Page 52 of Wedding Wrecker

“Why? Everything’s fine,” I say but soak up every drop of his attention, because I can’t know how long I’ll have it. I want to ask him what happens once he’s no longer reliant on my help, but I can’t make myself say the words. Because what if he says he wants me gone?

He pulls away but ruffles my hair before resting his weight back on the crutches. “I don’t know. You just seem more… emotional than usual.” He squints as if he can see right through me.

“Me?” I ask, feigning surprise, though he is very observant. “I just wanted to cheer you up, since seeing that guy seemed to bring you down.”

He sighs and bows to slurp more coffee from the cup in my hand. “That’s what exes do to people, Kyle. So take my advice. Fuck around, and don’t get involved.”

Ugh. That’s not what I was hoping to hear. Especially that it’s the exact opposite of the advice he gave me minutes ago.

I can’t bring myself to laugh it off.

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.