Page 33 of Stay with Me
“Thanks, Drew. I really want to be there for Rick but—” Drew cut off whatever Coop was going to say.
“Stop. Rick knows how important riding is to you. Just like the military is to him. You’ve got his, and in turn, my support. Now, let me get off the phone and see what I can make happen. You go to Michigan and take care of the new rider,” Drew said before hanging up with Coop. He stood up from his desk and headeddown the hall to talk with Steve, see if he could pull off a miracle or if he was calling in his family.
§ § § §
Drew walked up to Rick as he climbed out of a limo with Brody at his side. His parents, Uncle Danny, Cal, and Maddy were behind them, with Julia bringing up the rear. The North Carolina contingent had made the trip with him and Brody. Drew and Brody had spent last night at Cal and Maddy’s getting baby cuddles and watching Amy show them every cheer she knew while his parents were with his uncles. Even though it was a short drive from Fayetteville to Durham, it was easier that his parents drove in yesterday. Drew pulled Rick into a hug. He could tell that Rick was holding back. Brody put a hand on Rick’s shoulder as Drew pulled back.
“Tris and Cam send their condolences. Cam’s out on a West Coast swing with the team. Tris is sitting on a board that he couldn’t get out of. Uncle Mackey and Scott said to tell you they’ll see you when you get back to Campbell,” Drew said as he looked over Rick’s shoulder. “What the fuck?” Drew exclaimed under his breath but not soft enough that his mother didn’t hear him and smacked his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Andrew Brian Nolan, we might not be in the church yet but you will show respect. You are not a heathen,” his mother scolded as she shoved him out of her way to wrap Rick in her arms. “I’m sorry.”
“But Mom? When did that happen?” Drew demanded, undeterred. He pointed over Rick’s shoulder to where Julia and Christopher were embracing. Drew had thought that Rick had been making shit up when he told him that he’d thought something had happened when Julia and Christopher met. There was no mistaking that they were more than just friends.
Drew watched as his father said something to Rick’s dad before handing him a handkerchief. Uncle Danny held his hand out to Rick, pulling him in for a one-arm hug.
“Liam sends his love and sympathy. One of the triplets is sick and Amy had a field trip today, so he stayed with the kids. Comes in handy having a doctor in the family.” He looked at the couple still hugging. “Looks like you’ll be finding that out if things work out between your brother and Julia. I will warn you, however, about something that Cam found out years ago ? Kevin might seem to be laid back, but when it comes to his kids? Yeah, not so much. Might want to suggest to your brother that asking Julia’s father for his baby girl’s hand in marriage would be appropriate.”
He watched as Rick’s mouth open and close like he was a guppy fish blowing bubbles. Drew had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep his laughter in check. He knew if he started laughing, his mother would brain him. He might want to give his buddy some grief, but he knew better than to push his luck in a formal setting with his parents. A lieutenant bar might be on his shoulders but he was first and foremost a senior NCO’s child and would act appropriately in public.
Chapter Twenty-Three
A quick look in the rearview mirror made Drew smile. Smokey, one of the retired MWDs, was stretched out on the back seat. Uncle Mackey had been over the moon when Drew had called him about maybe adopting Smokey. The Malamute had been injured during a search and rescue and was facing multiple surgeries to repair his hind legs, which had been hit by a tree branch and pinned to a dam waiting for the water to recede. His handler had been swept over the dam and found a mile downstream. Now, Smokey would go to live with his uncles and have his best life. Treats, tennis balls, and a soft bed to sleep on.
Smokey was going to stay with him and Brody at Brody’s for a few days. He spent more time at Brody’s these days than at his own place. They were going to have to have a serious talk soon, since Drew needed to figure out where he was going to live. The sublet that he signed was running out in the next month. They were going to drive Smokey to Tennessee next week. He’d been given a few days leave for the trip. Brody was supposed to come with him, a little mini vacation for them. Their first as a couple. And wasn’t that a head trip? Drew had a partner. Before he could get stuck in his head, overthinking their relationship, Drew’s phone rang through the Bluetooth. He hit ‘accept’ and Julia started talking before he could even say hello.
“I don’t know if I want to move. I like Fayetteville. I’ve got an amazing job and should make full partner within two years. If I have kids, when I have kids, I want to be close to Mom and Dad. Let them be the spoiling grandparents that we didn’t have. It’s not like Grandma went out of her way to visit us after Papa Andy died. I don’t even remember Dad’s parents, and if I don’t, there’s no way you do. And that fucking sucks. How are you and Brody?” Julia finished.
