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"Not important and I didn't know I had to inform you of my injuries."
It was getting heated between us and Kyle stepped in to calm things down.
"Wendy, help me put the shopping away while Luke settles Sally in a stall. John, give him a hand, he's got one sweet mare and I know you're gonna fall in love when you see her."
John nodded.
"Ooh, did you bring sweets? I’ll forgive you if you did." Wendy asked me before starting for the truck.
I smothered a smile as I locked eyes with Kyle and he answered. "Nope, Luke's worse than Mrs Roby. He bought stuff I didn't even know was edible."
Wendy groaned as Kyle reached into the rear of the truck and grabbed out a couple of shopping bags to hand to her. "Great, just what we needed, another health nut. I might not forgive him after all."
The men laughed at Wendy's mock annoyance and I headed to release Sally from the trailer where she'd been patiently waiting.
***
KYLE
Wendy and I placed the bags of shopping on the island bench in the kitchen and started unpacking. While we were alone, I figured it was a good time to quiz the woman it appeared I knew very little about despite having known her for over a decade.
"Wendy?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me you had family? Why did I only find out when Luke questioned you? Why have you never visited them, or had them come here?"
She stopped what she was doing and spun to face me, anger wafted from her tense body. "You didn't ask and I'd sooner believe I'm an orphan. I want nothing to do with them."
"Why?"
Wendy sighed deeply. "Kyle, you're my best friend, and I have never felt threatened by you. You're the first man I've allowed to hug me in years, and I love you deeply, but please mind your own business. It was a slip up to even mention them. I wasn't thinking. It won't happen again.”
Wow, I was getting hit from all directions. First Luke was hiding something, now Wendy.
"Why are the people I care about keeping secrets?"
Wendy glared at me, her fists clenched at her sides. "Why are you?"
"Touché." She was right, my parents and sister had no idea I was gay. I hadn't even come close to telling them because I had no idea where to begin to explain.
The two of us remained silent while we unpacked the rest of the shopping, but I was aware of Wendy's anger from the way she banged things down in the cupboards and slammed doors. When she was like this, which wasn't often, it was best to back off and let her cool down rather than risk a full-blown argument.
***
When we were done, I filled the kettle with water and flipped it on to boil. "Coffee?"
Wendy moved closer. "Yes, please. I'm sorry I lost it, Kyle."
I placed a hand on her arm. "You never have to be sorry, honey, but if you need to talk, get things off your chest, I'll listen without passing judgement."
Wendy gazed up at me with tear filled eyes, and I realized for the first time how small and vulnerable she was. She had obviously managed to keep me at arm's length for a very long time and it appeared I had suddenly created a crack in her walls.
"Oh, you'd pass judgement, trust me."
A tear slid down her cheek and I gathered her into my arms. She buried her head against my chest and trembled. As with Luke, I determined to find out what she was running and hiding from.
A noise from behind us had me glancing over my shoulder. Wendy stepped back and wiped away her tears.
"Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything." Luke stood nervously spinning his Akubra in his hands.
Wendy stepped away to where the kettle was boiling and began making coffee. "You didn’t interrupt anything, I was just feeling down. The kettle has just boiled, Coffee?"
"Yes, thanks, white."
"No sugar?"
I stifled a laugh. Wendy thought anyone who didn’t take sugar in their coffee was either an alien smuggled here from another planet or sick in the head.
"No, thanks," Luke confirmed.
Wendy shook her head in disbelief.
"Take a seat and we'll strap those ribs," I commanded Luke.
Luke pulled out a stool by the island bench and parked his arse, giving me room to circle around him.
"Sandwich? I'll make them this once," Wendy offered.
"Yes, please," Luke and I accepted. "Oh, I meant to tell you, Luke has offered to cook for us every night until his ribs are healed."
Wendy fist pumped the air while reaching for sandwich fixings. I laid out a wide elastic bandage in readiness.
"Shirt off."
I watched Luke's fingers make deft work of the buttons on his shirt, and when he peeled it from his shoulders, I sucked in a sharp breath.
Wendy gasped loudly before placing mugs of steaming coffee down on the counter. She rounded the bench, her eyes narrowed as she studied Luke's chest. "What the fuck happened to you?"
