Page 40 of Saved By the Firefighter

The knocking grows more persistent. “Hold on,” I call out. What the hell is this person’s problem?

Annoyed at the interruption, I swing the door open.

Marcus.

His face is a storm of fury, lines twisting and colliding over his features. For a split second, I'm frozen, my mind scrambling for some explanation that won't shatter the fragile peace I just found with Ellie. I take a breath because there’s no way he knows Ellie is in my room, right? He must be pissed about something else.

I open my mouth to greet him, but he speaks before me, his words laced with an edge I’ve never seen in him.

“You fucking asshole,” he bites out.

The words immediately spike my adrenaline. And my defenses, because I’m not ready to admit anything. This could be a different misunderstanding. Please let this be a different misunderstanding.

I cross my arms against my bare chest and give him a frown, feigning ignorance. “Harsh words. And I don’t even know what the hell you’re talking about.”

He scoffs. “So you’re continuing to bullshit me? Me! I’ve been there through everything with you. When you first started firefighter training and were so stressed you couldn’t sleep, and I came over every fucking night to hang out and help you get your mind off work. And when Sarah passed, who took care of your daughter for months while you were grieving?” He shoves me back, stepping into my apartment.

I squeeze my arms against my chest now as protection, my heart beating into my throat and simultaneously sinking to my feet. Fuck, how did he find out?

He holds up his index finger. “I asked for one goddamn thing that was a dealbreaker—don’t break my trust by crossing boundaries.” He drops his hands, balling them into fists. “Ellie’s lip gloss. At your ranch. You think I wouldn't recognize it eventually? I watched her use it. You can’t buy it locally; she gets it fucking shipped in.”

My throat tightens. The damn lip gloss. A small, meaningless thing was all it took to bring us all to ruin.

The fight leaves him a moment and he looks deflated. “Jake…you hooked up with my sister?” There's a tremor in his voice, the kind that comes from being sucker-punched by reality.

I lower my gaze before speaking. Why am I bullshitting him? He deserves the truth. “Yes,” I manage to say.

He staggers back a step like he wasn’t ready to hear me admit it even though he already knew. "Christ, I can't believe you two." He scrubs a hand over his face, and I watch as the brotherly concern I've always known morphs into something icy and instant. "I thought you were my best friend. That you would respect boundaries and not use my sister."

"Use her?" I say, incredulous. “I’m not using Ellie.”

His jaw flexes. “So you two are in a relationship behind my back? For how long?”

I stammer for a second. “Well…we’re not dating just…”

“Right. So you’re fooling around with my sister and then…tossing her aside? That’s called using someone.”

“I’m not fucking using her,” I say, raising my voice. I want to tell him everything—the way Ellie looks at me, how she laughs, the softness in her eyes that makes me feel like a man who isn't just a walking collection of scars and regrets. But I’m struggling to find the words to lay my heart bare.

Marcus has a point. A casual relationship can look a lot like using someone. But there’s no way that describes what I have with Ellie. So…am I saying I want a relationship with her?

My words fail me, the silence between us growing into a chasm.

He moves closer, inches away, to scowl at me. “Cut it off. Now. Whether you’re calling it a fling or whatever, end it and maybe one day far, far in the future we’ll all laugh about this. But only if you stop seeing my sister today. If you don’t, I’ll never be able to forgive either of you. It will ruin my relationship with her.”

I stare at Marcus, completely at a loss. I would never be able to forgive myself if my actions hurt Ellie’s bond with her brother. And Marcus’ friendship is one of the most important parts of my life, a constant through good times and bad. I've jeopardized everything.

I hear heavy footsteps walking down the hallway. Marcus and I both glance over as Ellie appears, dressed in her jeans and sweater. Her arms are crossed and she’s glaring at her brother.

I didn’t think Marcus could look at me any harder, but somehow his expression hits an entirely new level of ice and pain. “Fucking unbelievable,” he mutters. He spins and heads out the door, Ellie hot on his heels.

I fall onto the couch and hold my head in my hands. I feel like the scum of the earth, betraying Marcus like this. And even though I sucker-punched him, he’s still giving me an out. Which choice do I pick?

End things with Ellie and save her relationship with her brother.

Stay with Ellie and ruin things with Marcus, risking future hurt and pain.

Fuck.

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