Page 80 of Ignite

Chapter 20

Surprise

“ReeceSinclair,captainofMeringa Rural Fire Service suggests the elderly and asthma sufferers stay indoors today as they attempt back burning west of the Princes Highway. As you know, bush fire season is just around the corner and our brave heroes need to take advantage of the current weather conditions. In other news …”

Rylee

“I’m sorry, but I need it for school.” Ryan pleaded with me over the phone. The boy never called me. We usually communicated by text or grunts and looks. But I’d been just about to settle down and watch television for the first time in weeks when he called.

I couldn’t ignore Ryan even if he’d joined the Ethan Cooper fan club which seemed to include just about everyone from town. I wouldn’t mind except everyone from Old Man Hobbs to Reece Sinclair, Felicity Grainger and now Ryan had one objective: make Rylee Mettner fall in love with Ethan Cooper.

Too late. I’d fallen in like and then in love with the man. Some days I questioned why him joining the RFS mattered so damn much. Then, I’d listen to the morning news. We were getting closer to the next fire season and from what I’d heard from Reece and the guys, we were in for a catastrophic bushfire season. They didn’t know where it would start from, only that the country was one dry lightning spark away from disaster.

Maybe, if he saw how much we needed our volunteers, Ethan would consider changing his mind for next season.

Maybe, if I survived the first full bushfire season without daddy, I’d stop being fixated on Ethan signing up. Maybe, if I survived the first full bushfire season alone, I’d stop hating on Darin and be open to accepting Ethan for the incredible man he was, instead of setting an impossible standard.

Maybe, my issues with Ethan had more to do with grief and less to do with him. Again, something I could think about after Christmas and after the bushfire season.

“Please, pretty please, Ryles,” Ryan pleaded again.

“Why can’t you use your own key?” I didn’t want to sound frustrated. He’d left a notebook in my workshop and he apparently needed it tonight for study. I’d given him a key weeks ago so he could let himself in if I was meeting a customer or supplier.

“Don’t ask. I promise I’ll pay for a replacement.”

“Oh, Ryan,” I sighed and looked over to my tv dinner. I’d just reheated a slice of Felicity’s homemade lasagne and poured a glass of shiraz. “I’m in my pjs.”

He paused, before saying, “But what if I want to take you out for ice cream as a thank you?”

“Okay, I’ll be ten minutes.”

I quickly threw on my jeans and white singlet, deciding at the last minute to also grab my black crochet jacket. I hadn’t worn it since my last night with Ethan. For some reason, I wanted to feel close to him tonight. His ute was almost ready, hidden out the back of my workshop. Only Reece, Korbin and Ryan had seen it and each one of them thought it was perfect.

But I still needed to finish one decal before handing it over.

Ryan was hopping from foot to foot when I pulled up outside my business.

“Come on, come on.” He almost dragged me out of my car.

“Hold your horses.” I held him at bay. “You’re never this excited about school.”

“Can’t I change my mind?” He slammed my door shut. “Come on, open up.”

“Surprise.”

As soon as I stepped into the reception area, a dozen of my closest friends shouted at me. I didn’t have time to turn on the lights before Ethan did the honors.

My mouth gaped open as I saw the surprise.

Three hours ago when I’d locked up, I’d said good night to the rows of photos on the wall.

Now, six new frames had been hung in a new row. They were exquisite. Each photo captured one of the cars I’d restored without my father. Seeing my work up on the wall against his, my heart clenched. He’d taught me well. My work was just as good as his.

And then the swirling emotions from before Ryan rang hit me like a freight train and I felt numb. The raw grief had given way to no emotion at all.

As if trapped and being held underwater, I heard people explaining. Ethan had the idea but needed Felicity to put him in touch with Zoe who had access to my photos because of the marketing she’d done for me last year. Ethan had arranged for photos to be printed and had taken over a spare bedroom in Felicity’s home to set up the custom-made frames and do the selections.

He’d asked for Ryan’s advice and help which meant getting different mats to offset the photos.

---