Page 11 of Rhett

“Why would you say that?” Jodi’s voice loses its softness.

I quickly pull up a picture of him from Station 47’s social media and turn my phone to them. Their mouths hang open and I know the feeling. “Look at him, look at me. What could he possibly see in me?” What is wrong with me?

Daniel grabs me by the arm, not hard, but to get my attention. “Girl, are you serious right now? Do you have a mirror?” He keeps going. “You are a fucking babe. You’ve got a killer body, gorgeous hair, and eyes so freaking blue they can’t possibly be real.”

Jodi’s hands come together in a slow clap as we both stare at Daniel. He’s usually so quiet, his boyfriend, Lonnie, is the one with the bigger personality.

I step toward him and wrap my arms around his waist. “Thank you for saying that.”

“It’s true, you have to know that,” he assures quietly. “I mean, there is no doubt he is one beautiful man, and he obviously looks at you and see something he likes.”

Jodi puts her arm around my waist. “I say, you should go for it. Have some fun. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to cut loose.”

They’ve given me a lot to think about. I just don’t know what I’m going to do.

7

Rhett

I help roll up the hose after putting the fire out at the fast food restaurant. Luckily, we’re close so we were able to contain the fire to the kitchen and extinguish it quickly. No one was hurt, thankfully. It takes a few hours to get things cleaned up.

“Did Sofia get the flowers you sent?” Marchy asks as we climb into the ambulance.

Shrugging, I pull out of the parking lot and head toward the firehouse. “I don’t know. I didn’t get a chance to check my phone before we left. They promised me she’d get them before the end of the day.”

At the station, I back into the bay and then shut it off. We hop out, and then take off our gear. One by one, we head into the locker room. Once I’ve got my shower supplies, I head into one of the free stalls and quickly scrub myself clean. Back in the locker room I change into a clean uniform. Only then do I check my phone.

My face immediately lights up when I see her name on my screen.

Sofia: Thank you for the flowers. They’re so beautiful.

I quickly type a response, especially since she just sent the text thirty minutes ago.

Rhett: You’re welcome. I happened to be walking by the florist, saw them in the window and thought of you.

Immediately the dots start bouncing and I wait on bated breath for her to respond. They stop bouncing and then begin bouncing again.

Sofia: Well, it means more than you know. Thank you.

Smiling widely, it warms something inside me to see those words. I promised myself I’d take things slow, even though everything inside me says to charge forward, and before I can stop myself, I send her another text.

Rhett: Dinner and a movie? Please??? No pressure.

Watching my phone, it feels like forever and nothing. There’s chatter from the guys all around me, but I barely hear them. I’ve scared her off, I know it. I shouldn’t have asked her so soon. It’s just that it felt right.

This is all new to me, wooing a girl, but I know she’s worth it. Fuck if I know how, but I do. Hell, I’ve started watching my brothers start to fall in love. I’m not sure if that’s what I want, but I want to at least see.

The dots begin bouncing and then a text pops up.

Sofia: I’d like that.

“Fuck yeah,” I cheer quietly before quickly typing out a message.

Rhett: Tomorrow night. I’ll text you in the morning with the details.

Sofia: Sounds good. Have a good rest of your shift and be safe.

I smile reading her text, especially the part where she told me to be safe. I stick my phone back in my locker and head downstairs, looking forward to our date.

---