Page 15 of Rhett

“Well, when you add to your brood, don’t do it in the closet,” I tease and then laugh as I walk away. We caught him and Haley in the closet and we still love to give them shit about it.

He calls me a few choice words while laughing.

The siren goes off overhead and I move toward my turnout gear and slip it on. Jamie jumps in the driver’s seat of the truck while I jump in the back with Marchy, Atta, and Ghost Pepper. Hawk is up front with Jamie.

It’s a small house fire. According to the owner, they had the grill too close, and it got windy, blowing the flame toward the house. We get the hose hooked up and drag it around the side to the back.

We fight the fire for a half hour and then we go through the structure looking for hot spots and put them out. I begin boarding up windows and put up tarps to separate the damaged part from the other. Then we roll up the hose and put things away. It takes us a couple of hours before we’re heading back to the station.

All I know is I’m ready for a nap.

I carry the box of dishes up the stairs to Sofia’s new apartment and set it down on the kitchen island. Marchy sets his box down that’s filled with pots and pans.

Earlier I told him what I was going to be doing today and he volunteered to come help. Haley sent him with a box of kitchen appliances. He had said they had a lot of duplicates of stuff since they moved in together.

Sofia had been so grateful and couldn’t stop thanking us for helping. “Marchy, I’ll make some of those peanut butter cookies for you and Haley,” she announced. I also loved that she called him by his nickname.

The furniture is all being delivered today while we’re there. She said her brothers chipped in and gave her money. With the money she was able to pay for delivery and set up. I told her I’d help her move furniture around if she didn’t like where they put stuff.

Now, I open the box and use a wet dishcloth to wipe off the dishes. Marchy dries them and then we do the same with pots and pans, while Sofia and her brother’s fiancée, Yasmine, unpack the bathroom.

She’s been nice and it is easy to tell she loves her future sister-in-law. They come out a few minutes later. “Thank you so much, guys. I appreciate your help.” Sofia holds up her phone. “The furniture will be here in twenty minutes.”

“This is a good sprinkler system,” Marchy praises as he looks at the ceiling. He walks over to the window with the fire escape and checks it out. I’m not surprised when he opens the window and climbs out. “Nice and sturdy.” He climbs back in and shuts it.

I shake my head. “Good. Did you see she’s got a fire exit just outside her door?”

“I did.” He looks around and then smiles at Sofia. “This is a great pad.”

“Thank you,” she tells him and surprises me by coming to me and leaning into my side.

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I hug her into my side. “He’s right. This is a great pad.” I kiss her forehead.”

I ignore the looks Marchy is giving me and when the furniture gets here, we get out of the way, only telling them where Sofia wants everything.

Once they leave, Yasmine grabs a bag of trash and heads toward the door. “I’ll take this out. Sofia, I have a shift at the hospital, your brother should be here soon.”

“I’ll be right back,” Sofia says as she follows her almost sister-in-law out.

Marchy comes around the kitchen island. “I really like Sofia.”

“That’s good, and I do too. She’s different than anyone I’ve ever dated before, but I mean that in the best way.”

The door opens and Sofia comes back in, followed by a guy who looks like he just stepped off the golf course. “Guys, this is my brother Kirk. Kirk, this is Rhett and Cooper.”

I step toward him. “Nice meeting you.” I know they only share a dad, but they look nothing alike.

Sofia gives her brother a tour, while I walk Marchy out. “Thanks again for helping today.”

“Of course, brother. You know I’ve got your back, and that includes your girl too.”

10

Sofia

I watch as Rhett walks Cooper out, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement having my brother and new boyfriend—is that what he is?—here together. Kirk’s opinion means a lot to me.

Once the door closes behind them, he turns toward me. “So that's the firefighter, huh?” He raises an eyebrow.

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