Page 24 of Save Me
"Now," I say, standing up and ruffling Rosa's hair, "how about we make those pancakes? I'm thinking we need to make them extra special. Maybe shaped like hearts?"
“Or stars!" Rosa suggests, bouncing on her toes.
"Or unicorns," Amy adds from her spot at the table, her voice a little thick with emotion.
"Unicorns!" Rosa shrieks with delight. "Can we really make unicorn pancakes?"
I laugh, pulling her close for another quick hug. "Sweetheart, with you as my sous chef, I think we can make anything."
As I pour the first pancake into the pan, trying to shape it into something that might resemble a unicorn if you squint and use your imagination, I realize something has fundamentally shifted inside me. This little house, this woman, this incredible kid – they don't just feel like something I want. They feel like home.
And for the first time in longer than I can remember, the future doesn't feel like something that's far off. It feels like something worth fighting for.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AMY
The next month Gunner, Rosa, and I spend a ton of time together. Sometimes Cora and Trish join us, sometimes Eve joins, but more often than not it's the three of us. He helps me take my pieces downtown to sell, we have dinner together, and I start building a life that I never thought possible.
Which is why today, we're pulling up to the fire station. "You have the plate of Gunner's dinner?" I ask as I look back at my daughter. She's still in her booster seat.
She holds it up, a smile on her face. "Do I get to tell him that I made it especially for him?"
"Yeah, you get to tell him that you made it especially for him."
I get out and then walk around to the backseat to get her out. Together, we walk toward the open engine bay. The first person I see is Ash, who raises his eyebrow and waves at us. "What are you ladies doing here?"
I give him a small smile. "We made dinner and Rosa wanted to bring Gunner a plate. It's his favorite."
Ash grins. "Gunner's gonna love you both forever for bringing him meatloaf and mac and cheese."
My heart squeezes. I was worried we had it wrong, that this wasn't his favorite. But we got it right. Maybe I do know Gunner better than I assumed I did. "Yeah, too bad we didn't bring any for you."
Ash grabs his chest. "That's definitely true, but let me get him for y'all."
"Gunner! You have company."
He comes out of a side room and my mouth drops open as I see him wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and his shoes. He must've been working out because his chest and stomach are wet with sweat. Those tattoos of his are standing out in stark relief against his red flesh.
"What are you two doing here?" he asks, as he reaches over and grabs a towel, drying off as he slowly walks over to us.
"Rosa helped me make your favorite dinner, and she wanted to bring you a plate."
I have to give it to him, he doesn't immediately come over to me. He goes right to her, bending down so that he's level with her. "You made this for me, Rosa?"
"I did," she grins, lifting the plate to him. "I hope you like it."
"I'm sure I'm going to love it."
It's only then that he turns his attention to me. He grips the plate and then stands up before giving me a kiss on the cheek.
The simple gesture sends heat racing through my veins, and I have to remind myself we're standing in front of my daughter and his coworkers. His lips linger just a fraction longer than they should, his breath warm against my skin.
"Thank you," he murmurs, his voice low enough that only I can hear. "Both of you."
Rosa beams up at him, clearly pleased with herself. "Mama said you like meatloaf best, and I helped mix the meat with my hands. It was squishy."
Gunner laughs, a rich sound that makes my stomach flutter. "That's the best way to make it. Gets all the flavors mixed up just right."
