Page 21 of Mister Fireman

“Open my photography studio,” I read aloud with a smile. “Travel to Italy, where she fell in love. Enter and win a chili contest. Learn how to play the piano. Finish the quilt she was working on and wanted her grandkids to help with. Make a difference in someone’s life. Restore her home and replant her garden.” My hands trembled and eyes watered. “Get married and have at least three grandkids. Raise them the way she and my parents raised me.”

Licking the corner of my mouth, I gave him back the list. As much as this contest meant to me, I wouldn’t even mind if the title as winner was given to him. Still, I planned to give the competition my all.

“That’s… a beautiful list, bae. I hope you’re able to do everything on it.”

With a long sigh, he folded the paper and put it back in his pocket. “Me too.”

“Is that why I haven’t heard your voice or seen you? You go back to work tomorrow, don’t you?”

“Partly, and I do. The list itself isn’t the reason. Something that was on it is.”

“Oh. Well… if the both of us being in this competition is going to be an issue, maybe we should stop seeing each other. I’ve been enjoying getting to know you, but winning this will make my life a hell of a lot easier. So if losing to me is gonna—”

“Whoa, hold on now.” His hands lifted as he laughed quietly. “Why are you so sure you’re going to win?”

“I mean… come on, Dejvi. You’ve said it yourself that I’m a great cook.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to win. I have just as much of a chance to win this as you do. Hell, even more, because I’m doing it for my granny.”

“Maybe, but I’m doing it for myself. That money is the key to me getting out of the fucked-up situation Gino put me in and starting my business. So… I’m not going to take it easy on you or any of the other contestants.”

Our eyes remained locked for a while before he released a low hum and took a step back from me.

“May the best chili win then.”

We shook hands, and he stepped over to the other line. It tickled me, and I laughed even harder when he shot me a wink with that sexy smile. I didn’t know if what we had was strong enough for us to not let this competition get between us. Whether it did or didn’t, I had to win, and perfecting Grandma’s recipe would be my new priority.

11

Dejvi

Two Weeks Later

September

As promising as things started out with Enjell, they’d fizzled out a bit. Between me trying to figure out how to handle this situation with Robin and knowing we’d be going against each other for the chili competition, I didn’t apply as much pressure as I could have. The only reason I was even considering having a baby with Robin was because I made her a promise along with my grandmother. She didn’t tell me she wanted me to have a baby with Robin, but she did stress how much she wanted me to settle down.

I remember the last conversation we had before she completely left me mentally and emotionally. She said the day she couldn’t remember my name, she no longer wanted to live. She never wanted to be a burden and wanted us to put her in a facility as soon as she went from stage five to stage six. I didn’t want to agree, but my parents honored her wishes. About eight months later, she was gone.

My heart wanted me to try and have that family with Enjell. My mind wanted me to be loyal to my best friend. Robin and I had been down for each other for years. I didn’t want this to be the one time I let her down. I knew she’d be a great mom. The only thing that I felt I’d regret was if having a baby with her caused me to lose Enjell—but did I really have her?

The situation with her ex was seemingly making her heart harder to penetrate with time. That, within itself, was frustrating as hell because I could help her financially if she’d let me. Usually, I loved an independent, strong-willed woman, but in this instance, it was turning me off. I knew she wasn’t intentionally trying to jab at my manhood and innate desire to provide for her and take care of her, which was also why I’d been keeping my distance. Every time she had an interview that fell through, I wanted to leave some cash at her place, but I knew she wouldn’t accept it.

I decided to talk to my parents about the situation, and my last conversation with Robin immediately came to mind.

I’d been avoiding her but finally decided to answer her call. At no point had I ever been anything less than upfront and honest, and I didn’t want this situation to change that, which also meant I’d need to tell Enjell, regardless of what I decided to do.

“Yes, Robin?” I answered, not caring if she sensed the annoyance in my voice or not.

“Ew, why do you sound like that?”

“Because I asked for time to think, and you’ve been calling me every day.”

“I’m sorry but I’m excited, and I’m also confused as to what you have to think about. We agreed that we’d—”

“I know what we agreed to, Binny,” I interrupted to say, trying to keep my tone calm and leveled even though that was the opposite of how I felt. “But again, we were eighteen. I forgot about the pact.”

“Well… now that I’ve reminded you… I hope you keep your word.”

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