Chapter 20
Logan
My right leg feels so light without the orthopedic boot. I got so used to the damn thing in the past eight weeks that I almost feel like something’s missing. Then again, I can finally get rid of the crutches and stop hunching over all the time.
Back to driving my own car, back to running up and down the stairs at work instead of sitting alone in the improvised office downstairs, and back to exercise. I cannot wait to feel the wind on my face as I ride Brisket again.
“Fuck!” I hiss at a jolt of pain in my ankle.
So maybe it will take some time for me to walk with ease again, but I can live with that.
The corridors of the hospital are like a winding maze so at least I’m getting some practice before I walk out, because I don’t want Kyle to see me limping after all he’s had to endure for the past two months.
Two months.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been so long.
My life would have been so much harder if it wasn’t for Kyle.
I would have likely resorted to less healthy food throughout my recovery, just so that I didn’t need to stand by the counter much, but he was there to take care of anything that proved difficult because of my injury.
I wonder if he’s managed to tire Jekyll out while I was with the doc, but if not, maybe we could play with him some more before heading back home? That dog is so good at learning new things.
My phone buzzes, and I look around, but it’s a small hospital, and there aren’t many people I could disturb, so I pull it out to see my sister’s name on the screen.
I love my sister, but we’re not the kind of siblings who stay in touch all the time. We always have each other’s back though, so if she’s calling, she probably needs something, and I don’t mind, since she always helps me out too.
“Hey! What’s up?” I ask and sit down in a worn plastic seat because when we do chat, it can take a while.
“Ha, caught you,” she says, words coming out as if her mouth was a machine gun.
“I know you don’t want to work at the ranch, but I got this amazing opportunity.
My friend won an all-inclusive trip to Europe, and she wants to take me as her plus one, and I really want to go, but Mom and Dad will need help, so… can you come? For two weeks?”
I have to calculate all that in my head. “Okay, let me think… When? I just got my leg brace off, but I should be up and running in no time.”
She stalls. “Y-you what? I know nothing about you breaking your leg!”
“Ah, yeah… it was just the ankle. I didn’t want to talk about it because you know how mom gets, and then I… forgot. It’s been a while since we spoke. But I’m fine! I just can’t wait to get back in the saddle.”
Ann sighs. “Wow. I wish you let me know next time something like that happens.”
I laugh and lean back in the chair. “I’ll keep that in mind next time I decide to break a bone.”
“Can you even drive?”
“I kinda… I’ve got some help around. I’ll tell you something, but you have to keep it secret.”
“You have a girlfriend?” she asks, lowering her voice. I can hear her move, as if wanting to get out of someone’s earshot.
“No, no! Nothing like that.” Though, weirdly enough, I haven’t even been thinking much about women lately. My guest’s presence makes me focus on what attracts me to men. “Kyle is staying with me. You know, Kyle Hone?”
Silence. And then, “What the hell? Since when are you two friends?” Ann asks.
I groan. “It’s… complicated. We kinda connected at the wedding, he ended up coming over, and I didn’t have the heart to send him away, and then I broke the leg, so it made sense for him to help me out.”
“Jesus… Logan, nobody knows where he is. He messaged them all that he’s fine but is not responding to any calls. I’m sure they are so worried.”
I sit up straight. “Oh. He never told me that, but I’m guessing he doesn’t want anyone to know, so let’s respect that? Anyway, he’s fine. He got a job here and everything.”
Ann sighs. “Well, but they’d be relieved if they knew he’s with a friend, and not sleeping under a bridge somewhere.”
She doesn’t get it because she doesn’t know that Kyle left because of reasons more serious than not wanting to marry Madison.
“I know, but it’s his choice, okay?”
But the whole thing makes me feel strange. I hadn’t known Kyle had cut ties so completely. While he has friends at work and at the stables, I suddenly realize that I’m the closest person he has right now, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
“Fine. But maybe he should let them know he’s still alive, if he wants to keep hiding.”
“I’ll talk to him. The whole wedding situation made him freak out, but it’s been two months, so maybe he’s ready to face it. Anyway, my leg is fine, I have a helpful roommate, and a dog that takes my laundry to the washing machine, so when is your trip?”
“Late August. Would that work?”
“I’ll have to talk with my boss but sounds doable.”
She makes a series of squeals. “I promise I’ll return the favor sometime!”
It makes me happy to make her happy, and that’s enough for me, but I still make my voice extra deep and say, “Your firstborn will be mine.”
