“I can do what needs to be done.” Luke knew he should’ve called in sick, but he needed the concentration his job required. He still couldn’t close his eyes without seeing what was left of Kati’s youthful face.
“Principal Quigley needs help at the school. She’s called in Dr Pritchard and Dr Singer, but with over four hundred students, she needs more understanding men and women to help the children through this recent tragedy,” Leo explained.
“I’m not the best person for the job, sir.” How could Luke help children deal with the death of their classmate when he couldn’t get himself over the accident? Luke could tell by Leo’s raised eyebrows that he was about to issue an order, one that Luke would be forced to obey if he wanted to keep his job. He’d never talked to anyone about his mother except Kenny.
“I lost my mother in a car accident almost twenty-three years ago, and I’m still not over it. Needless to say, I don’t think I’m the best man to help those kids deal with their feelings at the moment.”
“Or, maybe you’re the perfect man to help them. There’s nothing wrong with being sad as long as you can help them understand that life must go on.”
“Respectfully, sir, I’d really rather not. How can I look into their crying eyes knowing first-hand how their friend died?”
Leo leaned further back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. “Want me to make you an appointment with Dr Pritchard?”
“I don’t need a shrink. I need a hypnotist.” Luke got to his feet. “Can I go back to work or are you planning to fire me if I don’t go to the school?”
Leo gestured to the brace on Luke’s knee. “Take a sick day. I’ll give Aaron a call and see if he’s had enough sleep to come in.”
Spending another day on the couch didn’t appeal to Luke. “I really can work. I didn’t do any damage. Dr Brown just thought it would be a good idea to wear the brace for a few days.”
“You’re a pain in my ass, you know that, Hatcher?”
“I’ve been told that a time or two, sir,” Luke agreed.
“And stop calling me sir. It’s irritating.”
“That’s why I do it,” Luke said with a grin before leaving Leo’s office. He made his way into the station lounge and eased into his favourite recliner beside Jakob.
“Wild weekend?” Jakob asked, gesturing to Luke’s knee.
Wild? Luke snorted. He hadn’t had sex since his thwarted evening with Priest. “I wish. Nope, I stepped into a hole while running yesterday morning.”
“Ouch. That sucks, man.” Jakob tapped his fingertips on the arm of the chair. It was obvious he wanted to talk, but wasn’t sure what to say. The two of them had worked the Saturday night shift, so Jakob had witnessed everything Luke had.
“You know there was nothing you could’ve done, right?” Jakob asked.
Luke nodded before clearing his throat. Kati had died by the time they arrived on scene, but it was obvious she had lived long enough to traumatise her best friend forever. “What does it say about me that I wish she’d have died on impact?”
Jakob bumped his fist against Luke’s hand. “I’ve thought of nothing else since we cut that boy out of the car.”
It was nice to know he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get the images of that late night out of his mind. “Have you called the hospital to check on Clint?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, but they couldn’t tell me much. Just that he spent most of yesterday on the operating table.”
“What’re his chances, did they say?”
Jakob shook his head. “Too early to say. I thought I might take a trip to Sheridan tomorrow to check on him if you want to go?”
Since taking the job in Cattle Valley, Luke had regularly checked up on victims he’d rescued. Unfortunately, visiting Clint in the ICU wasn’t something he felt comfortable with. “Sorry, I’ve already got plans, but definitely call me and let me know how he’s doing.”
Luke was saved from further explanation by his ringing cell phone. One look at the display and his mood lightened. “Excuse me,” he told Jakob as he got to his feet. He walked across the room towards the kitchen before answering. “Hey.”
“Hey, buddy,” Kenny greeted. “Just heard you were on duty Saturday night. Thought I’d call to see how you’re doing?”
“Not good,” he admitted. The truth said a lot about his friendship with Kenny. The two of them had been through a lot together, and Kenny had never let him down. “I can’t stop thinking about my mom.”
“I was afraid of that. Are you working today?”
“Yeah. Beats sitting home feeling sorry for myself. How’re things at the school?” Luke opened the junk cabinet and withdrew a package of cookies.
“Pretty bad, but I can get away if you need to talk,” Kenny offered.
“I can’t, but I’m off tomorrow. Maybe Eli would let you out of his clutches long enough to have a beer.” Luke took a bite of the generic oatmeal cookie. He liked them best once they’d gone soft from being opened too long.
“Or you could come over for dinner,” Kenny offered.
“Thanks, but I’d rather you came over for a beer. No offence, but I’d rather not break down in front of your guy.”
