Page 106 of The Wounded Warrior

“She is stuck in a family of doctors and lawyers,” Rory agreed. He took the water she offered so he could swallow the pills. No chewing them like the guy inTheShining.

“Go lie down on the couch. Breathe. I will bring delicious food.”

“It had better be the best ever.” He gave her a faint smile before climbing to his feet and staggering to the couch. Maybe he would close his eyes for a few minutes.

“It is. It’s all going to be okay. Trust me.”

God, she sounded just like Mom. That was as weird as it was comforting. He stretched out on the couch, all that sleephe didn’t get the night before rushing up to meet him. Sort of like a shovel to the head.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Luke sat in the driveway, shaking a little.

He’d done it. He’d made it to Austin. The Mustang was there, along with a wee Mazda. Rory was in there.

Too bad he wasn’t sure his legs would get him out of the car.

A pretty little blonde bebopped out of the house, the vision of perfect co-ed, and came right up to the window. “You are Luke. I’m Aislin, the middle child, which I hear you totally get. He’s sleeping on the couch. He napped, puked, ate, then crashed. I was staying to make sure he didn’t throw up and drown. Apparently that’s a thing. You need a hand?”

“I do. I’m kinda sore, so the arm crutches are totally out. My chair is in the trunk.” He popped the trunk, glad he had a fancy, lightweight new wheelchair.

“I’m on it. You do okay on the drive?” Aislin proved herself to be a stud, hauling the wheelchair out without a bit of trouble.

“I did. Had to stop in Waco, which is always scary for a gayguy.” We chuckled. “West is too weird on and off. We’ll have to stop on the way back up and get a pecan roll.”

“Uhn. The cherry ones are my favorite.” She got the chair opened and set the brakes. “Okay, what now?”

“Now you just stand by to make sure I don’t keel over.” He was getting pretty good at the hoisting thing. His upper body was on point.

“I am totally here for you.” She grinned at him, eyes just like Rory’s, blue as the Texas sky.

“Thanks. How did y’all end up with Rowenna as a sister?” he teased. “She’s like the inkblot of the McConnells.”

“She hasn’t figured out that she doesn’t have to compete with us yet, that’s all. Once she does? She’s going to be famous. No one gets her, that’s all.”

Okay, so he hadn’t expected this well-spoken, sharp, totally self-aware woman. Not at all. The McConnells raised some great children.

Luke breathed deep before grabbing the car door and the side panel. He heaved himself to his feet, teetering for a moment, and Aislin grabbed his arm.

“You turn toward the door and I’ll scoot the chair in behind you.”

“Great idea.”

“I’m a brilliant broad, just ask my brother.”

“I will. If he’s anything like my brothers he’ll say you’re a giant dork.” He eased into the chair. Yay. “Okay, if you can grab my arm crutches?”

“I’m on it.” She grabbed them and his go bag. “You want your Coke?”

“It’s empty. If you want I can put it in the chair and take it in.”

“I’ll toss it. I can’t stay. I have a class.”

“Well, thank you for coming to sit with him.” He liked her a lot already. “We’ll holler about the car?”

“Totally. Heck, I might leave it parked here until I come up. Safer than trying to get parking anywhere near campus. I’ll park it in the garage.”

“Works for me.”

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