Page 33 of Wicked Healing

Paul looked a little lost, his expression turning serious. “We weren’t together anymore, but it was still… shocking, to say the least. She had custody. Now we have to learn to be together,” he said with a soft smile at his daughter. Hope was now laying against Wicked, stroking her hand down his back. Erin didn’t think she’d heard anything they’d said. And she realized as she looked at the little girl that Hope hadn’t grinned or offered to play with Wicked. She just wanted to pet him. Because she was looking for comfort?

For some reason she thought of Sophie, the little brown foster dog she’d taken in recently. The two of them would get along marvelously. Sophie lived to give comfort.

“It looks like you need a dog,” Erin told him.

Paul snorted. “Yeah, because my life isn’t crazy enough right this second.”

Erin looked pointedly at the dog and the little girl, but Paul seemed to not want to acknowledge it. He changed the subject, asking Luca about his prosthetic.

It ended up being several hours before Erin felt like it was time to go. They’d visited with Paul and his daughter for an hour, then took Wicked down to lounge in the grassy courtyard. Erin could tell that Luca seemed to be stalling.

“You know it’s only a few days, right? And then the two of you will be together again,” she laughed.

He gave her a serious look. “I know. But even that long seems like forever.”

He ruffled Wicked’s fur on his neck. The dog reached out a long tongue and licked him, as if he understood the anxiety Luca was feeling.

“I’m sorry I can’t stay longer,” she told Luca. “My mother has stuff she has to do, too, including a doctor’s appointment in a couple of days.”

He nodded, frowning. “I know. Don’t worry about it, Erin. I’ll be fine for a week. I have a lot to do.”

She gave him a sad smile and reached out for a hug. It was supposed to be quick and light, an embrace between new friends, but he drew her tight and held her for a long second before releasing her. He avoided her eyes as he stroked Wicked’s head, then pushed to his feet. “I’ll see you guys in a week.”

“We’ll be here,” she promised.

Luca gave her a last smile before he turned and headed toward the door into the hospital. She watched him go.

“Let’s get on the road, Boss.”

Wicked came to heel and they left the facility, but he kept glancing back, as if hoping for a final glance at Luca.

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