Page 26 of Through the Fire

My hand lifted to my mouth in shock as I listened to the interview. I couldn’t help but memorize every detail of his face. It’d been days since I’d seen it, and I was having withdrawals.

“Why didn’t you give up on going back into the house?”

Heim straightened his posture, looking like a tower of strength, something I admired most about him.

“I kept thinking about my own daughter and how I’d want someone to fight for her until the very last second... until their last breath.”

I completely forgot about my mother on the phone as I listened to Heim explain why he loved his work. Hearing him explain why he went back in for the child yanked at the thread holding the cast iron shield around my heart. Every word expelled from between his lips chipped away another piece, exposing the bleeding, beating, and starving heart beneath.

For the first time, I saw Shyheim’s work in a different light. It was about so much more than the risks that came with the job. He was really saving lives and making a difference in our community. It was one thing to hear a man speak on his morals and values, but to see him stand on what he said had me aching to cream around him so bad I had to press my legs together. I needed to see this interview. I needed proof that while danger would always exist, love was still worth the risk. It always would be.

Once the interview went off, I lifted the phone to my ear and kept it simple.

“Thank you for calling. I needed to see that.”

Island

Standing outside of Heim’s home, I couldn’t stop my palms from sweating. I’d rubbed them on my shorts at least five times, and I’d only been standing here for a minute or two. My heart urged me to close the rift between us. My mind still cautioned about the dangers of pursuing this. Inhaling deeply then releasing a slow breath, I knew which organ would win this war. While the weight of my past was heavy, it did not compare to the hope I had for a future with Shyheim and Shyla.

Rushing toward his door, I lifted my hand and knocked. Taking a step back, I folded my hands in front of me and waited. Each beat of my heart created a stronger flurry of nerves in the pit of my stomach, but when he whipped that door open and I saw his face, all of it evaporated. All that was left were his smoldering hazel eyes and the quirk of his top lip forming the sexiest smirk.

My mouth began moving all on its own. “I think you’re so amazing that the thought of getting close to you only to lose you terrifies me. I don’t know how to give away pieces of me. When I’m around you, I’m reminded of that, but I don’t want to keep running. I want to see what happens when I let myself fall.”

He wasn’t quick to respond. His eyes studied every inch of me with intrigue. When our gazes collided again, he reached for the front of my shirt and snatched me to him. His arms wrapped around my waist, and my body liquified. His touch awakened the lover girl in me that I tried my best to bury alive. She deserved this… I deserved this.

“I will catch you.” He spoke so confidently I knew he didn’t doubt his words in the least bit.

I’d learned Heim was the kind of man who kept his word. If he said he was going to catch me, he had every intention of doing so.

Next thing I knew, our lips were meshing, and fireworks were exploding behind my eyes. Every stroke of his tongue chipped away another piece of my armor until all that was left was the version of me that craved this. I inhaled deeply, enjoying everything about this moment. There was no more running. I would face this head-on because what Shyheim told me in his voicemail was true. After losing so much, I was still standing here in my right mind. I was strong enough for any battle, including allowing myself to fall in love again.

The only reason he released me was because of Shyla’s little arms wrapping around my legs.

“Ms. Island.”

Her voice was so cheery it finally popped that orb of warmth I spent so long fighting. I couldn’t help but smile as the light oozed down my spine.

“Hey, Princess Shy Shy. I’ve missed you.”

Shyheim kissed my forehead then took my hand and led us into the house. Apparently, they were having a painting session in the living room. I decided to join. He took the time to set me up with a pillow to sit on and an empty canvas.

I don’t think my smile left my face once as I allowed myself to be immersed in the moment. At some point, I felt the heat of Shyheim’s gaze, so I looked up at him. He winked and blew me a kiss. My cheeks puffed as I blushed and dropped my chin to my chest. I could get used to this feeling.

Sitting there spending quality time with those two made me realize that the way I loved didn’t have to be defined by my fears. I was choosing to let love in again, even if it came with risks because the potential rewards were more appealing. And thus, the beginning of my healing journey began.

“What are you over there cheesing about?” Heim asked.

I looked up at him. “Do you remember that day in my shop when you took the eyelash off my cheek and said to make a wish?”

He paused to think then nodded as the day came to mind.

“Well, my wish came true.”

I felt pinned in place by his hazel eyes.

“I told you it would.”

I nodded slowly. “You did.”

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