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CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Danny
I don’t thinkI’ve ever been this nervous in my life. And I’ve been in some shit. There have been a few situations I wasn’t sure I’d make it out of.
This is right up there with those.
Even though this is a man I have the utmost respect for and see in my everyday life, I’m still nervous. He’s entrusting me with his daughter.
Pulling my Jeep up to the curb, my hands shake in a way they haven’t since I went into my first fire.
Glancing up, I see Hayden waiting for me on the front steps, a smile on her face. With two fingers, I motion for her to come to me. For a moment, I allow myself to see this through fresh eyes.
The street is so much like the one my family lives on but, instead of working class vehicles, this one is full of SUVs and sports cars. Most houses on my parent’s block need a fresh coat of paint and a little landscaping done. Most people probably don’t notice it, but it’s glaring to me as I compare my life to this one.
She runs, her arms open. Mine catch her, lifting her up in my arms. “I missed you.” I nose my way into her neck.
“Missed you too.”
“Is that stupid?” I ask. “It hasn’t been that long since we saw each other.”
“No, I’d rather have you and miss you than not have you at all,” I whisper, holding her tightly.
“Listen to you, being all sweet and stuff.”
Bringing my hand up to her neck, I cup her skin, leaning in to give her a kiss. When I pull back, we’re smiling at each other. “I’m always sweet for you.”
She bites her bottom lip, pulling it between her teeth. “C’mon, let’s go.”
We hold hands as we head to the front step of her family home. Now I get what she was going through when we pulled up to my house. My stomach is in knots and I’m praying I’ll deserve a spot in her life.
“Hey Danny,” Chief says as I come through the door.
It’s weird to hear him call me Danny. So often it’s Rookie. I almost don’t respond to him. “Sir.” I give him a nod.
“If you’d like, in my home, you can call me Harlen.”
It just doesn’t seem right to me. Swallowing hard, I give him a look begging for patience. “I’ll try.”
He laughs, clapping me on the shoulder. “Do whatever’s comfortable for you, kid. I’m going to start grilling,” he tells Hayden. “If you wanna get the rest of the stuff going.”
She salutes him as he leaves out the back sliding door. “You can either stay in here with me or go with him,” she offers.
“Like that’s a decision I even have to make. Given the option, I’ll stay with you every time.”
Her face beams, cheeks rosy. Slipping my arm around her waist, I go in for a kiss. Her fingers grip my t-shirt, reminding me of the night at Bradford Station One. When she pulls back, she’s got her lip between her teeth, the flesh barely hanging in with the smile on her face.
“You know how to peel carrots?” She hands me a carrot and a peeler.
“It’s my specialty.” I grab them both from her. “Do I go away from my body or toward?”
She giggles, slightly snorting. “Your specialty, huh?”
“What can I say?” I shrug. “I’m the youngest and nobody really forced me to do anything I didn’t want to.”
“Somehow I can see that about you. Spoiled rotten.”
“My mom loves this face.”
