Sacrifice (Heart of a Wounded Hero)

"Logan," Tommy starts, and I turn and look at him, but he's looking over my shoulder. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks as if Harper is here, and she's heading this way."

I take a deep breath and mutter, “Son of a bitch.”

Tommy grits his teeth. “I know exactly what you mean.”

The truth is, I knew coming out was a bad idea, but it had to be better than being locked up in the house with Ella. Geez, she is a temptation that I wasn't prepared for, and I have no idea how to deal with it. Literally, my life is in shambles right now. I don't know of any woman that would want to take on my problems, and that's the only thing that's holding me back from making a move on Ella.

When there is a tap on my shoulder, I swivel in my seat. "Hey, Harper," I deadpan.

She smiles and looks me up and down. "I'm surprised to see you up and about."

I purse my lips. "I recovered for a month in the hospital. I'd say it's about time I'm up and about."

She looks at the three men sitting with me and then back at me. "I was thinking that I would come over and we can talk. Is there anything that you need?"

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that I know exactly what I need and that's for her to get the fuck away from me, but before I can get the words out, Tommy interrupts me. "No, he's fine. Ella has been taking good care of him."

"See ya around," I say before turning away from her.

Before I know it, I've finished off my beer, and Tommy gets up. "My turn. This round's on me."

We hang out the rest of the night talking and drinking. Bryce stops after one beer so that he can drive the rest of us home. I grew up with all three of these guys, so we have plenty of stories to tell, and before I know it, I’m caught up in the stories of our past, laughing and forgetting what a dumpster fire my life has become.

Women come up to our table and even offer to buy us drinks, but the three of us are satisfied just hanging with each other. It’s almost midnight before Bryce says he's ready to call it a night. In the car, they talk about the women at the bar, but all I can think about is the one that's waiting for me at home.

Chapter 8

Ella

There's a large crash outside, and I swing the front door open and rush outside. Two of the guys are coming up the front walkway, and one knocked into the trash cans next to the porch. Bryce has his arm around Logan, helping him into the house, and I’m shaking my head as if I don’t believe what I’m seeing.

"You've been drinking?” I ask Logan and then admonish his friend. “He shouldn't be drinking, Bryce.”

Bryce holds his hand up. "He said that he hasn't taken any of the pain medicine since he left the hospital days ago. He's fine. If anything, he says his headache is better."

I shake my head and get on the other side of Logan to help him in the house. "Yeah, it probably feels better now. Tomorrow he's going to have a humdinger."

Logan starts to laugh at my language. Once we're inside, Bryce stops. "Are you good? You got it from here, or do you need my help?"

I shake my head and roll my eyes. "Yeah, I think I got it."

He turns and leaves, and I help Logan down the hall to his bedroom. He's holding on to me, and as soon as we get into his room, I help him to his bed.

"How much have you had to drink?" I ask him.

He shrugs his shoulders. "Only like three or four beers. I just haven't drunk in a long time."

I look at him worriedly. Honestly, his eyes are a little glassy, but his speech is not slurred, and he seems to be okay.

As if he can hear the thoughts in my head, he reaches for my forearm and holds on to me. "I promise you, I'm fine. Bryce is just treating me like a baby or something. He was worried I’d fall, but heck, I can walk a straight line better than him, and he stopped drinking ages ago."

When he releases me, I take a step back, and he grabs on to the hem of his shirt and pulls it over his head. I should look away, but I can't. I stare at the muscles across his shoulders and chest, taking in his six-pack abs.

He sees me staring and then looks down at himself and then back at me. "It's ugly, isn't it?" he says with a frown.