Page 61 of The Firefighter's Fate

Damn.

I stare at the man and just feel so... connected with his words.

I feel like I understand him completely.

And finally, I think all the pieces click together. I think I now know what makes him tick.

He just wants to be a good man.

It’s what everyone who knows him deeply have been trying to tell me, but I’ve shrugged them off. A good man. I like that a lot.

“You want a deeper question?” I ask him cheekily. I don’t want to admit to him how much his answer just then has affected me.

“Like what, Ember?”

Here goes...

I take in a long breath.

“How’s your love life?” I ask.

Connor smirks at my teasing.

“What do you mean by that, Ember?”

“Like, have you dated? What do your girlfriends think of your values and your lifestyle?”

“You’re getting too personal, Ember. Don’t you dare start mocking me.”

“Okay, so it is a serious question,” I reply. “I’m genuinely curious.”

The firefighter shakes his head.

“I won’t answer that question,” he says. “No comment.”

“Good duck out of that one,” I reply. “But what about your brothers?”

“What about them?”

“They are infamous playboys with some big reputations. Well, most of them are...”

“I might look like my brothers,” Connor retorts, “but I’m not like them, especially when it comes to dating. I’ll either go all-in or nothing when it comes to matters of the heart. To be honest, it’s hard to find a girl who can understand the life-or-death existence of a firefighter.”

“I guess most women can’t deal with the stresses of knowing their partner is in harm’s way every day,” I say.

“Yep. Seems so. Is there anything else you want to interrogate me on, Ember?”

And now I finally ask him the question I’ve been meaning to ask him. I finally feel bold enough to say it.

“I know it’s off-limits, but why did you leave your family?”

Connor goes quiet at that. We continue our walk, but we have considerably slowed.

We’re getting further away from the screams and laughter of children. We’re approaching the far end of the fair.

“I never left them,” Connor finally says softly. “I’m still a Penmayne. I haven’t changed my name, and I won’t lie about where I’m from... it’s just that I can’t reconcile my values with those of my father. Waylen doesn’t approve of what I’m doing with my life. Waylen would love for me to go work for him or do anything else but stay in Crystal River and provide meaningful work to the people of this small town. He thinks I’m wasting my potential by being a firefighter. I don’t think so. That’s what has happened.”

I nod.

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