Evans Creek Book 2: In Good Hands

Chapter 13

"I..." Ashley started, swallowed then gave him a shy smile before saying. "You look good, Rowdy."

"I...uh..."

It felt like...like the world just tipped upside down. He resisted the urge to rub his eyes. If he was dreaming...then he wasn't sure he wanted to wake up yet.

Rowdy tried to speak but it felt like he had a rusty knife stuck in his throat and that damned porcupine was doing backflips in his stomach again.

Licking his lips, he tried again.

"You too." He answered, surprised that his voice sounded normal.

She really did, he thought as he realized that he hadn't seen her since he left for Boot Camp six years ago.

While he was deployed, he'd spent so many nights remembering his last look at her  through the window of the bus as she stood with the others and watched him leave.

She kissed her fingertips and lifted her palm up toward him in a sad little sort of wave. He waved back, although he knew she couldn't see him.

He imagined he could still see her, long after her image blurred into the crowd around her.

...which probably had more to do with the tears that were in his eyes than distance...

She looked the same now as she did then—almost.

Her light brown hair was streaked with blonde now, but it was subtle. She was lightly tanned, and he thought maybe she had a few extra freckles across her cute little nose.

The California Sunshine looked good on her.

Ashley's bright green eyes were smiling at him and he found himself smiling back.

"Rowdy, Ebony was—" Dennis stopped suddenly. "Ashley?"

"Hi Dennis." Ashley smiled meekly. "It's good to see you."

Dennis looked at Rowdy for help, but all Rowdy could manage was a shrug.

"What are you doing here?"

Dennis blurted the question that Rowdy most wanted to know, but his brain was still trying to process that Ashley was in front of him and he seemed to have temporarily lost his senses.

"That's a fine how-do-you-do."

Ashley smiled and Rowdy felt the years melt away. It was like the three of them were in high school again and greeting each other after a week off.

...but it had been 6 years, not six days....

Rowdy watched as Ashley reached up to hug Dennis.

Dennis threw him a look over Ashley's shoulder that was equal parts sadness and confusion.

Rowdy drew small comfort knowing that Dennis was knocked off-kilter, too.

"Ashley?" Betsy stopped so suddenly that she nearly lost the plates that were balanced across her arms.

Rowdy watched her do a little dance and was impressed when she managed to keep the plates in place without spilling anything.

"Girlie, welcome home! Listen, I have to drop these off, but don't go anywhere."

"I won't Betsy." Ashley beamed and Rowdy was glad he was sitting down.

That smile still made his knees go weak.

"So, how are you?" Dennis asked. "I haven't heard from you in...what...two years?"