Luke shook his head. “What are you some kind of psychiatrist now?” He tossed the half-eaten cookie into the trash.
“Nope, just a friend.”
“Yeah.” Luke took a deep calming breath. “Why can’t I get over this? I deal with this kind of shit every damn day.”
“I can’t answer that because although bits and pieces have gotten out about how Kati died, I wasn’t there.”
From the kitchen, Luke wandered into the dorm room lined with twin beds. He sat on his usual bed and tried to push the memories away. “It’s all too fresh to try and analyse it.”
After several moments, Kenny finally spoke. “I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’ve dealt with this shit for years. It’ll slide to the back burner again in a day or two.”
“Maybe the problem is that you’ve left it on the back burner for too long. It’s time you deal with this shit once and for all,” Kenny tried to argue.
How was he supposed to deal with the face of his dying mother begging him to save her? “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Look, I gotta go. A call just came in.”
“With no warning buzzer? You’re a damn liar, but I love you anyway. Meet me at O’Brien’s tomorrow at six.”
“Sure,” Luke mumbled. The best thing about his bond with Kenny was that his friend never took his temper to heart.
“If you need to talk before then I’m only a phone call away,” Kenny added.
“I know.” Luke took a deep breath. “I love you, too. You know that right?”
“Goes without saying, buddy,” Kenny said before hanging up.
Luke stared at his phone for several moments before slipping it back into his breast pocket. Although he loved Kenny like a brother, there were times he needed more. Stretch McGee came immediately to mind. Damn he’d loved that traitor. He didn’t doubt that part of his current mood had something to do with the media reports that Stretch was finally separating from his wife.
How much of a doormat was he that he secretly hoped Stretch would suddenly show up in town to whisk him away? I’m such a loser.
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About the Author
An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.
Email: carol@carol-lynne.net
by Carol Lynne
Campus Cravings: Coach
Campus Cravings: Side-Lined
Campus Cravings: Sacking the Quarterback
Campus Cravings: Off-Season
Campus Cravings: Forbidden Freshman
Campus Cravings: Broken Pottery
Campus Cravings: In Bear’s Bed
Campus Cravings: Office Advances
Campus Cravings: A Biker’s Vow
Campus Cravings: Hershie’s Kiss
Campus Cravings: Theron’s Return
Campus Cravings: Live for Today
Good Time Boys: Sonny’s Salvation
Good-time Boys: Garron’s Gift
Good-time Boys: Rawley’s Redemption
Good-time Boys: Twin Temptations
Cattle Valley: All Play & No Work
Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Mistletoe
Cattle Valley: Sweet Topping
Cattle Valley: Rough Ride
Cattle Valley: Physical Therapy
Cattle Valley: Out of the Shadow
Cattle Valley: Bad Boy Cowboy
Cattle Valley: The Sound of White
Cattle Valley: Gone Surfin’
Cattle Valley: The Last Bouquet
Cattle Valley: Eye of the Beholder
Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Days
Cattle Valley: Bent-Not Broken
Cattle Valley: Arm Candy
Cattle Valley: Recipe for Love
Cattle Valley: Firehouse Heat
Cattle Valley: Neil’s Guardian Angel
Cattle Valley: Scarred
Cattle Valley: Making the Grade
Cattle Valley: To Service and Protect
Cattle Valley: The O’Brien Way
Cattle Valley: Ghost from the Past
Cattle Valley: Hawk’s Landing
Cattle Valley: Shooting Star
Karaoke at the Tumbleweed
Legend Anthology: Healing Doctor Ryan
Joey’s First Time
Between Two Lovers
Corporate Passion
Sunset Ridge
Poker Night: Texas Hold Em
Poker Night: Slow-Play
Poker Night: Different Suits
Poker Night: Full House
Men in Love: Reunion
Bodyguards in Love: Brier’s Bargain
Bodyguards in Love: Seb’s Surrender
Bodyguards in Love: I Love Rock N Roll
Bodyguards in Love: Taming Black Dog Four
Bodyguards in Love: Seducing the Sheik
Bodyguards in Love: To Bed a King
Neo’s Realm: Liquid Crimson
Neo’s Realm: Blood Trinity
Neo’s Realm: Crimson Moon
Seasons of Love: Spring
Seasons of Love: Summer
Seasons of Love: Fall
Also by Carol Lynne and T.A Chase
Dracul’s Revenge: Dracul’s Blood
Dracul’s Revenge: Anarchy in Blood
The Haunting of St Xavier
Carol loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
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