Page 49

“It’s good work,” Hoss explained. “Familiar.”

He sighed a little.

“And it’s mindless at times, getting my mind off of stuff that I’d rather forget.”

Buck nodded.

“And the things I can’t remember.”

Buck understood.

When they’d fished him out of the water with Chicago, the memories were what had given him endless nightmares.

Hoss on the other hand had a black hole where his memories should be… or rather, where they could be.

“I’m glad you found something to look forward to.”

Hoss nodded. “A lot of good people there. And the animals,” Hoss’s smile brightened, “are almost the best part.”

“I can see that you’ve got your own secrets,” Buck gave him a verbal nudge. “And you were trying to ask me questions.”

Hoss pulled into the parking lot in front of Lanikai lanes and found a parking spot in the last aisle. “Is this space okay?”

Buck froze for a moment.

He knew what Hoss was asking him.

He meant well.

But it still stuck in Buck’s craw, just a little.

“Yeah,” he managed to choke out. “This is good.”

Then, as he opened the door and got down from the cab, Buck made sure to make it look as good as he could.

So much so that he wasn’t sure if he’d done as well as he’d thought.

He certainly felt a twinge in his calf muscle as his leg made contact with the asphalt parking lot.

He waited by the tailgate for Hoss to come around with his bowling bag in one hand and shoes in the other.

Since they’d started the league, they’d all gotten their own balls and shoes to avoid having to ‘find’ a good ball every time they’d show up to bowl.

The other teams had done that, too.

No one wanted to be outdone by equipment.

Buck’s hand tightened into a fist at his side. He missed the feel of his own bowling bag.

A bag that had probably been shuffled into the back of his closet to make way for the walker he’d used for a bit. Then the one-legged scooter.

Finally, the last bit of medical equipment that he’d put away was the crutch he’d used.

The crutch he carried with him was still, just in his head.

“Have you beat your best score since…” Buck bit the inside of his cheek and managed to avoid shaking his head at himself. “Lately?”

As they mounted the steps, Hoss kept his strides even with him. “A little better. Still nowhere near your 222 game.”