“Yes, but you were alone when you needed somebody,” she said, frowning.
“No,” he said, “I was alone at a time when I needed to be alone.”
“It’s very strange,” she muttered.
“Only strange for you,” he said, “because you’re very different from me. But it’s the differences that make us work so well together.”
She snorted at that. “Basically you just want to be left alone to do your own thing,” she said. “You’re not a team player.”
“I’m very much a team player,” he said. “Yes, it took me a long time to get there, but once I realized that that was necessary for the kind of work I was doing,” he said, “I was definitely a team player. But, when you’re injured, there’s no part of … there’s no team in ‘I’m injured,’” he said. “It really doesn’t matter how much of a team player you are because your team becomes the medical team. And you have to trust that they know what they’re doing, or you have to argue your way out of whatever it is that they’re trying to talk you into,” he said. “At that point in time, there’s not a whole lot anybody can do. You have to make your own decisions and follow through.”
“But you don’t have to be a hard-ass,” she said in exasperation. “Other people can be there to help you make those decisions.”
“Maybe in your case, yes,” he said, “but I’m the one who has to live with the outcome. I’m the one who has to live with the process, the recovery, and whatever I’ll have at the end of the day.”
She nodded, looking at his leg.
“Missing one lower leg, but new titanium knees and hips,” he said cheerfully. “Missing a whole mass of muscle on the one calf, and my back is definitely not pretty, but then I’m not pretty anymore either.”
“And never did pretty matter to you before,” she said. Once again she shot him a long look. He pointed at the highway and said, “Keep your attention on the road. You’ll have lots of time to stare at my scars later.”
She shook her head. “See? You were always like that,” she said. “Even if there weren’t any scars, you’d say that.”
“Well, the scars are there,” he said. “No doubt about it. I’m no poster boy.”
“You are, though,” she said. “You’re a poster boy for courage and bravery.”
“I don’t think anybody gives a shit,” he said. “The world’s very much about me, me, me.”
“I’m sorry you see it that way,” she said. “Because we haven’t been through your experiences, it doesn’t seem the same for us.”
“I wonder,” he said. “Your soon-to-be husband might have a different take on that.”
“He might,” she admitted. “I’m glad you came for the wedding,” she said impulsively.
“Well, I’m combining it with another trip too,” he said. She raised her eyebrows. He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m here to also help a War Dog,” he said.
“But we’ll still see you in Saint Pete’s Beach tomorrow?” she asked. When he nodded, she added, “I’m just so glad that you survived all of it and that you’re here,” she said.
“Well, I wouldn’t miss my only sister’s wedding, particularly when she has no other family.”
“And I appreciate that,” Molly said mistily. “And you’re still okay to walk me down the aisle?”
“That too,” he said, wincing ever-so-slightly.
“You don’t have a suit, do you?”
He looked at her and frowned. “I thought I could rent one today.”
She snorted. “On such short notice? I’m not sure that you can,” she said, “and I highly doubt any suit you rent will look any good.”
“I’m not that hard to fit. I still take a standard forty-two long off the shelf,” he said.
She hesitated and then shrugged. “As long as you show up on time,” she said, “I’m fine with whatever.”
“Meaning, I could show up in Hawaiian shorts and a big T-shirt?”
“Please don’t,” she said with a wince.
He laughed. “Okay, I’ll try not to.”
She gave him a weepy smile. “It’s really good to see you.”
“Hey, stop the maudlin theatrics,” he teased, “and I appreciate the ride.”
“I wanted to spend more time here with you,” she said, “but just so much has to be done right now.”
“You’re getting married in two days,” he said. “You know that you’re expected to be rushed off your feet, but you’re supposed to have a lot of help for it.”
“I have help,” she said dismissively, “but I wouldn’t let anybody else pick up my brother.”
He smiled at her. “And, once again, I appreciate the ride.” They pulled into the hotel he had booked.
She looked at him and said, “You know you could stay with us in Saint Pete’s.”
“I could,” he said cheerfully, “but I can’t deal with the dog here in Miami that way.”
“I don’t understand the dog part,” she said, “but I’m grateful that you’re here. I was afraid you would find an excuse not to come.”
He winced at that because, of course, he had been half planning that. Only as the dog came to the forefront did he decide to grab the late flight to Florida. He’d been waffling over it the whole time. He hated to let her down, but he didn’t like crowds and particularly not weddings. As he grabbed his bag that he had kept on his lap, she looked at it and frowned. He said, “It’s fine. I’ll go shopping, and I’ll rent a suit this afternoon.”
She looked at him, grinned, and said, “Everything at the last minute, huh?”
He shrugged. “It’s not like I’ve needed a suit for the last few years.”
Her smile fell away. “And it wouldn’t fit anyway, would it?”
“Nope, sure wouldn’t,” he said. “I’ll rent a vehicle, rent a suit, and I’ll be at St. Pete’s Beach tomorrow afternoon in time for the rehearsal and afterward the dinner.”
With that, he hopped out, lifted his hand to wave, and walked into the hotel. He registered and then asked about a rental vehicle. Thankfully the hotel had arrangements with one of the big local companies, and he quickly arranged for a small truck. If he freed the dog, he needed a way to carry it. The hotel itself wouldn’t let him take the dog inside. That was a concern. But he could do some legwork throughout today—both wedding-related and dog-related—stay here tonight and then hopefully figure out what to do after that to rescue the dog tomorrow. He walked up to his room, dropped his bag, quickly searched on his phone for a suit rental, realizing that his procrastination had caused him some last-minute issues.
When he couldn’t find anything via a quick internet search, he headed back to the reception desk and asked someone there. The guy quickly sent Tucker down two blocks. As he walked into the store, everybody was friendly and happy, until he said he needed a suit in two days. At that, they stopped and looked at him in horror. He shrugged and said, “If you can’t help me, I’ll find somebody who can.” He added, “I don’t need anything but a black suit.”