Page 53 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

“It’s fine,” I said softly, more to myself than anyone else. “We’ve got this.”

I just hoped I was right.

* * *

The storm outside raged on, wind slamming against the cabin, but inside, it was quiet. Peaceful, almost.

Dinner had been casual, filled with the kind of forced small talk we used to smooth over the tension left in Nate’s wake. Afterward, Colt and Jaxon had retreated to their corners, both conveniently giving Lila and me some space.

It wasn’t planned, but it felt intentional.

Now, it was just the two of us.

Lila sat across from me on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her, a mug of tea cradled in her hands.

She’d wrapped herself in the same blanket she’d been clinging to earlier, making her look even smaller. Her hazel eyes were distant, like she was lost in her thoughts.

“I’m glad Nate seems okay,” she said softly, breaking the silence.

“He’s worried about you,” I replied, leaning back in my seat with a beer in hand. “Can’t really blame him for that.”

She let out a quiet sigh, her gaze fixed on the steam rising from her tea. “I hate lying to him.”

I didn’t respond. What could I say? She wasn’t lying alone.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” she continued.

My chest tightened. “Neither did I.”

Her eyes lifted to meet mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. I couldn’t tell if she was searching for forgiveness, reassurance, or something else entirely.

“But…” She hesitated, biting her lip before pressing on. “I don’t regret it.”

The air shifted, the tension between us crackling like static. My pulse quickened.

“I don’t either,” I admitted, my voice low.

Her lips parted, her breath hitching just slightly. It was enough to make me move. Before I could overthink it, I slid off the armchair and onto the couch beside her.

Her tea was abandoned on the table as I reached for her, my hand brushing against hers. It was such a small touch, but it sent a jolt up my arm, like lightning.

“Ryan…” Her voice trembled, but she didn’t pull away.

I cupped her cheek, my thumb brushing over the soft curve of her skin. Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, and when they opened again, they were filled with a quiet vulnerability that drew me in like a magnet.

When her eyes opened again, they were glistening, filled with something raw and unspoken that pulled me in deeper. I leaned closer, slow enough to give her the chance to stop me, to change her mind.

She didn’t.

The moment our lips met, the world seemed to stop. Her lips were soft and warm, tasting faintly of the tea she’d been drinking, and as she melted into me, I couldn’t hold back the sigh that escaped my chest.

It wasn’t just a kiss.

It was a confession, a silent plea, a promise. Every brush of our lips, every shift of her body closer to mine, spoke of things we couldn’t yet say out loud.

I deepened the kiss, my hand sliding from her cheek to tangle gently in her hair. She let out a soft, almost inaudible sound that sent a wave of warmth coursing through me.

Her fingers curled into my shirt, holding on as if she needed the connection as much as I did.

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