Page 68 of Broken Hero
Her face goes soft and she smiles at me. Right there, I know it's going to be okay.
“Dec, that is the sweetest thing to say. Whoever thought you could be sweet? I think we’d make a pretty amazing team, so I say yes, I would love to be your girlfriend.”
I try to beat back the happiness that floods me. It’s still alien to me - feeling happy like this. I don't know how to deal with it.
I don't need to beat it back. I'm allowed to feel this way - it's going to take me a while to get my head around it.
Her lips meet mine, and her soft lips consume me in a kiss with meaning, with feeling.She is mine.
I respond and kiss her back hungrily while flipping her on her back and covering her body. I'm going to worship her. I made her feel like she wasn't good enough for more than just sex. I'm going to worship every inch of her so that she never forgets this moment, the moment that I proved to her that she was so much more.
So I get about doing that, and I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt that she believes it to be true by the time I've finished with her.
Chapter Sixteen
Sophie
I never mind coming to work, but I especially don't mind tonight. Because my BOYFRIEND. Yes, my BOYFRIEND will be coming to the pub tonight with all the other fire station guys and their partners, if they have one. It is party night. The fire station has a party around this time of year to relax and kick back, they're too busy at Christmas for parties, and they find that this is the quietest time of the year.
Four of them can’t drink tonight - they're on call. The pub is across the road from the station to go back quickly if need be. The likelihood that there will be a fire tonight would highly unlucky, seeing as the last fire they had to go out to was a fire that got out of hand at Dobble Hill and was three months ago - but that’s good - I don't like my man being in danger.My man.
I’m still in shock that he asked me to be his girlfriend. I did wonder about Violet? I know how he felt about her, how he feels about her. I was worried for a second that I would be second best, but he made me feel anything but when he asked me, he spent his sweet time taking care of me, making me feel precious, special even. Something I haven't felt since, well, since my mum died. I feel like I matter to him.
The landlord organises this party every year in June, he takes twenty pounds each from the guys, and all the drinks are free. We don't need to handle cash; wedoneed to record what they drink, but that’s it, and she said that we could have a drink with the guys, as long as we serve them drinks when they need it. The pub is closed to the general public, so it will get messy. I’ve never drank with Tom before, and I am looking forward to it. He’s fun when I'm working a shift with him; we click - our sense of humour meshes.
I’ve decided to dress up - not over the top, a black short, flared skirt and a black t-shirt with ‘love yourself’ written on it. It is simple but looks good, and I’ve styled my hair with bouncy curls, gone all out with the makeup, including false eyelashes. I'm excited. Idohave to be careful how much I drink though, I’ve promised to look after Eli tomorrow, Robyn's six-year-old son. We’re going to a play area. I don't have much experience of play areas, but I figure it’ll tire him out. Robyn needs to study to finish her teaching degree - it’s the school holidays, and she has so much work to catch up on, and Jack is at work, so Auntie Sophie to the rescue. The last thing I need at a noisy children's play area is a hangover, so a few drinks then cut off.
Tom comes waltzing through the door. “Well, hello there, sexy lady! Oh my god, if I were straight, I would have a hard-on right now.”
“Well, I should hope so,” I say, joking. “And look at you all fancy.”
He gives me a twirl. He’s wearing fitted jeans and a fitted t-shirt and looks breathtaking. I hope some guy snaps him up soon - whoever ends up with him will be lucky. I’ve made a friend for life in Tom. I love it when life does that - out of the blue when you least expect it, a person that will be such an important part of your life shows up—gotta love life.
He finishes his twirl. “You like my new outfit? Got to give the hunky firemen something to look at. I don’t think they’ll notice you, they won't be able to take their eyes off me.” He says, pouting and striking a pose. How camp?
“I don't care. As long as one fireman's eyes stay on me, that’s all I ask.”