“Stop it, you troll! You know I can't resist a good deal.”
We banter for a bit longer, but then she has to go and I’m on my way to meet Kyle outside, still thing about the way he’s keeping his family in the dark.
As I step through the door, he’s walking bent in half, with Jekyll balancing on his back. I’ve seen this act before, but I can’t help laughing anyway. They look ridiculous. He spots me before I can speak and clicks his tongue to make the dog get off.
“Look at you!”
I spread my arms with a wide smile. “Yep. New man!” I bow down to invite Jekyll for a hug, only to remember another trick the beast knows.
“Jekyll, baby!” I shout, and the excited pooch leaps straight in my arms. He’s never done this with anyone but his dog daddy, and I’m so shocked that he listened to my command that I almost fail to hold him up. The beast is heavier than it looks.
Kyle covers his mouth and approaches us just as Jekyll slides out of my hold. “You two have been doing this behind my back?”
“I’ve been trying,” I admit with a smile, “but this is the first time he actually jumped. Do you think he knew my leg was unstable?”
Kyle grins and leans down to pet Jekyll’s head as he approaches with a toothy smile. “I wouldn’t have jumped in your arms when you were walking with crutches. Though I’m not sure if you could carry my weight even now.”
I snort and pat his cheek. “You would have jumped in my arms even if I were using crutches and blindfolded. As for the other part… Guess we have to find out!” I bend over and grab Kyle’s thighs. Moments later, he’s hanging across my shoulder.
Still got it.
I don’t care that we’re in front of a hospital. The sun is shining, my leg is working as it should, and I wanna have some fun with my… what? Best friend, I guess. I don’t even know when we’ve grown this close, but I’m not complaining.
Kyle laughs and pats my back in protest, but I silence him by slapping his soft buttocks.
“I feel violated,” he announces, swinging his feet gently, but there’s nothing about his behavior that tells me he really wants to be put down.
He might be heavy, but I’m stubborn and proud, so I hold him, pretending that he weighs nothing.
A million answers come to my mind. You’ll feel violated once I’m done with you, You’ve seen nothing yet, wait till we get home, or I don’t care, this is an abduction.
They all seem flirty, so I bite my tongue even though I’d love to say all of those things and then roll him into my bed.
Hasn’t that ship sailed, though? I don’t date cheaters, and I don’t want another relationship, since they always end in heartbreak. And at this point I’m so close to Kyle that I couldn’t possibly treat him as a just fuckbuddy.
“Well, you don’t have a boyfriend to protect you.” I laugh and slap his ass again. Fuck. It’s so bouncy.
“Is there something I should know about you two?” a female voice asks, and I freeze, spotting Carol by our stable’s horse trailer. I’ve been too focused on Kyle and Jekyll to notice the markings on the large vehicle, and I lose my breath as she grins.”
I laugh and stumble a little when putting Kyle down.
My ankle will definitely need the rehab, because it remains stiffer than it should be, but it’s only a question of time until I’m good as new.
I pretend to think about her question. “Hmm… He makes a mean steak.” I point to Kyle.
“What’s going on? You came to see me walk again? ”
Carol snorts. “No, Kyle asked me for a favor.”
I frown and glance his way, but Kyle is already on his way to the back of the trailer. He spins around with a wide grin, showing me two horses waiting inside. “You wanted to go riding as soon as you can, remember?
I’m speechless when Brisket shakes his head in greeting. “You remembered!” I grin at Kyle. Snickers is the other horse, named that way for the silly sounds he often makes. His presence means that Kyle will be joining me for a ride, because Snickers is one of his favorites.
He meets my gaze, drawing me into the brown depths of his big eyes. “Of course I did. I want you to have the best day now that you can go back to all the things you enjoy."
A warmth spreads in my chest, because it would have been easy to take me to the stables and go from there, but there is a beautiful woodland close to the hospital where we can ride, and knowing he went the extra mile to surprise me like this makes the gesture special.
I can't remember anyone, other than maybe my mom, ever being so thoughtful.
At this point I'm the one who feels I don't deserve Kyle's friendship
Still, I make sure to tell him how happy I am, and by the time we ride off with Jekyll running ahead to make sure the path between the trees is safe, he is proud as a peacock.
“Your face was perfect. I should have filmed you,” he says and takes his leg out of the stirrup to nudge my thigh with his foot.