how Luca’s therapy session had gone. She assumed it was physical therapy. Or maybe it was emotional. The guy certainly had a lot to be in therapy for.

Paul seemed to be standing up for him, though. Hopefully he would find a place for Luca to stay.

If he didn’t, though…

The chances of him wanting to go to Arizona with her were slim to none, but it would only be polite to offer. The apartment wasn’t being used right now.

Would he even want to go that far from the base where his friends were, and his family on up the coast? At least here he could see them as he wanted, and vice versa. And he might prefer the care he could get here. Yes, Phoenix had a huge VA, but it would be a new system to get used to.

The thought of having Luca so close was intriguing. And the thought of having a chance to get to know him better was downright tempting.

She would leave it up to fate, she decided. If he didn’t find anything she would offer. Besides, there was a very good chance he would tell her no.

* * *

Luca didn’t returnto his room directly after rehab, even though his thighs were quivering with exhaustion. Trey had worked him hard today, harder than he ever had before. But he felt good. Or maybe his outlook had changed since he’d seen Boss. The dog was beat to hell, but there was still a fire in his gut that impressed the hell out of Luca. It was what had drawn him to the dog in the first place, his fire. Wicked had not been the dog originally assigned to him. It had been a lighter colored shepherd called Pyro. Wicked had been too much for the handler he’d been assigned, though, and they’d been shuffled.

Those first few days he didn’t think he was going to be able to control the dog either, but something had eventually clicked. Maybe Wicked had finally just acknowledged that Luca was stronger. They’d become the best multi-purpose canine team in the class, and he’d felt such a sense of… achievement. He had an incredible animal at his side and he’d looked forward to kicking ass.

Luca knew they’d saved lives, over and over again, both military and civilians. And he knew he would go back in a heartbeat if he could be on a SEAL team again, but it wasn’t going to happen. The two of them had the heart but not the bodies anymore.

Erin had been right, though. The requirements for being on a police department, even a larger one like San Diego or LA, were nothing compared to the training he’d gone through for the Navy. Even injured he had a feeling he could pass their physical tests. Maybe not right this second, but in a few months maybe, after he’d had a chance to fully integrate with his prosthetic. Right now, in this medical setting, he still felt a little disconnected. Once he was out in the world actually living and making his way in life he’d try to get a job. He could start picking up classes here and there. And maybe he could have Wicked with him.

At first, when Paul had told him he was being released, he’d been kind of blindsided. He shouldn’t have been; he’d known the date. Now, though, the thought of getting out of this environment was taking on some excitement. The military was home to him and the hospital was a haven, but it couldn’t be permanent. He’d made some decent friends here, but it was time to move on.

Luca surfed the web for hours, trying to decide what he wanted to do and where. He could be completely free. He needed to let his parents know that he wouldn’t be coming home, though. He’d told them that several times, but he had more conviction in his heart now. After seeing the way his mother reacted to Wicked, he knew there was no way they could go live there. And he wouldn’t put up with her constant antagonism.

Luca fell asleep on his bed a few hours later, wishing he had Wicked curled up beside him for support.

* * *

Wicked seemedto sense that something was going on. Erin showered and dressed, then took the dog outside for a long walk on line. It was early enough that there weren’t a lot of people moving yet, so they had the concrete to themselves. Anxiety had ridden her in her sleep and she thought it was because she didn’t know how to ask Luca if he’d like to come home with her, basically. Erin snorted to herself. Not how she wanted to verbalize it.

Luca needed someone in his corner though. And Wicked needed someone just as bad. He’d enjoyed his time at her ranch. If Luca joined them there he could take over Wicked’s exercise and care, leaving her the rest of the animals.

But that would be all he needed to do. He could take his time and decide what exactly he wanted to do with his life.

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