Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Outwardly, though, I managed a bare smile. “Hey.”
“How was the big day?” Sean asked. Thankfully, Maren and Diesel weren’t keeping the courthouse wedding a secret. Not that any secrets were safe for long with our small-town friend group and close-knit first responder community. At least this way, people were actively counting down to the big wedding rather than nursing hurt feelings over being the last to know. She’d posted a brief social media update with a picture Magnus had snapped of her and Diesel, and I’d been expecting Sean to seek me out ever since my phone had dinged with the alert.
“I survived.” I exhaled hard, unable to keep up much of a front with one of my oldest friends. “But I’m not sure how I can make it to January at this point.”
“You will.” Sean clapped me on the back before taking the seat opposite mine. He’d been reluctant to assume the role of fire captain after moving back to Mount Hope, but over the last year, he’d served as acting captain long enough to finally accept the mantle permanently. Now that we were both leaders on our respective shifts, we spent even more time together and shared a deep professional respect as well.
That respect, along with our history, made it easier to voice the doubts that had plagued me for weeks. “How?”
“You’re looking for a procedures manual where there isn’t one.” Sean met my gaze with kind eyes. “Parenting adult kids is a whole new challenge. And trust me, I know how hard it can be, especially when they don’t want to take our advice.”
“I miss when they listened.” I gave a weary chuckle, which Sean matched. His son was Declan, my former roommate, along with Jonas. Declan was older than Maren, but nevertheless, he’d given Sean more than a few white hairs when he’d started dating Jonas.
“Tell me about it.” Sean leaned back in his plastic chair. “But Maren—and you—will make it through this.”
“I’m uncertain she’ll ever fully forgive me for making the suggestion about the adoption option.” I’d confessed that blunder to Sean shortly after it had happened.
“She asked you to be there today.” Sean pointed his index finger at my chest. “You, out of all her friends, were the one she chose to be her witness. Trust.”
“Well, when you put it like that…” I trailed off because maybe things truly were that simple. Maren and I had always been close. While I’d assumed she’d asked simply to match Diesel wanting his dad there, perhaps I needed to give us both more credit. Like Sean said, we’d make it through even these rocky, unchartered waters. “Magnus gave them the gift of a wedding night at a bed and breakfast. It doesn’t help matters any that he’s already the perfect in-law and grandfather-to-be.”
“Sure, it also doesn’t help that he’s under your skin.” Sean delivered this barb with a shockingly casual tone.
“Who said he’s under my skin?”
“Anyone who’s watched you try to avoid The Heist the last few months. I don’t know what’s up there.” He shrugged before giving an impish grin. “With other friends, I’d suggest you bang it out, but your kid isn’t the only one who takes advice badly.”
“The last thing this situation needs is Magnus and me banging.” I offered him a harsh stare, but Sean’s smile didn’t so much as dip. “We’re about to be co-grandparents. In-laws.”
“But you don’t deny wanting to bang.” Sean held up a finger like he’d scored some sort of point. “Which is progress, Eric. Truly. And if not Magnus, then someone. You’re too young to be alone the rest of your life.”
“And old enough to know better than to attempt dating—or banging—as a single dad of four.” Even before Montgomery, I’d never been the hookup or one-night stand type. Even assuming my libido would cooperate, my sealed-off heart and the reality of my life made this discussion pointless. “No one wants that baggage.”
Ever the loyal friend, Sean opened his mouth to protest, but the loud blaring of the alarm speakers with an incoming call ended our conversation.
Good. Welcoming the distraction, I rallied my crew. Tate headed to the driver’s seat as Percy and I climbed into the ambulance while we all listened to the report from dispatch.
“House fire. Homeowner is at work, but a neighbor discovered it. Neighbor’s kid called it in and reports injuries to her father. Kid is Shelby. She was rather hysterical, so not sure of the exact nature of the father’s injuries. Something about trying to save dogs.”
“Roger that,” I said to dispatch before turning to Tate. “Let’s roll.”
“Fuck me running.” Percy groaned as the address flashed on the ambulance’s GPS screen. “That’s my new neighborhood. My block even, but I’m two or three houses down. That would make the neighbor likely the art teacher at the high school. Stu something.”