Catie pointed in the direction of her legs. “Jacqueline has her flaws as a mother, but she made sure I had a therapist in the room the day after I woke up. Ísa had already interviewed the woman to make sure our personalities would mesh. Anyway, I got it all out there, about how scared I was, how I was terrified I’d never run again, and I did feel better.”

Danny slumped down farther on the couch. “Shuddup. Your inspiring kid tale is making me feel like a big baby.”

Laughing, she threw a cushion at his head. Most people got real quiet when she referred to her accident or its aftermath—or they began to call her brave, or they just didn’t know where to look. If there was one thing about Danny that she didn’t find nemesis-worthy, it was that he’d always seen her—the whole person—her legs or lack of them only one part of her.

The first time they’d met, as young teens, he’d been outraged because she’d dared wear makeup on a beach holiday. He’d spent the entire time fluttering his eyelashes and pretending to put on mascara or otherwise being an insufferable teenage boy. Never once had he treated her like glass, treated her as other. To him, she’d just been a teenage girl he wanted to annoy.

Catching the cushion with the same wild grace he showed on the field, he said, “I mean, I did a whole degree in sports psychology, and I’ve had psychobabble stuff for the team health checks, but this…” He thrust down the cushion and rose. “Can I dig around in your kitchen?”

“Sure.” Curious about what he was planning to do, Catie got up and shifted to the other end of the couch so she could watch him while maintaining her laziness. “Chocolate raisin cookies?”

Once, long ago, Danny had thought cooking was for girls. That, however, had changed deliciously as he grew up.

“We’ll see,” said the grumpy rugby player in the kitchen as he opened the pantry to check out her supplies. “Jeez, princess. Who the fuck stocks this? Saffron strands? Fine dark cooking chocolate? Dried truffles? It must all go to waste half the time.”

“Nah, housekeeping has instructions to go through the cupboards on a regular basis and donate things to the local food banks at least a month prior to expiry. Gives them a chance to get it out to people who need it. Then housekeeping restocks—except for fresh produce. They’re on speed dial to provide that anytime it’s required.”