And yet, here I am—in pain but in one piece.
I feel pretty fucking lucky.
“It seems like I came to Texas to help you pick up the pieces in more ways than one,” Luke says as he shuts the door tight behind him and takes a seat at the edge of my bed.
I exhale. “Hold the lecture until I’m feeling good enough to argue back.”
He runs his hand down his face. “You scared the hell out of me.”
His words hold weight. And he knows it.
I open my mouth to say something sarcastic, but I take a good look at the scar on his face, the worry in his eyes, and I shut up.
“The last thing I wanted was to invite you down to Texas to make things worse for you. You know that.” I try to sit up straighter, but my head hurts too much. “I apologize.”
“No need.” Luke gestures to my head. “This isn’t about me. You’re the one who’s lying in a hospital bed.”
“They say I should be able to leave tomorrow.”
“The doctor said things weren’t as bad as he thought they’d be. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
Luke shakes his head. “You’re not fucking fine.”
I try to grin even though my jaw hurts. “I will be.”
“Logan. Listen to me.” His gaze is hard. “Don’t get yourself torn up by a horse. That’s no way to deal with a problem. Trust me.”
“I didn’t set out with that intention,” I say. “It just happened.”
“Like you just happened to get engaged?” Luke asks in a light tone that belies the seriousness of his question.
“Don’t start on that right now.” I wince as I shift and pain shoots through my ribcage. “I’m not in the mood.”
He nods. “I want you to heal up. So I can drop that subject. But I will say this—I know there’s something strange going on. And I know somehow, helping Macey has to be what’s behind it. I remember our phone conversation from the other day. I put two and two together.”
“This is just between us,” I tell him. “If it gets out…”
“It won’t,” he says. “But do you want to tell me what the hell’s going on?”
After what happened at the rodeo, I feel like my control on things isn’t just slipping—it’s pretty much gone.
“I could use some advice,” I admit. “I’ll give you the cliff notes version of what I’ve gotten myself into.”
“I’m all ears.”
* * *
When I’ve finished telling Luke the backstory of my engagement to Gigi, he whistles.
“You really went all out for Macey.”
“And I’d do it again.”
His expression softens. And I know I now have an ally in my crazy plan. Luke doesn’t even smile unless he means it.
“I don’t know what it’s like to care about a woman so much I’d do anything for her,” he says. “I envy you that, Wild.”
