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“Hey.” I cuff his shoulder. “I see you were busy wrangling Gertrude and the crew early this morning.”
“More like making sure Layla doesn’t put on her cape and get hurt.” His eyes twinkle as he shoves his sunglasses up again. “That woman drives me crazy. She was bad before she was pregnant, and now her maternal instincts have kicked in. I’m surprised I haven’t come home to a pen full of ducks in the backyard.”
I chuckle at the visual. “You aren’t far off the mark on that one.” We walk side by side with the gravel crunching under our boots.
“Ain’t that right.” He yanks the glasses off and slides one arm into the pocket of his black T-shirt, breaking up the fire station logo on his breast pocket. “Harbor get off to the city?”
“Yeah, she took off over an hour ago.” I shove my hands into my pockets to stop from dragging my phone out and calling her.
He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “You seem a bit on edge.”
“Yeah.” Shit. I clear my throat. “I’m telling Chief Monroe today that I’m going to take a job in San Francisco.”
“Holy shit.” He stumbles on the toe of his boot, throwing his arm out to catch himself. “What’s that about?” He grasps the doorknob as his forehead furrows deeper. “I assumed Harbor would move back here rather than you heading off to the city.” The creases indent even farther. “You don’t seem the city type. Less so than I seemed like a small-town type.”
“It’s for Harbor. She loves her job and can’t do it from here. I can take a fireman position anywhere. I’m an adult; I’m sure I can adjust to the traffic and smog. Besides, I love her and don’t want to be away from her.”
“I can appreciate that.” He slaps my shoulder. “You’re a good guy, and Layla can’t stop talking about how happy she is that the two of you are together. But she’s going to be pissed that you aren’t convincing Harbor to move back here. She has visions of our kids growing up together, going to school, playing in sports together.” One corner of his mouth arches upward. “Getting married. You know. The works.”
“We’ll come back to see everyone, and it’ll be a blast. The kids will still get the chance to hang out and get to know each other.” Heat creeps up my neck and over my cheeks. “If we have kids.”
“Please….” Kameron twists the knob and swings open the door. “You’ll have kids. There’s no question about that. You’re both from big families that are eagerly waiting for grandchildren. Or, in your case, more grandchildren.”
I laugh as the dinner party flashes into my mind. “Bro, you have no idea how crazy our parents are.”
As we pass through the station, I tell him about the dinner, excluding the hydration part. Harbor can fill Layla in on that. I’m not about to talk shit about our sex life in front of a slew of obnoxious firemen. The jokes would never stop.
Chief Monroe steps out of his office and glares in our direction. “Cole,” he barks, “I need to see you.”
“Yes, Sir.” My back straightens on instinct. I’ve known Layla’s dad since I was a kid, but he still scares the shit out of me.
My palms sweat as I traipse past the guys huddled around the kitchen table playing a game of poker while waiting for a call.
Vargas arches an eyebrow. “What did you do?”
“Fuck if I know.”
Chief Monroe’s jaw flexes as he paces on the other side of the window that overlooks the station. But I know. Chief Ortega called for a reference. So much for breaking the news gently.
Chapter Forty-Five
Harbor
After coming out of the gas station, I climb into my car and return Layla’s call as a black limo speeds down the highway. I wait for her to pick up while fastening my seatbelt and depositing my water bottle into the drink holder and placing my gummy snacks on the open seat.
It’s essential to be prepared for traffic jams–stay hydrated but not too hydrated, go pee, and have emergency sugar in case everything goes to shit. I roll my eyes as memories of my mom yelling to everyone to go to the bathroom before we left the house rattles around in my head while turning the ignition.
“Thanks for calling me back.” Layla’s voice is breathy as if she’s running around the café filling drink glasses to the regulars as I start the engine.
“I grip her thighs and inhale her scent. Knowing she’s wet for me makes my mouth water.”
“Shit.” I stab the stereo button, and the voice instantly disappears. “Sorry about that.”
Layla laughs. “No, go on. Clearly, we’re just getting to the good part.”
“I don’t want any of the regulars to have a heart attack.”
“Valid point.” Rustling sounds emit from the phone’s speaker. “I moved out of the dining area in case another naughty bit gets played. Anyway, on to important things. Not that an audiobook isn’t important, but you know what I mean.”
