Chapter 23

Bryce: This has been a bigger deal than originally expected. My phone is dying, promise to call you as soon as I can. Love you baby.

This was the text I received sixteen hours ago. I re-read the same chapter for at least the sixth time. It’s useless. There’s no way I can concentrate on anything. My phone rings, and Nate’s number comes across the screen.

“Hey! You okay?”

“Yeah, it’s been a long few days. Listen, I don’t want to get into your business, but Mom told me how upset you were the last couple of days. I’m going to recommend you don’t take it out on Bryce. He’s had a fuck of a lot happen, and most of it has been shit. Shawn’s situation turned ugly, and Bryce waded in like a true leader. He’s impressed a lot of people.” Nate lets out a tired breath. “I’m pretty sure not being able to talk to you has him on edge as well.”

“Is everything taken care of?”

“Yes, it is. Bryce and Liza took the lead on this. I was support.”

At the mention of her name, my skin chills. I had the suspicion they worked together but hearing it confirmed sucks.

“Thanks for calling with a heads up. Hopefully he can call soon.”

“I got home about noon and crashed. Swore I heard him, but he’s not here. There’s a chance he went back to base to finish paperwork.”

He was home and didn’t call me? What the hell?

Before I can say anything, a doorbell rings in the background.

“I need to go. We’ll talk in a few days.”

Curiosity gets the best of me, and I tease him. “Who’s there? Is it mystery girl?”

“None of your business… Hanging up now.”

“Love you,” is all I get out before the phone clicks.

I stare at my phone and jump when it rings, and Bryce’s picture flashes.

“Hello.”

“Baby,” is all he says, and my heart starts fluttering.

“Bryce, are you okay?”

“I am borderline delirious at this point, but in about forty-five minutes, I’ll be fine.”

It’s then I notice the echoing in the background. “Where are you?”

“About to get off the highway. If there’s no traffic, I’ll be at your apartment soon.”

“You’re coming here?” I hop off the sofa and start straightening the living room.

“Oh, yeah, I’ve been in a form of hell since Friday. You’re the only thing that I can think of right now to help erase the stress of the last few days.”

Selfishness washes through me at his words. I’ve been a needy bitch, never really thinking of what he was going through. All I was concerned with was why he wasn’t calling me.

“Are you hungry? I can run out and get something to fix for dinner, maybe some—”

“Dev, the only thing I’m hungry for is you, but unfortunately, I think that will even have to wait until tomorrow. I’ve gotten about ten hours of sleep combined since leaving you on Friday morning.”

“Bryce! It’s Monday night! That’s crazy.”

“Tell me you have cold beer? We’ll talk about the insanity of the last few days when I get there.”

“Be safe. I love you.”

In record time, I shower and put fresh sheets on the bed. Then I send a quick text to Quinn and Nate to let them know Bryce is coming here.

The knock at my door sends my heart into overdrive. I throw open the door and inhale deeply. Even exhausted, he takes my breath away. He drops his bag and hauls me directly into his arms.

“Jesus, you’re a sight.”

I lean my forehead against his and run my lips along his. “So are you.”

We stand there, soaking in the closeness, neither speaking for a few seconds. He reluctantly steps back and laces his hand in mine, leading me inside. We go straight to my bedroom, where he falls onto the bed and moves me to his side.

“I’m sorry I’ve been MIA. It couldn’t be helped,” he says sadly.

“Don’t be sorry. It’s your job.” I try to sound convincing.

“Devon, I know how bothered you’ve been. Not only could I sense it in my bones, it was obvious in your voice on my messages. Believe me, I wish like hell the last few days never happened. But knowing you were upset kills me.”

Guilt starts to smother me. Looking at him now, the worry etched on his face, the dimness of his eyes, I feel like a total bitch.

“Bryce, it wasn’t that I was upset, I was concerned and hated not being able to talk to you. It was completely ridiculous and juvenile.”

