Page 8 of The Wounded Mountain Man

"31 Scat," he replies.

"That sounds gross…which is exactly what I'd expect from you guys."

He chuckles. "Well, if there's anyone who knows a thing or two about gross."

The guys all snicker, and I grin. Wade looks like he's stepped into the twilight zone. "It's okay," I assure him quietly. "This is how we talk to each other. Except"—I raise my voice so they can all hear me—"usually I speak slower because, you know…" I tap my temple a few times and then point at each of the group. "Dumb dumbs."

Cliff tosses a cushion at me with his good arm. "Was that fast enough for ya?"

I fumble but manage to catch it. "Now, now," I scold him like I'm talking to a child, placing the cushion on the empty sofa, well out of their reach. "No throwing, please."

"Wanna play?" Tex asks Wade. "It's real easy."

Wade looks at me, seeming slightly unsure. "Go on," I say. "It'll be fun. Plus, I can't overemphasize this enough—they'rereallydumb." Cliff picks up the TV remote, and I level my finger at him. "Especially no throwing things with sharp corners."

He puts it back down slowly.

"Yeah. Sure," Wade says, easing himself down onto the empty couch.

"What about you, Logan?" Tex asks. "You in?"

"I might just watch. I have to get back to work soon. And, yes, I do real work around here," I say before someone can chime in with a crack about how watching porn at my desk doesn't constitute work.

Tex deals each player three cards and explains the rules to Wade as they each draw a card while discarding one from their hand when it's their turn. Wade picks it up quickly and soon they're playing and chatting away.

It's all going smoothly until Lance asks, "So, Wade, are you a veteran?"

Wade's mood shifts instantly. "Um. Well. Yeah. But not really." The game stops. All eyes are on Wade as he squirms uncomfortably. "I…I never served. I got injured in a training accident, so I'm not a real?—"

"Yes, you fucking are," Tex interjects as the others nod. "The moment you put that uniform on, you become part of something far greater than yourself."

"Youarea real soldier," Mitch adds with conviction.

"That's right," Bronson says, his voice as gruff as ever. "Whether you like it or not, you're one of us."

Wade blinks fast a few times, like maybe he wasn't expecting such a strong response.

Me? I'm high-fiving myself on the inside. This isexactlywhat I hoped would happen when I invited him to lunch here. That he'd meet these guys and they'd take him under their wing a little. It doesn't matter how many times I tell him he is a real veteran, hearing it from these guys carries so much more weight.

Wade clears his throat. "Whose turn is it?"

I glance over at Tex, and he gives me a small, almost discernible nod, like he knows the deal and he's got this.

"I should get going," I announce. "That porn ain't gonna watch itself." A few of the guys snicker. "You okay, Wade?"

His green eyes flick to meet mine. "Yeah. I'll hang out here for a bit." He turns to the group. "If that's cool?"

My heart does a happy dance when I see them all nodding. The first step of my plan to get Wade to stay couldn't have gotten off to a better start.

"Cool. I'll catch you at home, then." I start to leave then stop. "Oh, and go easy on him, fellas. He cries like a baby when he loses."

I manage to dodge the cushion Wade tosses at me.

Just.

5

Wade

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