Grizzly Flying Home by Sloane Meyers

because I’m so angry right now that I could tear his limbs off one by one.”
    Emily felt a rush of warmth at Chance’s touch. She felt peace settling over her as he traced the gash on her face with one of his fingers. Just knowing that someone cared about her wellbeing made her feel so much better. She had felt so alone for so long, and now, suddenly, she had an entire crew of smokejumpers and their families looking out for her.
    “I’m fine,” Emily said. “These gashes and bruises are from a day ago. I wasn’t home when Scott came over and broke into my apartment. I had gone to the corner store for food, and when I came back I realized he was there. I turned around and left before he saw me.”
    “I’m glad you didn’t run into him today,” Chance said. “But these other bruises and cuts are bad. You can’t keep defending him and saying he isn’t violent, Emily. You have to admit that he is. I know you care about him, but you have to at least put some space between the two of you until he gets some help.”
    “You can stay here, if you need a safe space,” Charlotte piped in. “Ian’s not big on adding more people to the bunkhouse, but he would never turn away a woman in danger. He’ll want you to be protected.”
    Emily’s heart warmed again at the offers of help from her new friends. “I know you’re right, Chance,” she said. “I’m not making excuses for him anymore. I had actually already decided to leave him before he broke into my apartment. I spent the day yesterday working on my photography, and when I got home he blew up at me and attacked me for not telling him where I was or what I was doing. He accused me of cheating on him. I decided that I couldn’t take anymore, and I started packing a few big suitcases. Oddly enough, I was already planning on coming over here before Scott broke in. I wanted to ask you for tips on moving to Alaska.”
    Chance’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding me. You’re moving to Alaska?”
    Emily smiled, amused by Chance’s surprised reaction. “Yes. I decided to take your advice and give nature photography up there a shot. I’ve already lost most of my friends here in California, and I’d like to be as far away from Scott as possible. It sounds to me like Alaska is a good place to start over.”
    “Chance is about to move to Alaska, too!” Charlotte blurted out in excitement.
    Now it was Emily’s turn to look surprised. “You are?”
    Chance grinned. “Yes. I’m moving back home. I’ve been packing up my stuff as well.”
    Emily could feel her heart begin to pound with excitement. She had forced herself to push away the growing attraction she was feeling toward Chance, telling herself it didn’t make sense to fall for a man who would be living so far away. But now, she was newly single and realizing that Chance would still be living in the same state as her once she moved. She couldn’t hold back the excitement she felt, and, without thinking about what she was doing, she threw her arms around Chance’s neck. “This is the best news ever,” she exclaimed.
    As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she realized how ridiculous she was acting. She thought that there was some chemistry between Chance and her, but she wasn’t sure if he was interested in continuing to hang out with her once he got back to Alaska. He already had friends back home. He didn’t need new friends the way she did. She would be starting from scratch, but that didn’t mean she wanted to come across as a silly, desperate schoolgirl. She was already embarrassed enough by the fact that she had basically been forced to come to the hangar to escape her violent ex-boyfriend whom she had insisted for so long was not dangerous.
    But as Emily tried to pull away from Chance, her cheeks red with shame, Chance’s arms stopped her. He had wrapped his arms around her and placed his hands on the small of her back, pulling her in closer.
    “It is good news,” he said, his mouth