Page 37 of The Bet

When we make it to the locker room, Tony steps out of the door and waves. “Hey, guys.”

“Hey.” Rich waves back.

“What took you so long?” He glances at the Rolex on his wrist.

“Chloe wanted to see Gunner naked, so I took her the long way around the stadium.”

“Ahhhh….” He nods. “Good play. He’s made a celibacy pact for the season, but Chloe’s sugar is a mighty big temptation for those who eat baked goods.” He steps toward me, and I walk into his embrace. He smells clean like soap and aftershave. The man is one of a kind. I know Jenna hates him but he’s one of the good guys. I just wish she could see it.

“Great game.”

“Thank you.” He squeezes me, steps back, and gives Rich a bro hug.

“Damned good catch, man.” Rich pats his back, steps away from him, pulling me back to his side as if he’s afraid the next time the door opens, I’m going to sneak inside and start stalking the locker room. He has nothing to worry about, I’m all his.

“Thank you. We’re going out to celebrate at Jules’ Italian Restaurant. Do you want to come?”

“No.” Rich shakes his head. “We’re headed home.”

“Stop.” I glare at him. “Tony invited you out. You should go. I told Jenna I’d help her find a place to live anyway. I can scan the–”

“Jenna’s moving back?” Tony’s face is pale as if he’s seen a ghost.

“In a couple of months.” Rich eyes Tony up and down as if he’s evaluating the threat on his sister.

“I see.” He swallows as if he has a lump in his throat, then quickly blinks away the haunted expression on his face. “Theinvitation was for the two of you. Come on. Gunner’s sister, Veronica, and her daughter, Joselyn, will be there. She’s a cute little pipsqueak. You’ll love her, and it’ll be practice for the future babies.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Are you sure?” Rich asks.

“Yes, I’m sure. I don’t want to take away from your time with your friends.” And it’ll give me the chance to feel out Tony and whether there’s something more between him and Jenna because the reason they hate each other can’t be true.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Rich

The warmth of Chloe’s kitchen envelops me. I love being a firefighter, but on the days where the calls are plentiful, or the damage is devastating, I need the reprieve of her goodness. I shut the alley door and watch her. She shifts from one foot to the other as she transfers a pan of cupcakes onto a tray.

“You smell clean.” She glances over her shoulder and turns to face me. “Is everything okay?”

“It is now.” I walk toward her as she wipes her hands on a towel.

She doesn’t say anything as I embrace her and meld our bodies together. I need this woman more than she’ll ever need me. I inhale the scent of her perfume. It’s light and airy combined with the overwhelming smell of sugar and vanilla. She’s the light at the end of the darkness.

As her hands run through my still damp hair, she leans back and stares into my eyes. “Bad fire?”

“Not the worst, but a young couple lost their home and everything in it. Their kids are four and six, and they were frightened and crying hysterically. It’s hard to watch.”

At first, we were too busy dousing the fire to register what was going on around us. But at the end, the truth is always there to smack us in the face. We might save some buildings and homes. We hopefully save people’s lives. But… people’s worlds are always rocked. Their sense of security and peace has been violated.

She cups my face and strokes the stubble. “Thank you for doing what you do. I know it’s rough.” The corner of her mouth raises. “The next time I complain because the edge of a cupcake gets caught in the corner of pan, and it gets ripped off, tell me to get my priorities straight.”

“As long as I’m your priority, I’ll be sure to remind you.”

“Absolutely.” She arches upward on her tiptoes and places her lips against mine.

Slowly, the grunge from the day is shoved aside and the only thing remaining is Chloe. “What do you have left to do?”

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