Page 9 of Rescue My Heart

She couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just a fleeting encounter, but rather the beginning of something unexpected and beautiful.

She definitely did not want to leave that conversation, especially for a damn false alarm. Of all the times to be called away, she thought, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Why now? The way Mazey spoke, the warmth in her voice. It had been so nice to feel such a genuine connection with someone, so unexpected.

But what if it was just a fluke? She desperately wanted to know if Mazey was feeling it too. The thought made her heart race in a way she hadn’t felt in years. It was exhilarating andterrifying at the same time. But then again, Mazey was straight, she reminded herself, trying to ground herself in reality.

There was one person she trusted to help her navigate these feelings: her good friend Ember Thompson. The daughter of the legendary Phoenix Ridge Fire Chief Becky Thompson, Ember was a force of nature in her own right. Though she had previously worked at the fire station, (and these days did the occasional shift) she’d ventured out to open her own muscle car garage, a dream she had nurtured for years. Ember was the embodiment of adventure: fearless, driven, and unapologetically herself.

In the past, Ember had been a thrill-seeker, but everything shifted when she met her now-wife, Dr. Josephine Mars, the head of Phoenix Ridge Hospital. McKenna had seen Ember transition from the wild, rebellious spirit she once was to a devoted partner and mother. She never envisioned Ember settling down, but now they had a seven-year-old daughter who brought joy to their lives and grounded Ember in ways McKenna found admirable.

Even though Ember had embraced a safer lifestyle since becoming a mother, she never lost her adventurous spirit. She still encouraged McKenna to explore, to date, and to live life fully, often pushing her toward experiences that McKenna hesitated to pursue. Perhaps Ember felt the longing for adventure vicariously through McKenna, or maybe she simply understood the importance of embracing life's possibilities.

Regardless, McKenna appreciated Ember’s straightforwardness. She wouldn’t sugarcoat anything; if anyone could give her the unfiltered truth about her feelings for Mazey, it would be Ember. With determination, McKenna decided it was time to have that conversation. She just hoped that whatever Ember had to say wouldn’t complicate things further.Yet she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement at the thought of discussing it with someone who would understand.

She hopped in her truck, the familiar rumble of the engine providing a comforting backdrop as she drove over to Ember's garage. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the Phoenix Ridge landscape, and McKenna felt a surge of anticipation. What am I even doing? Am I really about to spill my feelings to Ember?

Parking her old truck in the lot, she stepped out and made her way inside, the scent of motor oil and gasoline wrapping around her. This is just a friendly visit, she reassured herself, trying to convince herself she couldn’t have a crush on someone she barely knew.

Ember was sprawled beneath a classic Mustang, her hands buried in the engine compartment. “Hello!” McKenna called out, her voice echoing off the concrete walls.

“I could hear your old truck from a mile away; you don’t need to yell for me,” Ember shot back, her tone playful. She rolled herself out from under the car, a smudge of grease marking her cheek, and grabbed a towel to wipe her hands, leaving streaks of oil across her apron.

Why do I feel so nervous? It’s just Ember.

“What brings you here, Adams?” Ember asked, arching an eyebrow as she leaned against the car, crossing her arms.

“I went on a rescue today,” McKenna replied, a hint of pride swelling in her chest. I need to focus on the rescue. Talk about the adrenaline, not Mazey.

“Oh! How was it? What did you do? Tell me all about it!” Ember's eyes sparkled with excitement.

“It was out by the cliff. There was some production team there for a new Netflix show,” McKenna explained, feeling the adrenaline of the day rush back. “For Netflix? Fuck, that’s so cool! Who was there? Anyone famous? Wait, was there a fire?”

“No, actually, one of the actresses got stuck out on the cliff. Her damn safety harness and rig ended up snapping,” McKenna said, shaking her head as the details replayed in her mind.

“Holy fuck! She did well to stay on the cliff till you got there. Who was it?” Ember’s eyes widened in disbelief, her body tensing with concern.

“Have you heard of Mazey Snow?” McKenna asked, watching Ember’s reaction closely.

“Of course! Everyone knows Mazey Snow. I mean, I feel like she has the spirit to hold herself up there, but I didn’t think she had the strength. God damn, it must be all that CrossFit shit celebrities are doing these days. Maybe I should join,” Ember said, flexing her muscles and looking at them with a mock frown, as if trying to gauge her own strength.

“Hey, you’re plenty strong already,” McKenna reassured, chuckling. “But yeah, she was incredible. It’s wild how composed she was, even while dangling off a cliff.” God, she couldn’t stop thinking about her. Was this what a crush felt like?

Ember leaned in, intrigued. “What was she like? Did you get to talk to her?”

“Yeah, actually.” Her mind drifted back to their conversation. “She was a lot more down-to-earth than I expected. We hit it off, you know? I mean, she’s an actress, but she felt...real. It was refreshing.”

“Wait a minute,” Ember said, her expression shifting to one of playful suspicion. “Are you telling me you’ve got a crush on Mazey Snow? Because if you are, I’m going to have to get you a poster of her to hang in your bedroom.”

“Ha, ha. Very funny,” McKenna replied, rolling her eyes but unable to suppress a smile.

“No, but seriously. If you’re really interested in her, why not just go for it? What do you have to lose?” Ember leanedback against the workbench, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised in challenge.

“Yeah, that’s easy for someone who’s married to say,” McKenna shot back, trying to mask the flutter of nerves in her stomach. She wasn’t entirely convinced by her own dismissal.

“How do you think I was able to get married? By not shooting my shot? I don’t think so.” Ember’s eyes sparkled, and McKenna couldn’t help but admire her friend’s unwavering confidence.

“Okay, you’re right,” she conceded, sighing deeply. It was frustrating, this swirling mix of feelings for Mazey. It was new territory, and the thought of crossing that line filled her with both excitement and dread.

“Hey, let’s head inside. I need some coffee if I’m going to keep working on this thing,” Ember said, gesturing toward the car.