Page 17 of Burn It Down

“Gasp,” Janelle says teasingly, and we all laugh.

“I know, right?” Shannon says jokingly. “I’m gonna go shoot my shot.” She heads over to the firetruck, beelining straight to the Mitchell brothers, and I feel jealousy like none other wash over me.

Shannon is my friend, even though she did hit on me the first day we met, and I had to gently turn her downbecause we work together. She doesn’t know I’m gay, but I don’t think she’s one to cause an uproar about it if she did know. She took my gentle rejection well, and we’ve been friends since.

Still—it doesn’t stop me from wanting to rip her arm off when she giggles and places a hand on Kade’s shoulder.

“Easy, killer,” Janelle says quietly near my ear, and I realize I’ve been staring a little too hard.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say dismissively, but my best friend only laughs at me.

“Let me set you up. I think you need to work off some frustration.”

Her voice is low, but I still can’t help looking around us to make sure no one is listening. “Still no.”

But my eyes roam back over to Kade as he flirts with Shannon. Or she flirts with him—but he’s definitely not blocking the attempt. Not at all. Which is fine. Just great. They should totally get married. The firefighter and the kindergarten teacher. How cute.

My jaw actually hurts from clenching it so tightly. “I have the perfect guy in mind though, Spence. I’m not even kidding this time.”

I huff at that. “Right. Not a chance.” But my eyes haven’t left Shannon and Kade. Being jealous is absolutely ridiculous. I have no claim to Kade, and even if he suggested he did remember me from school—even if that’s true— it doesn’t change anything.

He’s not gay. He’s been married. He’s flirting up a storm withMs. I Want a Husband. I’m still no one to him.

This is just plain stupid.

“Listen, I want to double date with you someday,” she says, over the top and dramatic as always but still with enough respect for me that she doesn’t say it loud enough for anyone to hear.

“Who is it?” I say in a total moment of weakness, and of course, she clings onto that and lights up.

“Oh my God, really?” She claps her hands together and turns to me but must decide not to waste time and just goes on, “His name is Levi, and he’s such a cutie. Early twenties. Just adorable.”

“Adorable?” I ask with a grin.

She shoves my shoulder playfully and then glances over toward the firetruck. “Well, I’d say your type is probably more the rugged, handsome, fireman type, but Levi is a beautiful man. And maybe it’s time to try something a little different.”

Can’t argue with any of that. “How do you know him?”

“Oh, he runs the flower shop in town. I had to go there last week to buy flowers for Mrs. Holcomb. Start the year out right.”

I snort because Mrs. Holcomb is our school principal, and last year, she may have heard Janelle talking about how she should remove the stick from her butt over the summer on the last day of school. The woman was not pleased, but it’s not like she’d fire Janelle over that. “Don’t think flowers are going to help.”

“Shut it,” she says, scolding me, but there’s mirth in her eyes. “Back to Levi. He was so kind and helpful. I really think you two would hit it off.”

“How do you even know he’s interested in guys?”

She actually blushes a little, and I’m already shaking my head at her when she says, “Well, I may have offered to set him up with my niece.”

“Janelle,” I laugh.

“What?” she asks innocently. “Love is a beautiful thing, and everyone should have it who wants it.”

Honestly, my best friend is too good for this world.

“He let me know he wouldn’t really be interested in a date with my niece, but maybe if I had a nephew. And then we got to talking about you.”

“Janelle,” I scold, and she just waves me off.

“Relax, I didn’t tell him anything other than you’re gorgeous and sweet and really need to get laid.”

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