“If you puke on me, I’m going to run you over with this stupid tricycle,” Aldo threatened.

She sucked in a nervous breath, and he took pity on her.

“Harpist, you’re going to be fine. It’s three miles. It’ll be done and over with before you know it.”

“I wish Luke was here,” she confessed.

Aldo reached for her hand, gave it a bone-crushing squeeze. “Me, too. But right now you’re stuck with me, and you’re not allowed to humiliate me. On second thought, puke all over the place. The more flailing and sobbing you do, the fewer people will stare at my circus act.”

“Oh, shut up, man-beast. If you don’t want people looking at your stupid bike and your dumb bionic leg, take your shirt off and flex your pecs.”

On the surface, he was smirking, but underneath he was scared shitless. This was his chance to prove to himself and the rest of the damn town that he was still a force to be reckoned with.

“Ugh. I’m so nervous,” Harper said, patting a hand to her chest. “Is it normal to be nervous?”

“It’s not nerves. It’s excitement.” It was all a matter of perspective.

A guy weaved his way through the crowd to Aldo, offering his hand and a friendly “thanks for your service.”

Aldo shook hands and nodded politely. He’d been inundated with thanks and well wishes since rolling up to the start line. It was overwhelming and embarrassing.

He’d never minded being the center of attention before. But now that it was for missing a fucking limb, he wasn’t much of a fan. Today that would change. Hopefully. Today was the first step in proving that he was still a damn man, and if he could prove that to himself, step two might be getting Gloria to forgive his dumb ass. She’d stood up for herself, to him. He’d never in his life set out to be that guy. Amputation or not, he needed to find the strength to fight the slide into asshole territory.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for our National Anthem, sung by Peggy Anne Marsico.”

Aldo climbed off the bike and stood at attention in a military salute.

He’d pledged life and literal limb for his country. And right now, surrounded by an ocean of his neighbors in red, white, and blue, he felt a shaky kind of pride. He’d made the promise, and yes, he hadn’t really fully grasped what that sacrifice would feel like, what the reality of it would be. But he’d made the promise, and he’d lived up to it. That was something to be proud of.

It felt damn good to have an inch or two of his soul make room for something good and bright.

The race kicked off in style with Ty in his deputy uniform firing a blank into the air.