High Heat (Hotshots 2)

“My crew here needs me. Our boss is gonna be out awhile recovering from a mild heart attack. Bosler needs me on the radio. Yeah, maybe the work isn’t the most exciting a lot of days. But I want to see the summer through. You asked me what I want, and that’s what I want. To stay. Space, like you said, but not from you. Space to figure out what’s next for me. When the boss got ill, all I kept dwelling on was how I never got my EMT certification when I had the chance. I want to think more about my path forward, how I can best help people and also meet my own needs.”

“That sounds really wise. Mature. You don’t need all the answers about your future right now.” As much as Garrick wanted things settled with a clear plan, he had to admit that Rain’s more pragmatic plan had certain benefits too. “I only want a chance to be part of it with you, whatever you end up deciding.”

“So we’re not simply a fling?” Throwing Garrick’s words back at him, Rain raised an eyebrow.

“We never were. That was me being scared. And a jerk.” Rain’s emphatic nod made him laugh before continuing. “I honestly did think I was doing the right thing, but that’s not the best excuse. Next time, I’m going to listen more.”

“Good. And me too. I was...quick to assume the worst about you. I didn’t listen the best either.”

“I didn’t exactly make it easy. And this is me saying sorry and doing what you requested and asking you for more. Asking you to not settle for something less than the real relationship we both want and deserve.”

“I’m not going to. I want it all. That’s why I’m staying too—I know you cared enough to let me go and now you’re brave enough to offer to go away with me, but I want to stay. See what we have together. See if we can truly build a future together here.”

Woof. Having had enough of their stopping and talking, Cookie let out a series of barks along with a long-suffering look for them both.

“Cookie approves of my idea.” Rain leaned in and brushed a fast kiss over Garrick’s cheek.

“Can’t let Cookie down.” Giving Rain’s hand one last squeeze, Garrick took the brakes off his chair. “And I want that too. It’s frankly a little terrifying, but losing you would be way worse. So yeah, I’m willing to do what it takes to make that future happen.”

“Excellent.” Beaming at him, Rain pointed at the path ahead of them. “Race you to the next obstacle?”

“Always.” Laughing, Garrick wheeled hard as Rain and Cookie jogged alongside him. It might not always be this easy, and there was still an awful lot to work out, plenty of uncertainty, but at least they were together. They could deal with all the unexpected bumps and turns in the road as long as they had each other. He’d meant every scary word he’d managed to utter too. He cared about Rain, more than he ever had anyone else, and he was willing to do his part to make sure that they got the future they both wanted.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Are you sure your dad is cool with this?” Rain asked as he stuffed towels in a bag in Garrick’s living room, afternoon sun filtering in.

“This as in us coming to swim? Or his offer to grill mushroom caps for you instead of steak? Or your awesome new swim trunks? Or more in general, like is he okay with us as a couple?”

“Uh. All of that. I’m weirdly nervous.”

“You? Nervous?” Garrick captured him around the waist, hauled him into his lap. “You do know that he figured out weeks ago that we’re sleeping together, right? What’s changed?”

“Everything.” Embarrassed at his strangely emo turn, Rain buried his face in Garrick’s neck. This was silly, but he still couldn’t stop the flutters in his belly. This outing, their first in public so to speak since their reunion, felt momentous somehow. Maybe it was how everyone, Grandma and Garrick’s dad included, seemed to still expect him to move on. Grandma had merely nodded and made a sort of skeptical clucking noise when Rain told her they’d made up. It felt like no one was rooting for him to stay.

Worrying about stupid shit made him weirdly antsy about simple things like this invitation to come for dinner and a swim.

“I get that everything feels different now. Maybe we are different.” Garrick tipped Rain’s chin up with gentle fingers so that he could give him a soft kiss that went a long way to quieting Rain’s butterflies, especially when he pulled away laughing. “Maybe we’re like morphing superheroes or something. You’re growing blue horns and I’m—”

“Dork.” Joining him in chuckling, Rain shoved at his shoulder, but Garrick didn’t release him. “You know what I meant.”