Page 94 of Bumping into You

Laughing, I reach over and help her get the icing she missed. “It is the best. My mam and I would come down here to get a cannoli for every special occasion.”

“I would have liked to meet her,” Gwen says.

A soft smile spreads across my face. “She would have loved you,mo ghrá.”

When we walk out of the bakery a few minutes later, Gwen says, “Alright, tour guide, what’s next on our list?”

“The firehouse,” I say.

“Oh,” she says, eyes big as saucers.

“If that’s okay?” I ask.

“No, I mean, yes, it’s more than okay. I just didn’t think, I mean I just thought . . .” she trails off.

“They’re going to love you,” I say, interlocking our fingers together as I take her hand and bring it to my lips.

Johnny sees us first and practically knocks me over getting to Gwen. “And who is this lovely thing?” he asks.

“Hi, Johnny,” I say, trying to hide my grin at his reaction. “This is Gwen. She’s my . . . well, she is my girlfriend.”

Gwen’s eyes meet mine at my statement. It’s the first time either of us have said the title aloud, and it feels right.

“Your girlfriend, well hot damn,” says Johnny, “that must have been some cruise and some wedding. Lovely to meet you, Gwen.”

Some more of the guys and gals on the crew make their way over to us. Gwen gets swept up in a warm welcome from each person. I stand back and greet my brothers and sisters, each one offering me their whispered advice.

“That one’s a keeper, Sully,” Johnny says, clapping me on the shoulder.

“Don’t let her go, man,” adds Mitchell.

“She’s so sweet, probably too good for you,” says Brianna.

“She is too class for me, that is for sure,” I agree with her. “And I don’t plan on letting her go.”

“Is it serious?” asks Mitchell. “I don’t think you’ve ever brought someone to meet us. We were beginning to think you were embarrassed of us or something.”

“I’ve never had someone that makes me feel the way Gwen does,” I say. Looking over to where she stands talking to Captain Frank, I add, “I’m hoping it will be serious. But we’ve got some things to figure out, seeing as she lives in Tennessee and, well, I’m here.”

A mixture of shock and sadness fill the faces of my brothers and sisters. A mirror of my own nerves.

Will Gwen want to continue what we have and try things between us long distance? Or is all of this too much? I don’t know what will happen between Gwen and me long term, but something in my gut is telling me not to give up.

One thing I know for sure is I’ll do just about anything to convince her to stay with me.

Chapter 45

Gwen

As we leave the firehouse hand in hand, whistles and catcalls follow us out. Niall shakes his head at the antics of the members at his firehouse crew.

Now, we’re heading to his home. The house Niall grew up in. Suddenly, I’m full of nerves. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to see the place he’s called home since childhood, but I recognize how important it must be for Niall to share this intimate space with me, the place he shared the last few memories with his mom. Seeing Niall in this house will bring out an aspect of him that I don’t think I’ve seen yet.

Niall leads the way in to his childhood home. Ever the gentleman, he holds the door out for me, allowing me to walk in first.

His home is a charming bungalow-style home, a huge front porch leading into an open concept interior. There are built-in bookshelves on the wall off to the side of the living room holding a myriad of books, pictures, and knickknacks that have been gathered over the years. The house is quaint, with natural wood accents and exposed rafters. Large windows give it a cozy, natural feel.

“This house is adorable,” I say.

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