Page 24 of Love Me Again

“I need another surgery,” he forced himself to say, walking toward the house so she followed him.

A thing he hadn’t told anyone. But she’d never been anyone. He’d never told her much about home, his family, because… Well, he always felt a little less in the shadow of his family. But if she was just his, then he wouldn’t have to feel that way. So he’d told her everything else back then. She’d mostly been his safe space, so this wasn’t all that different.

“Back and ribs and head healed up all right, but the leg—the knee in particular—has a lot of scar tissue. They need to go in and clean it all up.”

“When are you going to do that?”

He scratched a hand through his hair. “I have it scheduled for the week after Christmas.” He walked up the stairs, trying to downplay the limp even though it caused him to clench his teeth together. “Figured everyone would be too busy to worry about me not being around.”

“What is wrong with you?” she demanded, scurrying up the stairs after him.

“Well, probably too many things to count, to be quite honest.”

“Boone. You need someone with you when you get major surgery. How are you going to get home if everyone is busy? And they don’t know?”

Boone shrugged. He opened the door, gestured her inside. “I’ll figure it out.”

She gaped at him, so he stepped inside himself, pretty sure she was shocked enough by this revelation to follow. Maybe Mom was right about this whole honesty thing.

Because Josie was following him into the house, wasn’t she? And once she was inside, she wouldn’t be able to leave, even if she tried.

Because the horde would descend.

Case in point, the first part of the horde. Micah bounded down the stairs two at a time—not because he was in a hurry, just because he seemed to enjoy making this portion of the house shake.

He saw Boone and his face lit up. “You think the roads will be clear in time for the game, right?” he demanded, skidding over to them.

Boone went to ruffle the kid’s hair, because it irritated Micah, but hell, it was like he’d shot up another inch overnight. “They’ll be just fine.”

“Mom said I need to temper my excitement, just in case.” He rolled his eyes, then looked at Josie curiously.

“Micah, this is Josie. Josie, this is my nephew, Micah.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Josie said, sounding a little lost, like she didn’t know how she’d ended up here.

Boone tried not to grin.

“I heard you guys are legally married even though nobody knew about it.” Micah said this with a sly smile, definitely knowing it was something he wasn’t supposed to bring up, at least not in front of Josie.

“I heard you’re legally a pain in my ass,” Boone muttered.

Micah only grinned. “Mom says it’s in the teenage boy job description.”

From somewhere in the direction of the dining room, Cora’s voice echoed. “Micah, it’s your night to set the table.”

Micah groaned in mock pain but scampered off toward the dining room to do as he was told.

“Who on earth does he belong to?” Josie asked, watching him go.

“Cora. Shane’s wife. The woman you met yesterday.”

“But… She can’t possibly have a teenager.”

“She does indeed, and she’d love to hear you tell her that she looks too young, because she’s not feeling her best. I guess women are vain about blowing up like a balloon.”

“Tell me you didn’t mention balloons to a pregnant woman.”

“I’m not that dumb.”