Chapter 15

15

EMMA

O ne of the things I do enjoy about staying with Aunt Tish – besides the lovely room with a view of the garden, and the incredibly cheap rent – is occasionally running errands for her because it means I can drive her luxurious car. She hates driving herself, yet often needs things from nearby towns.

Luckily, West Stoneburg is a big enough city that almost every store is open on Sundays. After picking up her dry cleaning and running into the dressmaker where she had several pieces hemmed, I grab a few items from the grocery store that our local one doesn’t stock.

Instead of driving back on the highway, I take the scenic route. I don’t even know the name of the road, but I’ve gone down it a few times. The beautiful, meandering country lane twists past a few small lakes, some long, low rambling hills, and several lovely old farmhouses.

On past drives, I’ve noticed the strange truck just outside of Cedarville with the VFFT logo on the side. Since I didn’t have any idea what it meant, it didn’t really register. This time as I approach the spot where it’s usually parked close to the road, I see that it’s not there.

Instantly my blood runs cold. Sure, it might just be in the shop for maintenance or whatever. Or there could’ve been a fire call. Right near Cedarville.

Which means Crow was probably one of the firefighters called in.

My foot hits the gas, heart hammering as I race into town. I only slow down to let a couple of big trucks zoom by quickly. They’re all going in the same direction. I don’t see Crow’s truck, or his bike. Is that a good sign or not?

When I get to my street, a shiver runs down my spine. A slew of vehicles are parked in front of my aunt and uncle’s house. I have to park on the street several doors down, racing toward…

Uncle Boyle clapping Crow on the back…and laughing.

What the ? —?

Two of the trucks are already pulling away, and a group of men is examining the front of the detached garage my uncle had constructed a few years ago.

“I still can’t believe you got here so fast,” Uncle Boyle says, as he shakes Crow’s hand firmly. “I swear I’ll take back some of the things I’ve said about motorcycles.”

Crow chuckles. “There are safe drivers and dangerous drivers for every kind of vehicle, sir. But I get it.”

Approaching slowly, I’m not sure what to do. I desperately need to hug Crow make sure he’s okay. Just…not in front of my uncle.

“Emma!” Thick tattooed arms are around me before I can blink, as he twirls me in the air. “I got the call to your address and freaked right out.”

“I was still out on that drive.” My voice is very small next to all the commotion with the men, and what seems to be an electrician going through the wiring now too. “I took the scenic route to clear my head.”

“Clear your head?” Crow tips my chin up with his finger. “Ah, baby, did I make your head cloudy? You know I’d never want to do that.”

Aunt Tish comes barreling down the street, probably from where she was playing cards at the neighbor’s house. “What in the blazes is going on?”

I step away from Crow, hoping she doesn’t go thermonuclear and kick me out of the house or something.

Uncle Boyle steps in. “Tish, that new garage door that your cousin installed shorted out and started a fire.” His wife's face turns ashen. “If it weren’t for this young man, we’d have lost the garage. And it’s so close to the house that a slight breeze could’ve?—”

Crow holds up a hand. “Let’s not create more stress, all right? It was a small fire, we got here quickly, it’s been taken care of. Our electrician and the Fire Marshall are taking a look right now. They’ll give you a detailed rundown of what needs to be replaced, along with a bit of the drywall around that area.”

Aunt Tish nods, muttering, “Well. Thank you. Thank you so much.” She walks into the house, probably heading straight for a glass of wine.

Uncle Boyle goes to talk to the men swarmed around his garage as Crow takes my hand, leading me away from the crowd and to the edge of the sidewalk. “Whatever I did to upset you, I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t really do anything. It’s all me.”

He sits down on the edge of the grass, patting the ground beside him invitingly. As soon as I’m sitting with my back to the chaos, I’m able to take a slow breath.

“I saw something change in your eyes when I suggested playing house.” His deep voice is especially soft. “I was just kidding around. If you don’t think people should live together before they get married…”

“That’s not it at all.” There’s a long pause as I try to collect my thoughts.

Crow smiles gently, rubbing my shoulder. “If you actually hate my place, and would like to buy another house together someday, that’s an option. You might want something traditional, with more room for kids, and a white picket fence, and?—”

“Oh hell no!” My head shakes viciously. “I don’t want any of that.”

