I glanced over my shoulder and saw the two firefighters walk away. I sighed, regretting that I’d just dismissed them without even talking to them. They had come out of nowhere and before I knew it, they made my heart act crazy, which was something I hadn’t experienced a lot with men before.

One thing was certain—their muscular bodies were too good to look at, even under their uniforms I knew they were built. I couldn’t believe how hot they were, and I was still slightly flustered that they had spoken to me. Caleb and Trent, if I heard their names right. Even their names were sexy.

Caleb had beautiful blonde hair that was in a sweaty mess at the moment, but it only made him look more attractive. His piercing green eyes created flutters in my stomach, deeply affecting me just like Trent’s light blue ones. Trent had dark hair, but his build was similar to Caleb’s. Both of them looked irresistible and gorgeous, and I wished I’d met them under different circumstances.

I’d wanted to talk more with them, but I hadn’t been able to since the volunteer from the Red Cross had been explaining to me that due to smoke inhalation Granny had to go to a rehab center. This meant we would be separated! I didn’t want to be away from my grandmother, especially not now.

I glanced at her and felt a pang in my chest. She was laying on a stretcher nearby and looking at me with a slight, reassuring smile on her face. It was funny that she was trying to calm me down when she was the one who suffered the consequences of the fire. I didn’t even want to think what would have happened if we hadn’t rushed out of the place immediately, before the fire spread more.

“I understand how difficult this might be for you and your grandmother, Ms. Taft, but it’s for the best. We can’t take any chances with her.”

“I understand. Still, it’s difficult. We’ve never been separated before, you know?”

Her smile was sympathetic. “I get what you mean, since I feel the same about my grandmother. Your grandmother is a nice lady, and I’m sure she’ll be fine. Anyway, I hope you agree to this and to be put up in hotel with the other younger people and families. You’ll have your own room of course, and we’ll make sure you have access to your grandmother in the morning.”

A hotel. If I’d thought Granny and I had been struggling before, I’d been wrong. Tonight we hit rock bottom. We had lost everything. I fisted my hands and refused to let my emotions get the best of me. I couldn’t fall apart here—in front of everyone. There were enough tears. Little kids clutching their parents. An older man who lived downstairs was mumbling incoherently. Granny and I would survive this. We had to.

I should at least be thankful that I would be provided with a roof over my head, no matter how inconvenient it was.

“I agree,” I finally accepted and signed the form she’d handed to me.

“Thank you. Don’t worry, this is just a temporary solution.”

I nodded, but I wasn’t so sure. Our insurance wasn’t much, and I was still unemployed, so I couldn’t even imagine what the way out of this was.

“Thank you.”

She mentioned a few more details that I barely registered before she left me. I approached my grandmother and took her by hand. “How are you feeling?”

She looked too pale, but she was essentially okay. I wouldn’t know what I would have done without her.

“I’m fine, honey.”

“Are you sure? You don’t look good.”

“Stop worrying about me, Bree. I’m just a bit tired, but one night of good sleep will solve it. I’m more worried about you.”

“Me? Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.” I smiled and smoothed her hair. I didn’t want her to feel more stressed than she already was.

Her face showed that she didn’t believe me at all. “Are you? I know you, Bree, and I know that you’re trying to make it all easy for me, but I wish you wouldn’t do that. Why don’t you let me take care of you for a change?”

“I’m a big girl now, and I can take care of myself,” I said, my voice laced with humor.

“Even big girls need help from time to time.”

“True, but this is not one of those times. Seriously, Granny, you shouldn’t be concerned about me at all. You just take some time to rest. I’m sure everything is going to be alright.”

She was about to reply something to that, but the EMT came and told us they were about to transfer her to the rehab facility and I would be able to visit her tomorrow.

“Thank you,” I told him and faced my grandmother. I hugged her, trying not to think about the feeling of loneliness that had crept inside of me. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Sleep tight, okay?”

“You too, honey. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

I watched them put her in the back of the ambulance and waved at her before they closed the door and drove away. I turned around, hoping to find those two firefighters again, but they were already gone.

That was too bad. Now that I thought about it more, I hadn’t even thanked them for what they had done, and I shook my head annoyed with myself. Granny would be so upset I hadn’t thanked them, she would say, “I raised you better than that.” And she’d be right, just like always.

I wished I could see them again, but I didn’t know anything besides their names.

This night had been a complete disaster.