Page 111 of Champagne Nights

“Nah. I’m good, Dad.”

He softly kissed the side of my head. “You’re not fooling anyone but yourself, sweetheart. Now, let’s go inside. It’s time for dessert.”

He got up and went back inside while I stayed back for a moment. My sisters came out, and Charlotte handed me a piece of apple pie.

“Here. I made this and told Mom that you weren’t eating the pumpkin pie this year.”

I smiled as I took it from her. “Thank you.”

They both sat beside me and put their arms around me. “You okay with everything going on today?” Piper asked.

“Yeah. I’m okay, and I’m so happy for both of you. I really am.”

I left my parents’ house, went home to Romeo, and made tea. We snuggled in bed as I opened my laptop and stared at the pictures of him.

Chapter Six

Ben

Last day of my three-day shift. Last night was brutal with the apartment building fire, but we got it under control, and there were no casualties. It was my turn to cook dinner tonight, so I decided to make everyone burgers. Shana, one of the only two women on the squad, helped me by cutting the tomatoes and onions. She was a good firefighter, and she was one of the guys. I mean that in a literal way. Her girlfriend, Kylie, was an ER nurse at Cedars Sinai Hospital. They met one night after Shana got hurt in a fire.

“Thanks for cutting that stuff up,” I said as I walked in from outside with the burgers.

“No problem, Ben. You know I like to help out in any way I can. Hey, Kylie’s got this friend I think you should meet.”

I sighed. “I don’t think so, Shana. I’m not ready to start dating or anything.”

“I don’t blame you. I told Kylie that I would ask. She’s pretty geeked up about fixing you up with someone.”

“Tell Kylie I appreciate the thought, but I’m not interested.”

We gathered around the table and ate dinner until the fire alarm sounded, and we were off to fight another fire.

I sleptfor ten hours straight, and I only remembered dreaming about Amy. My eyes flew open, and I could swear I smelled her perfume lingering in the air. I climbed out of bed and splashed my face with cold water. My phone started beeping with a text message from my mom.

“Meet us at Cleo at eight o’clock for Olivia’s birthday. It was a last-minute change in plans. Sorry for the short notice. See you soon.”

“I’ll be there.”

I shook my head because we were supposed to be celebrating her birthday this weekend. It was already six o’clock when I looked at the time on my phone. Shit. I didn’t have a gift for her. Quickly, I jumped in the shower and got ready so I could leave early and stop at the florist to pick up some flowers on my way to the restaurant.

“There you are. You’re late,” my mom said as she hugged me.

“Sorry, but traffic was pretty bad, and I had to make a stop. Happy birthday, Olivia.” I smiled as I kissed her cheek and handed her the flowers.

“They’re beautiful, Ben. Thank you.”

Olivia was a fourth-grade teacher, and Finn taught high school. They had been dating for a little over a year. They met when they both had to take a class for their master’s degrees. He told me that he was planning to propose to her on her birthday this Saturday. As I glanced over at her hand, I didn’t see the ring, so he still must be waiting until then.

“How are you, son?” my dad asked.

“I’m fine, Dad.”

“How’s the good old fire station doing?”

“It’s doing great.”

My father retired from the fire station two years ago after suffering from a heart attack and undergoing bypass surgery. It was then he realized that he needed to make a life change, and he did. He retired, started eating right, and exercised.

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