Page 64 of The Wounded Warrior

“Shit.” He grabbed his phone.

Sorry, had to save Matt’s ass. Will call tonight

all is well????

All good. XXOO

He stuck the phone in his pocket. “Okay, can you wheel me in or do I need to crawl?”

“Shut up, dickmunch.”

“Boys! Get your butts in here. Matt, I want you to wash up good. Dead birds!”

Momma was losing her shit.

“Coming Momma,” they said, in unison.

Matt grabbed his chair and started up the ramp. Luke helped and they were both huffing and puffing and laughing helplessly by the time they got to the kitchen.

“Wash. Do you need your hands doctored, Matty?” Momma was in full-out fuss mode.

“I have no idea.” Matt strode to the sink to run hot water and grab soap.

“Luke, make Preacher a burger and a wiener.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He washed up too, so he could assemble food for all. He was dry as a bone. Luke refilled iced teas. Then he pulled out Momma a chair. “Two wienies, Momma?”

“Yes, son. Mustard and cheese, please.”

Like he didn’t know that. He would sprinkle a tiny bit of the onion she’d chopped on as well, and she would argue but eat it up.

Matty refused the hot dogs, grabbed two burgers and sat, hands still tremoring a bit.

They exchanged a grin, the adrenaline high.

“You two are still five, I swear,” Momma accused.

They looked at each other and started laughing, becauseMatt hadn’t fallen, and he’d fixed it, and Matty had believed he would.

That was something for Luke. Really something. A milestone.

“Why did we have twins again?” Preacher asked, and Momma snorted.

“Because you’re a horndog that can’t keep it in his pants?”

“Oh. Right. I remember now.” Preacher beamed, and Momma finally laughed a little, cheeks flushed.

Luke made himself a burger and two dogs, eating eagerly. He was starving, and he knew Preacher still had more for them to do.

Them. Him and Matt.

A rush of pure pride hit him like a line drive to the chest.

Matty glanced up at him again because a twin knew, didn’t he? Matt nodded, and that was that. He’d barely finished the last bite before Preacher was up and moving again.

“Leave the dishes, Momma. We’ll do them later.” Preacher waved them outside. “Got sh-stuff to do, boys.”

“Shtuff. Right. Have fun, y’all.”

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