Page 42 of Everybody Needs a Hero

“Drew, don’t,” Tess said, her voice soft but enough to make Drew stop. She looked at her. “I don’t want to watch the news. I don’t want to think about any of it. Not right now.” Undeterred by Drew’s constant running away, Tess closed the distance between them again. “What I want is to go out on your deck and watch the sky lighten as a new day comes. Do you?”

Turning to look, Drew noticed the clouds from the last few days had disappeared completely. The night’s stars had faded, and the sky changed to morning. Drew bit her lip and stopped to listen to her heart for once. Tess mattered to her and made her feel special. No one else had ever done that. “Yes, I want to,” she finally whispered, answering Tess as well as her own thoughts. Drawing on a different kind of bravery, Drew took Tess’s hand and pulled her closer. “And I also want to try with you. Can you be patient while I figure myself out?”

“I can,” Tess murmured as their eyes met. “For as long as you need.”

Drew read nothing but warmth and sincerity in Tess’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said before leaning in to kiss her.

32

The only thing that made Ashley turn off the water in the steaming hot shower was the fact she didn’t want to use all the hot water before Bryce and Drew had a chance.But that doesn’t mean I won’t be taking a second one, she thought. Ashley wasn’t sure how long it would take to get the smell of smoke out of her long hair, but at least she felt clean. While she was in the shower, Drew had been nice enough to knock on the bathroom door to tell her she laid out shorts and t-shirts for her and Bryce. As she wrapped herself in a towel, she thought about Drew. The woman was remarkable for a lot of reasons. The way she could take control of a situation and somehow make things work out was genuinely incredible. But the thing about Drew she liked the most was how she looked at her mom.And how my mom looks at her.

Although her mom dated off and on while Ashley was growing up, there was never anyone serious and definitely not a woman. Tess simply hadn’t seemed interested in the celebrity dating scene, and when she did venture out, nothing ever came of it but a few photos for the paparazzi. There were times growing up when Ashley worried about her mom’s lack of a partner. She wanted her mother to be happy, but then she would chalk up their relationship troubles as something in their DNA. Ashley’s ability to find a good fit was no better.Until a week ago, she thought. Out of nowhere Bryce and Drew had come into their lives.And at precisely the right time.

As she slipped out of the bathroom and saw the clothing on the bed, there was a light knock on the door. “Hello?” Ashley asked, picking up the blue T-shirt.

“It’s me,” Bryce said. “Is it okay if I come in?”

Ashley slipped the shirt over her head. “One second, hold on.” Usually, she wouldn’t be shy about running around naked in front of Bryce, but she wanted to be respectful in Drew’s home. She pulled on the shorts. “Okay, you can come in.” The clothes were baggy, but they were soft and clean. Under the circumstances, they felt wonderful.

Stepping inside the room, Bryce smiled, clearly enjoying her outfit. “Looks like you loved that shower,” Bryce said. “How are you feeling?”

“Hungry and thirsty,” Ashley replied, returning the smile. Stepping forward, she pecked Bryce on the lips. “I’m off to find nourishment. Did you save me any mac and cheese?”

Bryce nodded. “Plenty,” she said. “Although I plan to go back for seconds soon. Beer is in the fridge too.”

With a moan of pleasure, Ashley turned to go. “Then you hop in the shower while I go check out the kitchen.”

“Music to my ears,” Bryce said, already heading toward the bathroom.

Walking down the hall to the kitchen, Ashley paused when she saw her mom standing with Drew out on the deck. They had their arms around each other as they stared at the water. She stopped and appreciated the scene. Romantic and tender and more than what she could ever hope for when it came to her mom.

Stripping to her underwear,Bryce was about to turn on the shower water when she heard her cell phone ringing. It was in the pocket of her jeans in a pile on the floor. She was slightly shocked that the thing wasn’t dead after all that had happened. Pulling it free, she looked at the screen and saw her company commander from the Marine Corps calling her.He must be worried about me after hearing about the earthquake, she thought.I need to answer.

Walking out of the bathroom to sit on the edge of the bed, Bryce answered. “Good morning, sir.”

“Corporal Cooper,” the man said, relief in his voice. “I’ve been trying to get a call to connect for hours. All kinds of things are coming over the wire about an earthquake in Los Angeles, and the accounts of devastation are staggering. Are you still in the area?”

“Yes, sir,” Bryce said. “I’m still here, and the reports are correct. It is quite the disaster.”

“Does that mean you were near some of the damage?” Captain Roberts asked.

“I was, sir,” Bryce answered. “It’s been a very long day.”And that’s an understatement, Bryce thought. “I’m in a safe place for the moment, but I don’t know how long I’ll be here.” She didn’t elaborate, and there was a pause on the line. Bryce waited to hear what the man was going to say.

Captain Roberts cleared his throat. “Corporal, we want you back. I know you’ve been through a very long few months with the passing of your father and these catastrophes in Southern California. But the Marine Corps needs you.”

Bryce nodded even though he couldn’t see her. She had a huge decision to make, and she couldn’t put it off much longer. “I promise to call you within the next forty-eight hours, sir,” Bryce answered. “And let you know what I’m going to do.”

Again, there was a long pause, and Bryce guessed he didn’t like what she told him. Then he sighed. “You’re a good Marine, Corporal, but you have to follow your own path,” Captain Roberts said. “If you want to talk things over, call me anytime. You need to know you have a family here.”

Bryce felt a lump form in her throat at the man’s kind words. “Thank you, sir,” Bryce answered.

“I look forward to hearing back from you,” the captain said and hung up. In complete frustration, Bryce flopped back onto the bed and put her forearm over her eyes to block out the world.What am I going to do?she thought. She was at the most significant crossroads of her life. Coming back to see Ashley had turned out to be a wonderful decision. Even though they had been through a lot, the events only made Bryce like her more. She felt a great connection and knew they had a future if she wanted one.But then there is the Marine Corps. The decision seemed impossible.

As she lay there, she suddenly thought about her father and wondered what advice he would give her. She heard his voice in her head, and a sad smile crossed her face. “You always wanted to be a Marine, Bryce,” he would have said. The words were valid. With time, she believed she could love Ashley, but the honor of serving her country was something she wasn’t sure she could walk away from right now.

Sneakinga plate full of macaroni and cheese, Ashley was about to return to the bedroom when she heard the patio door open. “We see you,” her mom called. “Don’t rush off.”

Pausing in the kitchen, she waited for them to come around the corner. “Are you sure? Ashley asked with a smile. “I don’t want to interrupt anything again.” The two women walked into the kitchen, and Drew had a hint of a blush at the comment, but Ashley was glad to see her smiling too.

---