He laughs. “Okay, protective, bossy, ogre-like...”
I shake my head and open the front door to let him in. “He’s definitely protective.”
I walk inside behind Bailey and watch as he looks around my small house. I try to see it from his eyes, and I’m happy with what I see. It feels homey and cozy, and I’ve already fallen in love with it.
“Nice house.”
I thrill at his compliment. “Thank you.”
He sits down on the couch. “So Cherry Falls, huh?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Cherry Falls and don’t act like you didn’t know. I talk to Mom at least once a day. I’m sure she filled you in on everything.”
He brushes his hand through his hair. “Yeah, but it’s so different from the city. Why here? You could have gotten a job at another station in the city.”
I shrug. “Have you seen Cherry Falls? Who wouldn’t want to live here? Everyone seems to know everyone. We help each other, and I mean, come on, Cora over at Cherry Tree Coffee has my drink order memorized. You can’t get that in the city.” He looks at me strangely, still not getting it. Exasperated, I throw my hands up. “What is it, Bailey? Why did you come?”
He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I talked to Dad. He wants you back. We all want you back.”
I sit back, surprised. There’s no way my dad has changed his mind. He doesn’t do that. He’s rigid as all get-out. “No, he didn’t.”
Bailey laughs and shakes his head. “I know. Trust me, I never thought he would, but we need you. It’s not the same without you there.”
I hold my hand up. “Wait, he wants me to come back to the city to work at the station. He’s going to let me fight fires? He’s not going to put me at a desk?” Just the thought of it is crazy. I picked up my whole life and moved because I know how my dad is. Once he sets his mind on something, there’s no changing it.
“Yes!” Bailey says excitedly. “You’re coming back then, right?”
11
Kent
This has been the longest twenty-four hours of my life. I’ve stayed busy with a program at the elementary school, a few fires, and a car accident, but the whole time I couldn’t get my mind off Ava.
I sent her a text mid-shift, hinting to find out something... anything. How did your visit go?
She responded, Good. Are you coming here after your shift?
My heart plummeted in my chest. She’s going to break up with me. She’s going back to the city. I replied with a yes, and I haven’t heard from her since.
As soon as my shift is over, I don’t call her. Instead, I race to her house and don’t even knock before walking into her house. She’s there to meet me and runs and jumps into my arms. “Wow! That twenty-four hours felt like forever.”
I grip her harder than I should and hold her longer, speechless. Fuck, I can’t lose her.
I pull back and search her face. She’s smiling at me, just as happy to see me.
“When do we leave?” I ask her.
She jerks. “Leave? Where are we going?”
I hold on to her upper arms. I’ve thought about this since her brother walked out of the station. I can’t let her leave me. I can’t.
“I’m going to the city with you.”
She pulls from my arms. “Wait. What?”
I nod and take a step toward her. “Yeah, but I need to give notice here. Probably put my house on the market, but Syn City isn’t far. I can go back and forth until it all works out.”
She starts to pace in front of me. She’s not looking at me, and I’m wondering if I’ve read this all wrong. Maybe she doesn’t want me to go with her. “I don’t understand. You love Cherry Falls. You don’t want to live in the city. You’ve said so yourself.”
I block her path and put my hand on her chin, forcing her to look up at me. “I don’t care where I am as long as I’m with you.”
I wait for the words to sink in. Every emotion crosses her face, and she doesn’t even try to hide it.
“Kent, it’s so quick. You don’t have to make a decision like this now.”
I sigh, wishing I had told her earlier, wanting her to know that I mean it. “I love you, Ava. I love you so much. Wherever you want to go, I’m going to be right behind you. This isn’t over for us.”
Slowly, she gets it. Her eyes light up. “I love you, too.”
I let my forehead rest against hers. “Thank fuck, because it was going to be really awkward for you if you didn’t. I’d hate to be pushing myself on you, but there’s no way I’m letting you go.”