Harper dropped the cheeseburger in her lap.
“Hewhat?”
Aldo swore. “It’s all kind of a red blur to me. One second I’m driving down this stretch of road, the next I’m falling out of the truck. I couldn’t hear or feel anything. All I knew was I couldn’t move. I thought I was dead.” He took a steadying breath.
“Then there’s Luke hovering over me. Looking like he’s screaming. He dragged me behind a truck, used my belt as a tourniquet. I passed out, but they tell me he carried me under fire while the rest of the guys laid down cover.”
“Why the fuck didn’t he tell me?” Harper said, grabbing her soda with unnecessary violence.
“Why the fuck won’t he let me say thank you?”
She leveled a look at him and he shook his head.
“Because he’s Luke,” they said in unison.
At least Luke was an equal opportunity information withholder. “I’m going to type an email in all caps to him when I get home tonight,” Harper announced.
“I’ll mail him a thank you card with all caps.”
“So why are you avoiding Gloria?”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re tenacious, Harpoon?”
“Oh no you don’t. I live with Luke ‘Jeopardy’ Garrison. I will not be put off by you trying to turn Q&A into Q&Q. Aren’t you interested in her anymore? Did your feelings change?”
“Harper, look at me.” Aldo pointed at his prosthesis. “I can barely fucking walk. How am I supposed to sweep her off her feet like she deserves?”
“Okay, I don’t even know where to start with your assininity.”
“Not a word.”
“Totally a word. First of all, you think you’re somehow less of a man because you’re sporting a new leg? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. And I’ve heard a lot of stupid shit. Your leg has nothing to do with the man you are. Yourattitudeon the other hand,” she poked him in the chest, “has everything to do with it. This ‘woe is me disabled cowboy’ crap act is not doing you any favors. Man up and be the rock star you always have been.
“And second, Gloria isn’t some fragile flower. She’s funny and smart and she’s clawing out a brand new life for herself. One you could be a part of. You know what would be amazing for her? Some guy who is willing to be vulnerable in front of her. Someone who needs her. Do you know what that would do for her confidence? Finally being in the position to help someone else?”
Harper grabbed a handful of fries out of the box and wielded them at him. “She blushes every time someone says your name, and she survived the Mrs. Moretta Inquisition”
“Inquisition? Oh shit.”
“By the end of it, your mom was asking her for her jam thumbprint cookie recipe.”
Aldo dropped his head back against the seat. “This is too much to take in.”
“Eat your burger. You’re weak with hunger and stupidity.”
He reached into the bag, unwrapped his burger, and took a huge bite.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
From: [email protected]
Subject: ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?
DEAR LUKE,
YOU’LL NOTICE I’M WRITING IN ALL CAPS TO CONVEY THE FACT THAT I AM SHOUTING AT YOU. HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY NEGLECT TO TELL ME YOU SAVED ALDO’S LIFE WHILE PUTTING YOUR OWN AT GREAT RISK? YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO NEED SAVING WHEN YOU GET HOME.
