Page 18 of Through the Fire

“You fall in love, we get married, I put a baby in you, and we live happily ever after.”

She squealed and tossed her head back. I kissed away the tears that fell on her cheeks.

“I’m not saying we have to get married tomorrow, but at the very least, stop fighting what feels right because this does feel right… right?”

She nodded, tucking her bottom lip. “So right.”

She rested her chin on my chest and glanced up at me. Turmoil twisted in her orbs, but I also saw something else, something I found myself feeling a lot when we were together—Hope.

I reached for the door handle to let her inside the truck. Once she was seated inside, I said, “I got you, Izzy.”

Reaching for the seatbelt, I strapped her in then kissed her forehead one more time. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to the night. Nothing was official yet, but I had faith that if we had more days like this, then we’d get there one day.

Island

Humming softly to the voices of Groove Theory I danced around my kitchen. I’d just placed my s’mores dip in the oven and was looking forward to the moment I could dig into it. An incense burned, tainting the air with a sweet scent before being whisked away on the wind of my open window.

My attention went to my ringing phone. I genuinely smiled when I saw the name on the screen.

“Hello?” I attempted to sound nonchalant. I was not too sure it worked out.

I could practically hear Heim’s smile through his tone.

“What’s up, Izzy?”

Walking to the living room, I took a seat on the couch and tucked my legs underneath me.

“Nothing much. Making some s’mores dip. What’s up with you?” My toes wiggled as my obsession with his voice was fulfilled for the day.

He sighed. “Just getting off work. I’m in your neighborhood and would like to see you.”

One thing about Shyheim is he got straight to the point and didn’t pretend. With him, I was never confused or left wondering. He let me know his intentions without hesitation.

I nibbled on my bottom lip, debating if that was a good idea. I decided to throw caution to the wind as I subconsciously listened to the song in the background.

“You can come by. I would like to see you too.”

“Be there shortly.”

The line went dead, but the nerves in my body came alive. Because I lived alone, my home wasn’t messy, so I rushed to my bedroom to make sure I looked presentable. I was wearing a brown, two-piece shorts set and house slippers. I tossed on some dainty gold jewelry and spritzed myself with perfume. I was just in time because the doorbell chimed once I was finished. I guess he wasn’t lying when he said he was in my neighborhood.

I waltzed to the door and snatched it open. My breath hitched when I saw the hazel-eyed man standing there. It was something about his uniform that always saturated my insides with a yearning as thick as honey.

“Hi,” I spoke breathlessly.

“What’s up?” His half smile caused one of his dimples to appear.

He bent down to place a kiss on my cheek that sedated me. Taking a step back, I allowed him access inside my home. His eyes bounced from surface to surface taking it all in.

“This fits you perfectly. It’s cozy in here like a spa.”

“I think so too.”

I waited for him to remove his shoes by the door then I took his jacket and hung it up for him. Taking his hand, I led him into the living room where we sat on my sofa. Heim lifted my feet and placed them in his lap.

“How was your day?”

His head went to the back of the sofa. “Exhausting. I’m just thankful Shy is gone with my mama for the weekend because I need a little break.”

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