He closes his eyes and then turns to face me. “If the situation was reversed, and I couldn’t find you for three days, I’d have been a lot more than ridiculous. There’s a good chance my crazy ass would have been beating down doors to get to you.”

A giggle bubbles up, and I try unsuccessfully to hide it. His eyes soften.

“Okay, so we’ve determined we’re both out of our minds. Can you tell me exactly what’s kept you so busy?”

“You mind if I take a shower first?”

“You got it. I’ll meet you in the living room with a cold beer when you’re ready.” I roll off the bed and lean down to kiss his cheek.

He lets me go, and the sound of the shower starts when I get to the kitchen. I take two beers to the living room to wait. He joins me a few minutes later in sweatpants and nothing else. My mouth starts to water at the sight. He notices, and heat flashes in his eyes.

“Devon, pretty sure Quinn wouldn’t appreciate opening the door to find me fucking you on the sofa. That’s what’s going to happen if you don’t stop looking at me like that.”

I look away, take a sip of my beer, and stay quiet, the thought of him fucking me on the sofa completely on my mind.

He sits next to me and situates me half on his lap. I hand him a beer and wait for him to talk.

“It’s a long story, but Shawn’s situation took a lot longer than I expected. He fully admitted to having a hard time coping with his wife leaving. He was using alcohol as a crutch. Liza and I talked to our superiors and came up with a plan to get him help. He was receptive to all our suggestions and agreed to get help.”

He stops talking, and I wait for more. He drinks his beer quietly, not saying anything. “Um, Bryce, that sounds really cut and dry. Maybe I missed something, but that took all of five seconds to tell me.”

“Well, that’s the story the public knows. Here’s the true story. He was mad as hell. He’s bitter and angry at the world. His wife leaving was icing on the cake. He suspected she was having an affair, and it started during his last deployment.”

“Oh no!”

“Yeah, he convinced himself of this. But we actually got a hold of her, and she willingly spoke to us. There was no affair, only loneliness. She said she tried to talk to him several times, but he wouldn’t listen. So she left as a sign of seriousness, trying to get through to him.

“When he learned this, it all came crashing down. He hit bottom. We gave him a few options. He did agree to get help and speak with an alcohol counselor. Liza and I both worked around the clock to research protocol and standard practices. We reached out to the wife and had her sit down with Shawn to explain their marriage could be saved. Then we got him set up with leave and into an alcohol center. He was admitted this morning. But the three days leading up to it have been pure hell.”

“What would have happened if he didn’t agree to your options?”

Bryce gives me a look, and I know exactly what would have happened. I put my beer down and twist into him, straddling his waist and wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “You saved that man’s career, didn’t you?”

He shrugs. “I guess you could say that.”

“You saved his marriage, too.”

He shrugs again.

“You’re amazing, absolutely amazing.” I kiss along his neck, whispering against his skin, “I’m so incredibly proud of you. He’s lucky to have someone like you on his side.”

He sets his beer down and puts his hands on my hips. “It’s my job. He had an excellent service record before this. I had to do everything in my power to help him.”

Pride and love stream through me, and I lean back, cupping his face in my hands. “Bryce, it’s fine to be noble with your team and crew, but I know how much you impacted this man forever. In the future, if your job takes you away from me with little communication for days, but you’re busy being awesome, don’t worry. I’ll be waiting patiently when you’re done to hear all about it.”

His face finally loses the earlier apprehension, and he gives me a wide smile, his eyes shining. “Being awesome, huh?”

“Oh yeah.” I nod and rest my forehead against his, never losing eye contact. “And I’m pretty sure being awesome deserves a reward.”

“Does this reward include you naked?”

He doesn’t give me a chance to answer but stands with me in his arms and walks us back to my room. With the way his eyes are practically eating me alive, I’m pretty sure I’ll owe Quinn an apology tomorrow morning.

