Page 19 of A Baby for the Firefighter
“Hello?”
“Hey, it's me,” I said, trying not to slur the words. I wasn't sure how successful I was.
“I know. That's why I answered the phone even though I'm kind of in the middle of something.”
“Yeah, uh, about that...” I had to get this out quickly, because my courage was already fading again and I was starting to feel like the idiot I was. “Remember how I said I had no problem with you going on a date?”
“Yeah.”
“I uh... changed my mind about that.”
“What do you mean you changed your mind?”
Time to be honest. “I saw you in the restaurant and I do have a problem with it. I hate it.”
“You saw?” Dean paused. “Where are you right now?”
“Uh...” I looked around myself. “At the foot of the hill just outside town. Maybe fifteen minutes from the restaurant.” That was how long I’d lasted.
“Stay where you are. I'll be there in a few.” And with that he hung up, leaving me to contemplate what I’d just done, basically confessing my crush to my friend.
With every minute that passed while I waited for Dean, I thought about running away. I wasn't even sure where I would run, just...away. To some place Dean would never find me so I wouldn't have to face him. That was ridiculous of course, and I didn't move, but I did think about it.
In the end, it took Dean about ten minutes to get to me. I knew he'd come quickly, even though I felt like I'd been waiting forever. My heart was threatening to beat out of my chest, and I had the hardest time meeting my friend's gaze as he approached me. Not even the wine could help me now. I was too aware of what I'd done, too sober all of a sudden. Had to be the adrenaline.
“Hey,” I managed to mumble.
“Hey.” Dean gave me a smile so warm my heart couldn't decide whether it wanted to calm down or beat even faster—if that was possible. “What are you doing out here?”
“Just um...” WhatwasI doing out here? “I was going to watch the sunset.”
“Really?” Dean glanced up the hill, then back at me. I could see what he was thinking; the hill wasn't very high—we could still get up there and catch the show if we wanted to. Still, I was surprised when he grabbed my hand and started walking. “Let's go then,” he said.
It had been a long time since I'd held hands with anyone, and the sudden contact sent a shiver down my spine. Dean's hand was as warm as his smile as he led me up the hill like he didn't think I was some sort of monumental fool.
We didn't speak until we reached the top a few minutes later.
The sun was really starting to set now, and the sky above us shone in a brilliant gold that I kind of wished I could capture on film. Especially the way it painted the rooftops of the houses when I looked back in the direction of the town. Oceanport seemed so serene in the warm glow of the setting sun, like a place where nothing bad could ever happen to you. I knew the image was deceptive, but I loved it all the same. And I loved standing here with Dean.
“I'm glad you called,” he spoke.
I glanced at him a bit shyly because he still hadn't let go of my hand, and I sort of didn't want him to. “I'm sorry I interrupted your date,” I lied, because I wasn't sorry at all. Embarrassed, yes. Sorry? No.
How could I be sorry when my call had led me here? Watching the sunset with Dean holding my hand.
It was too good to be true.
Dean shook his head. “To be honest, it wasn't going well anyway.” He took his eyes off the red and orange spectacle in the sky to look at me. “I just couldn't get you out of my head.”
I stared. My heart skipped a beat. Was he saying what I thought he was saying?
He couldn'tpossiblybe saying that.
But hewasholding my hand. And he'd ditched his date for me, so...
I swallowed past the nervous lump in my throat. “You were thinking about me?” I forced a laugh. “You know I almost ran away after that phone call I was so embarrassed. I wanted to escape somewhere you couldn't find me. Like, hide in the forest or something. Lots of trees to hide behind.” I could never stop myself from rambling my way through a tense situation.
Dean took it in stride, though. “Yeah?” he asked, his lips tugging up. Briefly, he scanned the forest that stretched out beyond the hill, then his eyes met mine again. “I would have found you.”
