Page 33 of Dandelions and Smoke

“That’s something we all need,” Billy adds, chiming in finally. “Wouldn’t you agree, Blakey-Poo?”

The ridiculous nickname that Blake has been sporting for months now, from our friend group, breaks the tension immediately. Blake glares at Billy, who smiles in return, and Rory exhales.

“I have to get to work,” she says, opening her hand in front of her. “May I please have the key?”

Her words are clipped, and doubt coils around me again, threatening to choke out any hope that she and I will ever be more than friends.

“Of course.” I hand her two of the keys from my pocket.

Her brows furrow. “I only have one key.”

“Now you have an extra. I figured you could leave one at the cafe in case you lock the other in your car again.”

She stares at the keys in my hand and swallows hard before finally taking them.

“Thank you,” she whispers without meeting my eyes.

She drives away, leaving all three of us staring after her.

“That extra key thing was a good idea,” Blake mutters, the edge in his voice dulling.

“Was that a compliment?” I ask, jabbing back at him with a lifted brow as I push down the heaviness left by Rory’s reaction.

His lips press into a thin line, and both Billy and I chuckle.

“Relax, Blake.” I reach into my pocket, pulling out another key to Rory’s car, and hand it to him. “I’m full of good ideas.”

He tries to fight off the lopsided grin that creeps onto his face, but loses.

“For what it’s worth, I do like you, Chief,” he grumbles. “But that’s my sister.”

“Guess I’ll have to win you both over.” I wink.

Billy and I walk to his truck, but before I can close my door, Blake calls out.

“Thank you for keeping her safe,” he says, like even though the words hurt him to say, he means them and realizes how important it is, erasing my anger from earlier. “I can pay you back.”

His offer sits sour as it lands, and I have no intention of ever seeing that money again. I don’t want it. Keeping her safe is worth every penny, even if she doesn’t seem happy about it.

“The fire department is always accepting donations… Though a five-thousand-dollar one seems a little steep.” Now it’s my turn to smirk, because the look on his face, something mixed between shock and disbelief, is picture-worthy. Plus, it tells me he’s finally seeing that I’m serious when it comes to Rory.

Billy laughs as he climbs up into the truck, but stops to look at Blake before closing the door. “I told you so.”

Billy’s words only fuel whatever internal conflict Blake is struggling with, making him scowl.

“Have a good day, Blakey-Poo,” I call out the window as Billy drives away.

Billy said that after we left yesterday, he got a berating text from Rory about how this is all because of his meddling, but after she calmed down, even she could admit that having a car that wasn’t a ticking time bomb is a good thing, and she’s grateful. So after a talk with Levi last night, I made a deal with him to say what the hell and attend the Friendsgiving that the girls are hosting at the cafe today. I’m still not entirely sure if Rory will be happy about it, but staying away from her is much harder than being around her while she acts like there’s nothing between us.

“Alright, check this out.” Billy comes charging into my office, distracting me from the last of my paperwork for the day as the breeze from his entry ruffles the papers on my desk.

Billy makes me think I should remove my door entirely. It doesn’t seem to be doing its job at all. He’s not even supposed to be here. He and his crew finished their shift earlier today and went home to get ready for dinner.

Pinching my lips together, I lean back in my chair and cross my arms. “Yes?”

“Look what I made.” Grinning like he’s never been prouder, he uncovers a sweet potato casserole that instantly has my mouth watering.

“Color me impressed. That looks good,” I say, inhaling deeply the sweet scent of cinnamon and marshmallow that coats the top. “But weren’t you a chef at the Turtle Bay Tavern for years? Why is this special?”