The sound of a soft buzzing wakes me, and I reach over to hit my alarm clock.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

What the hell? I twist and notice Bryce’s side of the bed is empty, but the buzzing is coming from that direction. The sound stops, but immediately starts again, and I wake up enough to know it’s the sound of his phone.

I search until I find it on the floor beside his pants from last night. Without looking, I swipe to answer.

“Hello?” I croak.

“Hello?” Liza’s voice wakes me up fully.

“Liza?”

“Who’s this?”

“Devon.” Who does she think it is?

“I’m looking for Bryce.”

My alarm clock glows into the dark room, reading six-forty five. “Isn’t it a little early?” I ask annoyed.

“Not when we start work in half an hour. Now, can I talk to Bryce?”

“Currently, he’s unavailable.”

“Devon, we’ve got a lot of shit going on right now that you don’t know about. Can you get him for me?”

“Actually, I do know about it, and no, I can’t get him. But I can relay a message.”

She gets quiet, but her breathing picks up. “Actually, that’s fine. Tell him I have his watch from the other night, and I’ll bring it to work.” Her tone is condescending. I don’t let her know he’s not going to be at work today.

“I’ll relay the message.” I hang up without another word. Bitch.

I climb out of bed and throw on a sweatshirt then go searching for Bryce.

The smell of coffee hits me as soon as my door opens. I follow the aroma to the kitchen where Bryce is sitting with my computer at the table.

“Hey.” He motions for me to sit on his lap. “What are you doing up so early?”

“Liza called,” I tell him. “She said she has your watch from the other night and she’ll bring it to work.” Irritation drips from my words.

His face twists, and he looks at me with sympathy. “I’m sorry she woke you up. It’s a little early to call.”

“Early to call? She was happy to let me know you two have to be at work soon. Apparently, she doesn’t know you’re here.”

“Why the hell would she know I’m here? It’s none of her business where I am.”

“Maybe you should tell her that.” I take a deep breath, trying to calm my annoyance.

“Devon, we work together. That’s it. The other night, before we convinced Shawn to go to rehab, he went on a bender. We found him practically comatose in his place. We stayed until he sobered up. In the process of that, he threw up, mostly on me, several times. I handed her my watch when I was scared he would puke on it.”

Now I feel like an idiot. My anger dissolves instantly. Why do I continuously let her get to me, always thinking the worst? “I’m sorry,” I murmur, lowering my eyes.

He threads his fingers through my hair and pulls me to him, kissing me quickly. “She’s nothing to me. Strictly a peer.”

“I know, but it’s the way she portrays your relationship, like she’s goading me.” I think about telling him more about the conversation in my kitchen that morning but decide against it because he’s already said she means nothing to him.

He watches me a few more seconds before talking. “Want to go back to bed for a few hours before you have class?”

“Sure, but why are you up anyway?”

“I’m trying to figure out our holiday plans. I’ll have seven days off but not both Christmas and New Year’s. I assume you’ll be cheering in a bowl game, so I’m trying to see what is best for both of us.”

“I’d really like to have Christmas together with our families. Can you swing that?”

“If that’s what you want then absolutely. Mom will be thrilled.”

“Okay, I have three weeks off between semesters. Quinn is going to spend some time in Atlanta. I promised my mom we’d finish some wedding stuff, but otherwise, I can stay in Norfolk if you’d like.”

His face brightens at the news, and he kisses me softly. “I’d love that.”

“Really?!? It’s barely daylight, and you two are at it already. I’m declaring the kitchen a safe zone! No more!” Quinn mutters, grabbing a bottle of water and looking barely awake.

“No worries, Quinn. I’m taking her back to bed for at least three hours. Then I’ll drive you both to class. It’s fucking cold outside.”

“You’re on… but I’d like to go back to sleep. Think you can keep it down?”

“Not on your life,” he responds.

She gives me the evil eye, but I see right through her. She’s happy he’s here and things are fine.