Chapter 27
Luke’s good leg was broken just below the kneecap, all but shattered in the crushing fall onto the concrete that killed T-ball. Doctors told him it would be weeks before he would be discharged, requiring a stay at a rehab facility before he’d be stable enough to walk again.
He made arrangements for Zeke to stay at Chop’s house and settled into the mother of all funks.
There was little to do except think about Summer, all the mistakes of his past, and to look to his future.
It was a blank page, unburdened by what he had done up until now. At least, for the most part it was.
Summer appeared in his hospital room the morning of his second day. “Can I come in?”
“Sure.” He sat up as best he could, hating that he was doing such a good impression of an invalid instead of standing up to greet her. She sat in the blue vinyl chair by his side.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Good. Fine. Going stir crazy, is all.”
“How long are you going to be in here?”
“The docs day it could be a while. Couple of weeks, maybe more depending on how well the break heals.” His prosthetic limb on his working leg complicated matters exponentially, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.
“You need any help with Zeke?”
“No, I’ve got it covered.”
She looked disappointed, and it occurred to him she sometimes seemed to like the dog more than she liked him.
The dog didn’t kill anyone she loved, asshole.
“Mac told me you went in after Edward. He said you lost your leg trying to save him.”
He froze, his throat tightening. “It was too late.”
“Yeah, but you tried. You told me you just went looking to see if he’d been thrown by the blast and he wasn’t there. That’s not the same thing.”
“Same outcome. I was too late.”
“You lost a leg.”
“I would have given two if I could have saved him.”
She stood, lifting the bed railing and lowering it down, then climbed beneath the covers.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Lift up your arm.”
He did and she settled against his side, lightly kissing his chest. “I should have come here with you yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
She was warm and soft, the sweet scent of her hair tickling his nose. “It’s okay.”
He wasn’t sure why she’d climbed into bed with him, and he wasn’t about to ask. He only knew she felt good there, like she belonged. He wanted her to stay, but he suspected she would not.
“It’s almost time for Jeopardy. Is the food here any good?”
“It’s terrible.”
“Then let’s order a pizza and something to drink.”
“I don’t think they’ll have Prosecco.”
“Then I’ll run to the store and grab some Heineken.”
He smiled, his arm tightening around the only woman he wanted by his side. “You remembered.”
“I listen, too.”