Page 37 of Courageous Demands

He cursed and kissed her again, passionately. They were clinging to each other, their hands holding on tightly, as they gave into the moment. Eventually, he let out a soft laugh against her lips.

“I’m not seventeen anymore,” he chuckled. “And I’m sure not done kissing you, but something’s gotta give. My knees are killing me.”

“Come here,” she breathed, tugging him down into the grass. “I’m not done either.”

* * *

It was nearly one in the morning before the plants were set and watered, between stolen kisses, laughter, and holding hands in the porch light glowing nearby.

10

* * *

ALEC

“Sup ladiesss…” Alec said cheerfully, walking into the fire station two days later and making a beeline for the coffee pot. “I know Lance was moving, but how was your break, Colton?”

“Oh, you know, usual kid stuff…” the other man chuckled and looked at him. “What’s your deal? New magazine, or did you finally meet a girl?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Alec grinned. “I don’t kiss and tell, ya freak.”

“Whatever,” Justin interjected, walking past them both to fill his coffee cup and then glared at them. “Which one of you finished this off and didn’t make another pot? And yes - you do kiss and tell, Big Mouth. You tell A LOT of things that you shouldn’t.”

“Like, who emptied the coffee pot and didn’t fill it?”

“Yes! Spill it, was it you?”

“Nope.”

“Nope, it wasn’t you – or ‘nope, you don’t know who it was’?”

“Just ‘nope’ – because I’m not telling when it’s important.”

“It’s coffee, twerp.”

“Coffee is its own natural food group. The stuff is a bean, and beans are legumes - which are fibrous, nutritious, salt-of-the-earth sustenance that can…”

“I’m sorry I asked,” Justin muttered walking off after he pushed the ‘On’ button on the coffee maker. “Don’t touch that – I’ll be back, and you’ll still be sprouting all the wonders of legumes.”

“Coffee makes you poo, bro…” Alec volunteered in a sing-song voice – only to get shot the finger just before Justin walked around the corner. “Love you, Daddy.” – And saw the arm outstretch in the open doorway with another finger.

“I’m number one,” Alec bragged to Colton, who was chuckling and pouring some of the fresh coffee in his cup silently before anyone saw him. The coffee maker was hissing as the drops coming out of the basket were falling onto the burner. He shoved his mug underneath to catch those precious drops of ‘bean juice,’ pointing at the inside that was currently being filled, indicating he wanted to be topped off as well.

Lance was walking up, rubbing his head and yawning widely.

“Dude, hit me up too.”

“I’m first.”

“Justin is gonna be maaaad…”

“Make another pot.”

“You do it.”

“You were here first.”

“I don’t need to make a pot; I got my cup, and there was coffee left.”

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