Page 59 of Nolan
Nolan laughs softly. “Deal. Come on. This way.”
Like a couple of kids, we sneak through headquarters, and he gets me out the back door.
“Text me,” I whisper, stealing one last kiss.
Which turns into three more kisses. “I will.” I keep stalling and make a little noise of delight when his strong hands wrap around my waist, grazing my ass. “Okay, you really need to go.” He snickers against my lips.
Reluctantly, we pull away from each other. “Bye.”
He smiles and nods at me, his gaze intense with the same longing I feel. “Bye.”
I drive home as the sky begins to change color with the promise of dawn, sore and tired but in the very best way. I’m grateful I have a day off. When I get back, I avoid Apollo and Jessica’s room, creeping up to mine and collapsing on my bed. I sleep away hours until I can actually function, which is somewhere around two o’clock in the afternoon. I check my phone. My message notifications blink at me.
The first is from Jessica.
Hope you had fun. You’ll have to tell me everything later.
It’s followed by laughter and a winky face. I send her a few hearts.
Then I have a message from Nolan that he sent me several hours before.
Good morning, my goddess.
Goddess? A pleasant shiver up my spine unleashes a new cluster of butterflies in my stomach as I respond.
Careful. A girl could get used to talk like that.
Then you’d better get used to it. I have a briefing. Talk soon.
The way I keep checking my phone is the first clue that I’m in serious trouble. I’m addicted. Nolan has a hold on me, and I couldn’t shake him if I wanted to. My every thought, my every feeling is centered on him, and him alone.
I’m glad that he’s able to get time off with enough notice. But I don’t like that while he’s treated well, he isn’t paid for his work. Especially when he’s essentially working, on call, three hundred sixty-five days a year. He risks himself just as much as Apollo and the others. More than them. Sure, they all take care of him. They buy him clothes so he can look normal. They make him feel welcome, like he’s a part of their team. Their family.
But Nolan will never retire. He’ll always be utilized until he’s considered obsolete. Someday, Nolan told me, they’ll probably replace him. And he doesn’t know what he’ll do then. Until that happens, he’ll be working. Working, working, always working. If he were human, it’d be a nightmare.
But Nolan relishes it. He loves it. It gives him purpose. He seems so happy doing it. But I can’t help but feel like he’s being taken advantage of. Like humanity took two steps forward, then two hundred steps back. I wonder if Apollo sees it too. Maybe that’s why he’s so protective of his friend, why he reacted the way he did when I first told him about Nolan and I.
I hope that with me, Nolan can find that relaxation he deserves. And I would love to be a place of peace for him. If our relationship continues, I wonder if maybe the chief would be okay with him living outside the fire department once I get my own place. Or maybe— But no, I couldn’t ask Apollo and Jessica to let him live with us. That would be too weird, right? It’s something to think about. My mind is racing. I have so much hope swelling up in my chest that I feel like I might burst, just from the possibilities. I channel that energy into tidying my room instead, and after showering and dressing, I head downstairs to help Laolao with dinner prep.
Or I try to, anyway. But Laolao is queen of that space, and I get the feeling I’m getting in the way more than helping. So I focus on the kids instead. I distract them, playing hide-and-seek while giving Laolao time to focus on the mouth-watering, earth-shattering, delicious food only she can make.
One thing’s for sure. By the time I get my own place, I’ll have to either beg her or bribe her to teach me her ways, because I can’t go back to sad microwave meals after living here.
I take snapshots of myself with each of the kids, their adorable, innocent little faces the highlight of each photo, and send them off to my parents and Nolan. He responds instantly.
Having fun with their auntie, I see. I’m almost jealous.
An oddly pleasant ache grips my chest, one I’m almost glad that I have now, and wouldn’t want to be without. I can’t wait to see him again.
Don’t be, we’ll see each other again soon, right?
Right. How about this weekend?
Want to catch a movie Friday night?
Absolutely.When?
I check movie times and find one I think we’ll enjoy.
