Page 54 of Uxpectedly Ever After

I’m going to prove her wrong.

But first, I’ve got a fire to put out.

I hate news anchors.

They all have the same plastic doom-and-gloom expression while they talk about "breaking news" with that weird mix of fake concern and barely contained glee. Like they're devastated about the four-alarm fire consuming an entire city block but also so fucking excited to be the one telling you about it.

"We're continuing our live coverage of the massive blaze that has engulfed several buildings in the industrial district," says the blonde woman on my TV, her helmet of hair not moving an inch as she gestures dramatically behind her. "As you can see, firefighters from multiple stations across Portland have responded to this dangerous situation."

The camera pans to show the inferno that used to be the block where my brother's brewery stands. Where Banks is right now, running toward danger while everyone else runs away. Fire licks up the sides of buildings, belching thick black smoke into the Portland sky. It's like watching the gates of hell open up in the middle of our city.

I chew on my nails and pace in front of the TV while my worst nightmare comes to life behind her.

"According to officials, the fire started in the Mexican restaurant adjacent to the popular local brewery, Timber, but quickly spread to neighboring businesses." The reporter's voice fades into background noise as I pace another circuit around my—our—apartment, my phone clutched in my hand.

It's been two hours since I caught a rideshare home after Banks left me standing in that beautiful house he bought without telling me, with a key pressed into my palm and those three words still hanging in the air between us.

I love you.

Three simple words that have me wanting to throw up for reasons that have nothing to do with pregnancy hormones. And now he's running into a burning building—because that’s just what he does—and I'm left here with those words echoing in my head.

Why didn’t I say them back?

I press redial for the eighth time, my heart sinking when Kasen's phone goes straight to voicemail again.

"It's me. Again. Call me back when you get this, okay? I need to know you're safe." I pause, my voice breaking as I try to contain the tsunami of sobs and snot and tears that are trying to break free. "Please."

I hang up and resume pacing, counting each step to keep from completely losing my mind. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi... Maybe if I count high enough, he'll call back. Maybe if I make it to a thousand, both Kasen and Banks will walk through the door safe.

The news anchor's voice breaks through my counting. "Officials are now confirming that all businesses on the block have been evacuated, but there are concerns that the fire could spread to additional buildings. The danger for first responders remains extremely high."

Extremely high.The words make my stomach twist and my knees go shaky. I press my hand against my belly where our baby is growing. It’s just the tiniest bump, enough that I can't button my jeans anymore and it looks like I had a huge burrito for lunch but not enough to really look pregnant yet. But there’s a littlepiece of Banks in there and I just want him to be able to watch it grow.

"Your daddy's an idiot," I whisper to my belly. "Running into fires when he should be here with us."

But even as I say it, I know it's not true. It's who Banks is—the man who runs toward danger to help others. The man who can't stand by when someone needs him because his heart’s so big. It's one of the thousands of things I love about him, even if it makes me want to strangle him sometimes.

Like now. Right now I could go for a good strangling.

After I know he’s safe, obviously.

I check my phone again. Like I’d miss it going off with the volume all the way up and the vibration turned on, too. But still.

There’s nothing.

There’s a sharp knock at my door and I nearly jump out of my skin. I trip over my own feet because they won’t move fast enough as I rush to answer it. The amount of hope that swells up inside of me is crazy, just this volcanic eruption ofplease please pleasethat’s overwhelming that it’s Banks. Or my brother.

Fuck, I could lose them both. The only family I have left gone in a literal puff of smoke.

But when I yank the door open, it's Navy standing there with two hot drinks and a grim expression.

"Thought you might need company," she says, pushing past me into the apartment as all that hope leaks out of me and I do my best to not collapse to the floor in a pile of devastation. "And tea. Because you can’t drink the good stuff and I’m drinking this in solidarity." She holds up her cup with a wrinkle of her nose.

"I've been calling Kasen for hours," I tell her, accepting the tea with shaking hands as I close the door. "He's not answering. What if he was at the brewery? What if he's hurt and no one's telling me? And Banks—" My voice breaks on his name,something that would mortify me if I wasn’t freaking the fuck out.

Navy's arms are around me before I can finish the sentence, pulling me into a hug that smells like her favorite perfume and feels all kinds of wrong and right at the same time. As much as I love my bestie, hers aren’t the arms I want to be in right now.

"Breathe," she orders, her voice gentle but firm. "Both those men are too stubborn to die in something as ordinary as a fire. Trust me."

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