Page 30 of The Firefighter's Fate

“Yep.”

“You have got lady balls, I’d give you that,” Ava replies to my positivity. “But Connor is a Penmayne, don’t you forget.”

Now it’s my turn to smile.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that he’s as stubborn as they come,” Ava explains. “All the Penmayne brothers are. They are stubborn bastards who won’t budge an inch. For anyone.”

“Really?”

“And Connor is the most stubborn of them all,” Olivia adds. “He won’t want to talk about himself, and he certainly doesn’t want to get famous from some article or news piece.”

“Never take his photo,” Ava says. “Don’t you dare send paparazzi on him. Don’t attempt any secret photos from bushes or anything like that.”

“Why not?” I ask.

“Because he really doesn’t want to be famous,” Ava replies. “That’s the very last thing he wants. He barely speaks to his own brothers, so hell would have to freeze over before he even contemplates speaking to a journalist. Don’t you dare make him famous. He’ll never forgive you if you do.”

“He can’t be that bad, can he?”

Olivia shrugs. “He’s a Penmayne. Don’t get on his bad side. It’s simple.”

“But what about you two?” I ask. “You’re both dating Penmayne brothers. How do you do it? What’s the appeal?”

Ava and Olivia smile knowingly at each other before turning back to me.

“There’s something buried deep in each Penmayne,” Olivia says, whispering as if in a conspiracy. “Something they don’t like to expose.”

I lean in as if I am now in on this conspiracy.

“And what’s that?” I ask, whispering as well.

“They all have a heart of gold,” Olivia answers.

“They’re actually incredibly sensitive,” Ava adds. “Big, tough guys who have a hidden soft spot.”

I snort.

“Connor seems miles away from having anything like that,” I say.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Olivia says. “He’s probably the most sensitive of them all.”

“I don’t believe you,” I say.

Ava smirks.

“Well, I guess that’s why you want to talk to us, isn’t it? To get our side of the Penmayne family and of Connor, right?”

“Exactly.”

“Well,” Ava continues, winking at Olivia. “Let us tell you everything you need to know...”

Oh, I can already tell this is going to be good.

I don’t get a taxi back to the motel. Instead, I walk. It’s a long way, but I want the time to think and reflect on what I just heard...

That was one hell of an interesting conversation with Ava and Olivia. I really started to like those two girls the more the interview went on. It’s weird to think they’re dating Penmaynes – they seem so... normal.

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