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“You really can’t hope we’ll make it work, and you and I can still be friends?”
He stared at me for a long time before he finally reached out, grabbing the damp bar cloth and tossing it over his shoulder.
“It’s going to make things a whole lot more complicated than they ever were, Dakota.”
He started to walk away as a balloon filled in my chest, making it tight. “I still want to try, Forrest. I love him—and I love you.”
He didn’t turn around, but he did stop walking. I figured he was going to say something else, but then he picked up the pace again and disappeared into the back room. It wasn’t a definitive yes, but it also wasn’t a no. Which meant maybe I could still convince him I could do both.
I wanted both. So, I would convince him.
deacon
Gavin wastense the whole way to the fire’s location, shouting at anyone who so much as blinked the wrong way. Although he wasn’t going to make us privy to what, something was up.
The sirens wailed as we turned onto Main Street and pulled in front of the building. Everyone hopped out to get the job done. As I was helping unravel the hose, Gavin rushed for Elsie’s bakery out of the corner of my eye.
I couldn’t help but smirk to myself. I was glad those two had gotten together. It was clear to just about anyone who knew Gavin and Sarah that she wasn’t good for him at all. Elsie, though?
Elsie was perfect.
I finished unraveling the hose and then helped connect to it as another one of the guys positioned himself to aim. Then, Gavin emerged from the bakery with Elsie in his arms, followed closely behind by Dakota.
I dropped everything I was doing to rush over to her. She turned in surprise, looking alarmed for a moment before her eyes fell to my name badge as I grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Are you kidding me?! You said you were at work! What the fuck are you doing, Dakota! You could’ve been hurt! Couldn’t you smell the smoke? The fire could’ve spread to the bakery in a matter of seconds, and you would’ve been seriously hurt or killed!”
As I spoke, my gloved hands roamed over her body, looking her over for any damage as she pushed my hands off her and stepped back. I should’ve been mad more about the fact that she’d obviously lied to me—and we’d address that later—but I was too scared she’d inhaled smoke or something.
“Chill, Deacon. I’m fine.” She brushed her hair back out of her eyes and then looked over at Elsie and Gavin as they kissed. “I’m fine,” she said again before stepping toward me, lifting her hands toward my helmet.
I stood still as she pulled it off, dropping the heavy hat at her side as she stared at me.
“You lied to me. You said you were going to work.”
“I know, but I needed time to think. And time to decide what I was going to do. So, I went to see Forrest earlier. He’s pretty adamant I can’t make this work between the three of us.”
I glanced over my shoulder. The rest of the crew was doing their job, making me feel bad for blowing off my duties.
“I’m sorry he’s being difficult. I know you wish you could find a way to make this work.”
“I’m going to give him space, not in an avoiding him kind of way, but … be there if he needs me, reach out when I need him and see how it goes. I was ordering a dozen cupcakes for his birthday next month. I asked Elsie to put ‘still friends’ on it because hopefully, by then, we are. I’m not giving up. I’m just backing off. It’s hard because Forrest has only been with one serious person. And you know how that ended. So, I know he doesn’t know how this feels. It’s easy for him to say give it up.” I nodded in agreement. “But I can’t, and I don’t want to. I want this. I want you.” She smiled up at me. The effect of it was like I was inside the building, standing in front of the fire as it warmed me right to my toes.
“I want you too, Kota.” I stepped closer, cupping her chin and guiding her mouth to mine. As we kissed, the world around us fell away, and it was just her and me. Sure, it wasn’t entirely the happy ending she wanted, but I hoped having me was enough because having her was sure as hell more than enough for me.
“Ahem, Butler, get your ass back to work!”
I pulled back with a grin and glanced over my shoulder at Gavin, who sounded like he was pissed off, but he was smiling. I was going to have to answer for this.
“Ma is inviting everyone over on Saturday night for family dinner. I’d love it if you came—with me, as my date.” I clarified, suddenly feeling somewhat bashful for the suggestion. Although, I was pretty sure I knew what the answer was.
“Of course.” My grin widened as I leaned in and kissed her forehead before glancing over at my chief.
“I should get going. But I’ll see you tonight.”
“You will. Let’s mess up your bed tonight for a change.”
“Sounds great. I’m off at ten.” We kissed once more, earning a couple of howls behind us from the guys before I reluctantly tore myself away and put my helmet back on.
