Page 96 of The Wounded Warrior

He grunted. Fuck, that was good. Ab work always caused an atrocious ache right above his hips. “Rory, did you bring my chair?” He’d come in with his crutches, but there was no way he was leaving on them.

“I did. You need it?”

“Please? The cold will make it worse.”

“Give me two shakes and I’ll have it in.” Rory headed out, whistling merrily while Avery started in on his thighs.

“He looks so happy,” Avery murmured. “Looks like you two are getting serious.”

Luke frowned a little at Avery’s careful tone. “Is that bad?”

“He…he’s just had some bad shit happen to him. Real bad, and it’s like public. That leaves scars.”

Luke rolled over. “What are you saying, Avery? Spit it out.”

“You need to talk to him, Luke. Let him tell you.”

“It sounds like you’re warning me off.” Luke had been about to ask Avery if he would be interested in investing time in the idea him and Matt had, but now he hesitated.

“Not in the least. You’re happy, he’s happy, and I can tell he loves you. I just want him to show you his skeletons instead of somebody else.”

“Okay.” He left it at that. If Rory was gonna tell him about shit he was. If not, well, they both had their hard luck stories.

“Good deal.” And that seemed like was that. No dire looks, no bullshit.

He shook his head, feeling a little ambushed. Avery was his friend, though, so Luke chose to take it as concern for both him and Rory.

“Your chariot, sir,” Rory chirped, wheeling his chair into the room.

“How are you feeling, man?” Avery met his eyes, unashamed, so yeah, that was what it had to be. Concern.

“Better. I think I’ll take a hot shower at home and be good as new.” He glanced at Rory when he said it, and Rory beamed. Rory did love a shower.

“Let’s go. I’ll run into the store and grab steaks for us.”

“Works for me.” Luke grabbed the sweatpants and hoodie Avery handed him. “Same time next week, Ave?”

“I’ll see you Wednesday, Luke. Y’all have a great weekend! Stay warm!”

Rory wheeled him out, giving his arms a break. “Y’all looked serious when I got back.”

“Did we?”

“Yep.”

Luke handed Rory his crutches, which lay across his lap, once they got to the truck. “He says you have issues.”

“He’s a good guy.”

Okay. That was totally not the response Luke had expected. Not at all. Luke squinted at Rory when he came to assist in the chair-to-truck transfer. “That’s what I decided too. He’s as worried about you as he is me.”

“I don’t blame him.” Rory got him eased into the truck, which was easier every fucking time, then put his chair away. When his lover climbed into the pickup, Rory closed the door and looked over at him. “I’ll tell you what you want to know, but not in the truck. That’s just wrong. We can talk at thehouse. You’ve been in combat, honey. I got nothing to tell you that’s worse than what you’ve seen.”

“I bet it will be worse to hear.” Luke reached over to touch Rory’s hand. “You tell me what you want when you want. I’m not pushing, but I know this has to be more than a grudge for someone seeing you drunk and silly, which is the rumor.”

“Whoever told you that was being good to me. I hope it was your momma.”

“It was. I don’t go asking around for people to talk trash about my lover, Rory.”

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