“But you were okay?” he asks, and his voice is no louder than a rough whisper, and I swear I hear a slight tremble in his voice. “After the crash?”
I nod. “There was someone there. Someone who helped me before the ambulance got there. I can’t remember them, but I just—” I close my eyes, wishing the memories would flood back to me once again, wishing I could clearly see those eyes that looked down on me and find that voice that told me I needed to be okay. “I just know.”
It feels like there’s more to say, like this conversation isn’t over, but Evee begins to stir in my arms, and Jack slowly takes a few steps back as if his movement could wake her completely. He runs a hand through his thick, dark hair. “I’ll be back to fix your door,” he whispers, but his eyes are still on Evee.
“You don’t have to be so quiet,” I whisper back, fighting the smile threatening my lips. “She’s a heavy sleeper.”
His lips curl, that small smile forming on one side of his mouth, and it feels like some kind of victory that I was the one to make it come to fruition.
“Right,” he says in his normal voice. “The door will close for now, but you should probably keep it locked and just go out your patio door if you have to leave at all. Does your fence have a gate you can go through?”
I nod.
“Good. I’ll be back after my shift in the morning.”
“Oh, no. There’s no rush.”
“Rumi,” he says, his green eyes fixed on me. “I’m not leaving you, your daughter, or your friend with a faulty door for longer than I have to. I’ll be back in the morning.”
He heads for the door, walking past me, and I watch as he brings his hand to one of Evee’s legs, lightly grazing his finger over her little foot covered by the onesie pajamas Ava put her in, and I honestly think I could melt into a puddle right then and there.
“It’ll be too early for cookies,” he adds over his shoulder, “so we’ll have to save that for another time.”
“You really don’t have to do all this,” I tell him, causing him to turn around. He leans on the wall next to him, crossing his arms over his chest, the muscles rippling with the movement causing his Northshore Fire Department T-shirt to tighten around those biceps I’ll be dreaming about tonight.
“But I want to,” he answers, as if it’s the simplest answer in the world.
I try not to show how his answer catches me off guard, and if he notices, he doesn’t let on. “Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, firefighter.”
Jack’s eyes slightly widen, and there’s a new look to them, one I haven’t seen before. His eyes have reminded me of a forest since the first time I saw them, but right now, it’s like that forest was set ablaze.
“Looking forward to it,” he says, turning to head toward the front of the house. I follow a few steps behind him, watching ashe bends to grab a few metal pieces on the floor before he picks up the door as if it weighs absolutely nothing. He puts it back where it’s supposed to go, matching up the hinges and stepping outside, holding it up with one arm. “I’m going to pull this close, and I want you to lock it right behind me. Got it?”
“Got it,” I reply, some unease beginning to trickle in. “Um, Jack?” I ask.
His head immediately turns toward me. “Yeah?”
“Can someone really easily break down the door?” I try to keep my voice even.
“Do you have a lock on your bedroom door?”
I nod.
“Good. Make sure it’s locked. I’m gonna put the hinge pins I found back in which will secure it a little bit more for now. Where’s your phone?”
I gather Evee’s weight in one arm, reaching into the pocket of my sweatpants to grab my phone, holding it up to show him.
“May I?” he asks, and the politeness of him will never not be a stark contrast to his brooding, overwhelming presence.
I unlock my phone, handing it over to him. I watch as he types a number in, calling it, and hanging it up before handing it back to me.
“I want you to call me if you hear anything. I don’t care what time it is. You hear something, you call me. Understand?”
My lips part, and I wouldn’t be surprised if my eyes looked like they were about to pop out of my head. The concern in his eyes mixed with the authority in his voice makes my throat go dry.
“Rumi?” The way he says my name with a small smirk on his face, brings me back.
“Y-yes,” I manage to stutter out.
