Page 44 of An Unexpected Encounter

She doesn’t know it, but when we go see her tomorrow, she’s coming home with us. Until the violations in the building are fixed and she’s feeling better, she’s our newest roommate.

We finish up with the rig and head over to his office, knocking on the door when we get there.

“Come in,” he calls from the other side.

We open it and step inside, pushing it shut behind us.

“All three of you at once. Please don’t tell me my newest firefighters are leaving me already.”

“No, not that,” I tell him, the three of us smiling.

Captain smiles back and closes the folder on his desk. “Then how can I help you boys?”

We move further inside, Zeke and Jay taking a seat in front of his desk, and I move to stand between them.

“So there’s a building that we’ve been visiting a friend at with a multitude of fire code violations we’ve noticed. We were hoping you could make sure an inspection is done.”

Captain clears his throat, as he leans back in his chair. “What’s the address? I can check to see when the last annual inspection was completed. If it’s time, then I can request that it’s moved up. If it’s not, then we’d need to know what the violations are.”

My brothers all look at each other before turning our eyes back to him.

“We can give you a list of issues wrong with this building. We just know they need to be fixed right away for the safety of the occupants.” He doesn’t need to know who it is I’m specifically worried about. Once we’re together, then we can explain to people that our relationship isn’t incest—taboo possibly, but totally fine. Even if it wasn’t, it’s our lives and everyone else can fuck off.

“I agree with you one hundred percent, but I need the address, boys.”

“Oh, sorry. Let me write it down for you.”

Captain hands Zeke a pen and piece of paper and he quickly writes down the address, checking his phone to be sure he wrote it correctly.

I can feel his eyes on us, but I don’t look up.

“One of you wouldn’t have a lady living there, would you?”

My body tenses. It’s not that I’m ashamed, but this is unconventional. Is there a way to say I’m fucking head over heels for my stepsister? I didn’t know who she was when I met her and oh yeah, my brothers want her, too, but we plan to share.

It’s not exactly the normal conversation you have with people. Especially your boss.

“We all do,” Jay speaks up before I have a chance to complete my thoughts, much less form an answer.

He lets out a laugh as he shifts in his seat. “Okay, then. I think there’s more to that story, but I won’t press you for it. I’ll check on the inspection for you, but it may be a day or two before I have an answer. Now get back to work. The way the night’s going, I have a feeling there’s going to be more time spent on calls than here at the station.”

“Thank you, sir.” I turn and head to the door, my brothers falling in step behind me.

When we’re outside of his office, I let out the breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.

“Come on, let's text Selena and see how she’s doing.” Zeke pats me on the back as he heads off to the kitchen area. If I know my brother and I do, he’s going to get something to eat while he’s at it.

Jay and I run to catch up with him. Zeke’s fingers are already flying over the keyboard just before my phone vibrates in my pocket. From the look on Jay’s face, he got one too.

Pulling it out, I see it’s Zeke’s messaging in a group chat with Selena.

Zeke: Hey Cupcake sleep well?

Zeke: Are you still asleep and if so I’m sorry I’m waking you

Selena: What’s with these nicknames?

Selena: I do have a real name and no I wasn’t asleep. I’ve been up for about 15 minutes

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