His hand begins to rub slow circles at the base of my spine as he nods, and everything clicks into place. This incredible man only wants what I want. What we want. To make us happy. No schedule, or agenda, or keeping up appearances.

And somehow, even though on paper he’s a bit of a bad boy since he’s a tattoo artist with a solo business, he’s also a firefighter. The ultimate good guy. Nobody could possibly complain about that.

Not that I care what anyone thinks, anyway.

“I’ll explain the full version another time.” Tipping my chin up, I smile as his eyes meet mine. “But the TLDR is that my older sisters have perfect husbands and perfect houses and three children each and everything the same and are convinced that’s the only acceptable way to live and are hell bent on convincing me of that, too. I don’t want to be dropped into a template of what my life is supposed to be.”

Crow nods. “Gotcha. I’m open to anything, gorgeous. I mean, now that I’ve found the perfect woman, I’d kind of like to get married to her. But it’s not essential.”

“I think I’d like that as long as we could do things our own way.”

“So no white princess dress, huge crowd of people we don’t know, or fancy dinner that people don’t even enjoy? No sweat. We could have a picnic at the park. Or a hike to the lookout with our ten favorite people. Whatever you think sounds like a good way to launch us into the next phase of our lives.”

“What about kids?”

“I’ve always thought that I’d like some. Or at least one and see how that goes. But if you know you don’t want any at all…” He shrugs. “Maybe I’ll just be the very best crazy uncle to my friends’ kids or something.”

“So you don’t have any dream for your ideal home life? No preconceived notions?”

“Nope. We can do what feels good to us.” His smile lights up my heart. “Breakfast for dinner. Paint the house with polka dots. Sleep in a tent in the yard all summer. I’ve never cared about being normal.”

“A tent in the yard? You were serious about that?”

He looks a bit sheepish. “It’s weird, I know. But yeah. I like to sleep outside in the summer, at least a few nights here and there. It feels healthy to be more immersed in nature. Overnight fresh air, or whatever.”

“It sounds like fun, actually.”

“So let’s do that tonight.”

“I can’t?—”

“Yes. We can.”

Crow jumps up, pulling me with him and walking over to my uncle. “Hey, Boyle. There’s a meteor shower tonight, and I was going to sleep in my backyard tent. Emma has been a bit overworked and stressed lately. I think a night under the stars would be good for her.”

Uncle Boyle hesitates, looking toward the house, then nods. “Go grab your things and get out as fast as you can before Tish asks any questions,” he murmurs. “I’ll deal with her later.”

I can’t believe it. “Thanks!”

Flashing Crow a grin, I run into the house to pack a small bag. Then I quickly change into much cuter underwear. I know for a fact that we’re not going to be concentrating on any ol’ meteor shower tonight.

By the time I get back outside, the hubbub has died down and almost everyone is gone. Crow is talking to two big guys but stops when I approach.

“Emma, this is Liam from West Stoneburg, and Damon from Old Hemlock Valley.” They both shake my hand politely. “They both happened to be close by when the call came in, so they ended up here being bored.”

“You mean checking your work,” Liam chuckles.

Damon nods to me, then Crow. “I see why he wanted to get here so fast. You two are super cute together.”

Crow mock snarls, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “Watch it. Or I’ll make sure your next tattoo hurts like hell.”

“Hey now,” I giggle. “You’re supposed to fight the fires, not each other.”

Liam snaps his fingers. “That’s it! That’s what we’ve been doing wrong all this whole time.”

"Since I arrived first, you two can check the gear and return the truck. Thanks, boys." Crow slips an arm around me and heads for his motorcycle while the other two grumble dramatically.

"I don't wanna ."

"But this is soooo heavy."

"Everything's all dirty now."

"Ew – it even smells like smoke."

Emma laughs. “Your buddies seem cool, even if they're a little nuts.”

“You have no idea.” He kisses me gently before handing me the helmet. “You’ll be finding out soon enough, though. Most of the wives and girlfriends come out to the barbecues we have every few months.”

“That’s wholesome as heck.”

“So is my girlfriend.”

I squeeze Crow extra tightly on the slow drive to his house. Where I might be living soon.

Because I’m his girlfriend.