If he wasn’t so used to his sister, really most of the women in his life, just starting a conversation without the niceties, Drew would be lost. He took a quick minute to think through everything Julia had said, ignoring the only question that she actually asked.
“Are you thinking about moving in with Christopher already? You’ve only been seeing each other for a few months, right? Why not see how the holidays go before you jump into the what ifs. Oooh, or even better, maybe have a conversation with the man?” Look at me putting my interpersonal skills to use, he thought. He might be in his first serious relationship but he knew what it took for a good one. Communication was right up there with chemistry.
He heard Julia growl over the line before she spoke. “How do you do that? Right on target with your observation in less than a minute?”
Drew pulled into what he considered “his” parking space at Brody’s. Looking over at the other spot assigned to the condo, Drew saw Brody’s Toyota. He had thought he was going to beat Brody home and could get Smokey situated in the guest room. Guess not.
“It’s a developed skill that I have after listening to you, Nova, and Maggie for years. As for how Brody and I are doing? We’re doing good. Going to visit Uncle Mackey and Uncle Scott next week to bring Smokey to them,” Drew said as he disconnected the phone from the Bluetooth and climbed out. Smokey popped off the seat and was waiting at the door when he opened it. A quick unclick and the dog was unbuckled and sitting next to Drew, waiting for a command. Drew ruffled the top of Smokey’s head before gesturing for him to ‘inspect’ and do his business before they went inside. He leaned against the front bumper of the Jeep and watched over the dog.
“Smokey? Wait…” Drew could picture the look on his sister’s face as she tried to remember what he was talking about. “Oh yeah, Uncle Mackey’s new rescue.”
“Rescue? Nah, more a new companion for him and Uncle Scott. Dirk went over the Rainbow Bridge a few years ago now. Smokey needed a new home that could spoil him and also afford the surgeries he’s going to need.” Drew straightened, grabbed a plastic bag, and cleaned up after Smokey. He tossed the bag in the outside trash bin and led the dog up the stairs, taking them slowly to not tax Smokey’s back legs. “Now, I’m home and Brody beat me. Love you.”
“Love you, too, and yes, I’ll talk to Christopher,” Julia replied. He knew that she was rolling her eyes at him. Damn, he loved his sister.
§ § § §
“Why don’t you have a dog?” Brody asked from the couch. He’d watched as Drew got Smokey settled with some sort of toy. It looked pretty cool from what Brody saw. Drew had set up bowls in the kitchen and Brody knew there was a sleep bed in the guest room. Yup, Smokey was going to be spoiled.
“Umm, I just finished school,” Drew answered as he settled next to Brody with a peck on the lips. “Need to be established and not working all the hours of a brand-new lieutenant. You should know that with the funky hours you end up with.”
“I call bullshit on that. You could make a dog work. You’re amazing with them. You spend as much time as you can with the handlers and MWDs. What’s the real reason?” Brody felt Drew tense and knew he’d hit the nail on the head. He sat there quietly, rubbing his hand up and down Drew’s arm.
It took Drew so long to answer Brody, he’d honestly thought that he wasn’t going to. He felt more than heard Drew blow out abreath before he said, “I’m afraid to get attached. I know I’d want a retired working dog. It’s hard enough for me to not work with them every day, to not be able to do what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Okay, wow. Not what Brody was expecting. “You haven’t always wanted to be in the Army?”
Drew pulled out of Brody’s arms and turned sideways leaning against the back of the couch. “Yeah. Haven’t really ever told anyone other than Rick but…” Brody sat up and faced Drew. He watched Drew fidget with the sweats he’d changed into. Drew must have come to some decision as he nodded before talking again. “Time for me to ‘fess up to a few things. If we’re going where I hope we are, you need to know this before we’re too invested. I’m only doing my six. I never wanted to go into the military but with my family… I couldn’t figure out how to tell them. I’m named after my papa who died when I was a baby. He retired a full colonel. He was a major badass. You know about my dad, uncles, and brother. I was able to get out of going to West Point.”
Brody had to laugh at that statement. It took him a minute and a glare from Drew to stop. “Sorry. I am one-hundred percent not laughing at you. But only you would think not going to West Point was an escape.”
