Page 34 of The Wounded Warrior

“Works for me.” Matt shot Luke a look that said, ‘If you need me, I’ll be there’.

Luke gave him a thumbs-up, then waved him away. “Don’t forget my shopping.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t molest my little brother, McConnell.”

“I’ll do my best, LeBlanc.”

Matt finally left them, waving out the window of his truck.

“He worries about me,” Luke said, trying not to feel like a fool.

“He’s a brother. I bet you worry about him.”

“I do.” He thought about Matt’s face when he’d said there was no way he was hooking up with anyone. “You have sisters, right?”

“Two. Nineteen and sixteen. Pity me.”

“Shit. I wouldn’t want to be a teenager now for anything.”It had sucked before, now it would be a nightmare. So much pressure, so much input.

“My sisters excel at it. One mean girl, perfect cheerleader-type, one misunderstood goth girl with an attitude from Hell.”

He shook his head. “Your poor folks.”

“Indeed.” Rory chuckled. “There’s a decent sidewalk between here and the café. Is that cool? Do I need to push?”

“That is cool, and I got this. My PT guy is right down here, believe it or not.”

“I can believe it. He’s good at his job, from what I hear.” Rory indicated the direction and they set off. “You get all the gossip if your office is down here, you know?”

No, he really didn’t, but Luke knew how to nod and agree. He had to concentrate on not rolling right into the street when the crossing ramp was a little too steep. Learning his wheels in a hospital was one thing. Using them out in the word was another altogether.

Rory hit the button to cross, one hand on the handle of Luke’s chair. “No running into traffic to get away from me. I swear, I can do charming. I just need to take a Tylenol with lunch.”

“You look like you got dragged by wild horses, man.”

“You think?” Rory had that eye-rolling thing down to an art.

Luke chuckled. Rolling. He knew a little about that, right?

“I’ve decided I’ve learned everything being dragged can teach me. Also, not a huge fan of being shot at.”

That was something he could totally understand. “That does suck beyond sucking. I can give you some advice about it, though. Duck.”

“Right. I’ll totally keep that in mind.”

The light changed and they crossed the street, Rory helping him down the ramp. Chugging up the other side wasway easier, even if it made him pant a little. Working with the horses was rebuilding his muscles. Avery said he’d even be walking soon.

He’d suck it up and take arm crutches over the wheelchair any day.

“Something smells amazing,” Luke said.

“It’s meatloaf day.”

“You like meatloaf?” Luke was undecided. His mom’s had not been great, but after the army he wasn’t picky.

“I hate it. I am going to have a patty melt. Hey, Sue Ann, how goes it?”

Sue Ann Landers—who had been one of Mark’s conquests back in the day—was obviously a rockabilly fanatic, the bright crimson beehive matching her cat-eye glasses exactly. “Faboo. The new girl is pregnant, cries at the drop of a hat, and spilled an entire tray of drinks on Miss Hattie’s church group.”

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