Page 107 of What Hurts Us

“I’m fine,” Layla replied with a tired smile.

“Hey,” the mammoth man said as he huggedmywoman. “Beth told me what happened. You okay?”

Layla, apparently on friendly terms with the Viking, nodded. “Crazy day, but I’m good.” She pulled back, glancing at his arm. “Looks like you had a crazy day of your own.”

There was a burn on his wrist—blistered skin puffed up, swollen and angry. “Occupational hazard.”

“Cal, this is my friend, Austin. He’s Beth’s brother,” Layla said, and I put two and two together. The firefighter she knew from Beaufort. “Austin, this is my…” She looked at me, and I knew what she was fishing for.

We didn’t really need to fake it anymore. The date auction was over. We were together. Perhaps not as seriously as everyone assumed, but we were together. Still, ‘boyfriend’ didn’t have the same ring to it after being a fiancé.

“Uh, my fiancé, Callum Fletcher,” she provided.That’s my girl.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Austin said as we shook hands.

Shane was next in line, offering Layla a hug before shoving her flight helmet into her hands. “Glad you’re in one piece, Dubs.” When he turned away, I didn’t miss the lingering look he stole of Beth.

Lauren, followed by Wyatt and the rest of the guys from the department, crowded around us, checking in and making sure we were good. It was a weird little family we had, but it was ours.

Even if they were annoying as hell from time to time.

Over Layla’s shoulder, I saw Caroline Tyree take a seat at an empty patio table. She had gotten the short stick when it came to growing up like a normal kid. Her parents had to homeschool her because she was sick more often than not. It left her with a sparse social circle.And that was coming from a guy who preferred to be alone.I’d heard through the grapevine that she got her teaching degree online. She was a sweet girl, but it didn’t seem like she had many people in her corner outside of her parents.

I brought my fingers to my lips and whistled.

Caroline’s blonde curls bounced as she popped her head up, startled. I waved her over.

“Hi, Officer—Cal,” she corrected. “I heard about what happened. I’m so glad y’all are okay.”

“You eating alone?” I asked.

Caroline nodded and opened her mouth to make an excuse, but that wouldn’t do. Layla pulled out an empty chair. “Why don’t you join us?”

“Whatever you want, it’s on the house,” Tiffany said as she waltzed by with a tray full of beers, depositing them one-by-one in front of every legal drinker. She eyed Caroline warily before giving her one, too.

Austin chuckled. “I like this place.”

Caroline took the empty seat between Layla and Austin.

Austin raised his bottle to his lips. “I like it even more now,” he mumbled.

Beth and Layla exchanged mischievous glances as Austin shifted in his seat so that he could talk with Caroline.

“So,” Lauren said, piping up after Tiffany went around and took everyone’s orders. “Have y’all picked a date yet?”

Layla looked at me, “Oh, I don’t kn—”

“Spring might be nice,” I mused as I sipped my beer. Layla’s eyes snapped to mine. I shrugged. “Summer, too. I’m not much of a cold-weather guy. Don’t wanna be stuck outside in a suit when it’s snowing, you know?”

Her lips mouthed, “What the fuck?”Her eyes were soft, though.

“Do you have a venue picked out?” Mia asked.

Layla stammered. “Uh—”

Again, I was there with the answer. “Haven’t really decided, but her aunt owns the Ballentine House.”

Before I could say anything else, Kiara—a firefighter—launched into a spiel, detailing all the beautiful weddings she had seen done at the bed and breakfast.

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