Page 18 of Saving Luke

"I know you're right. So, you are seeing anyone?" I ask.

"For a split second, but after the third date, he got all handsy. I couldn’t help thinking that for him, date three meant sex, and that was the end of that."

Hailey is a sweetheart, beautiful, and kind. But she’s very picky, when it comes to men, though. Very few make it past date three. She knows what she wants and isn't willing to settle.

I wish I were as sure as she is.

Chapter 7

Luke

It’s the day after my talk with Lexi and Brooke, and I'm still fuming at Gabbie. So, when she comes to visit, I know we have to talk this out.

"Did you really go to Lexi about Brooke?" I ask the second her butt touches the couch.

Her back goes ramrod straight, her sign that she’s preparing for a confrontation.

"Yes. You came here to heal, not find a fuck buddy," she snaps.

"Damn it, Gabbie. We aren't sleeping together," I growl.

"You expect me to believe that? I saw you two together!"

Well, this isn't a conversation I wanted to have with my little sister.

"Gabbie, stop and think. My legs aren't working right now," I say, hoping she’ll put two and two together.

"You don't need your legs if she does all the work," Gabbie says, some of the fight leaving her and her cheeks turning pink.

"Damn it, I haven't even gotten hard since my accident," I glare at her.

She looks down at her hands in her lap, refusing to make eye contact.

"I wasn't happy when you joined the military, and now, here you are. I won't let anything derail your healing," she says.

"Youare derailing my healing. You baby me. Did you notice that Brooke did not step up to push me around at the carnival once? She expects me to do it myself. She expects me to get in and out of the car myself, which I can. If I need help, she's there. Though, she pushes me to do as much on my own as I can. I'm not as helpless as you think I am." Gabbie looks at me, almost in shock. So, to prove my point, I stand from the chair I'm sitting in and move myself to the wheelchair next to it. Then, I wheel myself to the door.

"I love you, Gabbie, and I’ll always be here for you, but Brooke is important to me, too. You messing with her career like you did is unacceptable. I know you had it hard after Mom and Dad died,but I think I've been too easy on you because now you are acting like a spoiled brat. So, I’m thinking it's time for you to go and don't come back, until I call you," I say without looking at her.

"You're kicking me out?" She asks.

"For now. I'm so mad that I don't want to do something I can't take back."

She stands and walks to stand beside me.

"You are all I have left. I can't lose you, too."

"You are not losing me, but after your little stunt, it almost seems like you want to push me away. If you want to keep me in your life, you will not take this any further. Do you understand?" I say in my most authoritative voice that’s a lot like our fathers.

She hesitates for a moment before she nods and walks out.

I sit there and think of my sister and Brooke. Gabbie is family, but if it came down to it, could I walk away from Brooke? The thought of it is too painful, but I know I can't walk away from Gabbie, either.

Needing to talk this out, I head out to the lobby and find Lexi at the front desk.

"Hey, Luke. Is everything okay? Gabbie looked pretty upset," Lexi says.

"Yeah, we just had a talk, and she’s pissed she didn't get her way. I also told her not to come back for a while so we can both cool down."

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