Page 42 of Perfect Chemistry

“Hey, mommy,” I whispered into the phone. “I’m just letting you know that I am home again. If you and daddy want to come down this weekend, Tyson’s cleaned up the guest room.”

I listened to my mom gush and rave about Tyson and all that he had done for me. I smiled, looking at the man sleeping next to me. “He is amazing, isn’t he?” I agreed.

Tyson never left my side in the four months that I was hospitalized. Before we had deployed, I had listed Tyson as the person to escort should anything happen. I hadn’t even told Tyson, so I couldn’t understand how he and the commander had worked it out so that Tyson got temporary orders permitting him to remain by my side until I could come home.

I had gone back up to the military hospital a few more times, but now I was finally home for good. No more doctors, therapists, rehabilitation, or extra checks remained to be done. When I first left the hospital, Tyson moved all of my stuff into his apartment, insisting that I still needed a caregiver while I was convalescing. I knew he was amazing from the beginning, but the last year only confirmed just how truly amazing he really was.

When I hung up with my mom, I lay back down in bed and snuggled into Tyson’s body. His arms pulled me close and held me. All of the stress, worry, and doubts disappeared from my mind. We hadn’t said the words yet, that I could remember, but I knew I was completely in love with Tyson Johnson. We had been together for a year and a half of hell. What couldn’t we get through after this?

Tomorrow would be my first day back to regular duty since the attack. I was nervous and excited to be back amongst my military family. It had been a long recovery, but I was finally cleared as fit for duty and taking on a new platoon of marines.

“Go to sleep, or I will make you pregnant,” Tyson threatened in his sleepy voice.

I couldn’t help but giggle. That had become his new thing. He had taken me up to visit Andie, and I helped deliver her son. Now, all he talked about was how much he wanted to marry me and knock me up.

I honestly thought I would have been opposed to the idea, but life with Tyson was more than I ever imagined. He was wearing me down with his love and devotion.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep with a smile on my face.

Chapter 15

Our unit had been so busy these last four months preparing for another deployment. Between training rotations in the field, technical certifications, and everyday training, it felt like a roller coaster finally nearing the end of the ride.

I cinched down the straps on my pack and hefted it onto my back. This morning we were going to conduct a range, and the companies were rucking out and back after qualifications were complete.

Tyson’s platoon was running the range, so I had packed some extra snacks and a thermos of soup in my pack for him. It was early fall, and the air held that crisp cold that always came before a snowstorm.

I tightened everything up and then moved to check over my marines before we stepped off. The march out would take less than two hours. If my marines dug in, every last one should be at the range within ninety minutes.

“Sound off, Marines!” our platoon commander shouted as he began roll call.

“Anderson.”

“OOO-RAH”

“Anthony.”

“OOO-RAH”

Each marine stepped off to begin the march as their names were called off. The commander had organized the list by squads so our folks could maintain their unit integrity and report back, just as we had always trained.

The sun was barely crested over the horizon when I reached the range. I grounded my gear at the assembly area and retook the roll for the firing orders. One of the range cadre was standing by to give the safety brief as soon as my checks were done. I stood back and watched my platoon move in an orderly fashion between stations.

I didn’t need to fire today because I had qualified with the rest of the regiment leadership the day before. This would be my second day in a row marching twelve miles. Tyson promised to spoil me the whole weekend for my efforts.

A deep voice broke me out of my thoughts. “What are you smiling about, Marine? Were you given the authorization to look that happy?”

I realized that I had been smiling at the thoughts of Tyson spoiling me. So I chuckled and turned to see the man who occupied my thoughts. “I got my chit signed this morning, Gunny!” I replied.

Tyson’s solemn expression broke, and he started laughing. “Of course you did.”

We walked together behind my platoon, observing them. I evaluated the range cadre’s efficiency and organization, and Tyson saw how good my Marines were with marksmanship. Unfortunately, our regiment was on orders to deploy in three weeks, so we didn’t have more time to train and correct deficiencies.

“They look good, Preston,” Tyson admitted, nodding at the first group’s initial qualification marks to come off the firing lanes.

“They worked really hard,” I said, proud of how hardworking these marines were. “Are you nervous?” I asked without looking away from the firing line.

“Why would I be nervous?” Tyson scoffed. “When you lose, you just remember what you promised, Preston.”

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