Page 156 of Light My Fire

“Why would I have a bedroom at your house?” Wyatt asks.

I cross my arms and grin. “Okay, I realize that we’re probably going to want to be in the same bed with Brooke a lot, but it just seems like each of us having our own space too will be a good idea.”

Now Luke also crosses his arms. “Jackson,” he says. “Are you thinking we’re all going to be living here together?”

Wyatt looks from Luke to me, eyebrows nearly to his hairline. “Wait, what?”

Now I’m the one who frowns. “Why not? This house is huge. And we all want to be together, right?”

“But you’re talking about maybe,eventually,” Luke says. “Like a year from now or something, right?”

“Why would we wait a year?” I ask. “Brooke lives in astudio. And we hardly get to see her as it is. I haven’t even seen you guys much lately. Why not move in together? It would make her life a lot easier. And I know I want to see her every day. And I can definitely put up with the two of you.” My grin fades as I studytheir faces. I narrow my eyes. “Unless we are not on the same page here.”

Luke shakes his head. “We haven’t talked about any of this.”

Wyatt’s scowling. “Of course, I want to see her more often. Have you talked to her about this? Without us?”

“No. Not specifically,” I say. “But you all knew I was buying this gigantic house. You’ve all been excited about it.”

“Foryou,” Luke says. “We’ve been excited about it for you. It’s a big step. You need the space for the dogs and the new program.”

“What the fuck did you think I was going to do withsixbedrooms?”

Luke lifts one broad shoulder. “Use them for offices. Have trainers stay over. Fuck if I know, man. I didn’t know you had one picked out for me though.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t. You have five you can choose from.”

Just then, I hear a soft voice call, “Hello? Jackson?”

My heart thumps. Brooke is here.

“You invited Brooke? Why didn’t you tell us she was coming?” Wyatt asks, straightening.

I shake my head and push off the counter, starting toward the front door. “I didn’t know. I thought she was coming over tomorrow.”

I meet her halfway down the front hallway. “Hey, sweetheart,” I greet. I open my arms and am relieved when she steps into them.

After our phone call this afternoon about the bomb, I felt a strange tension in my gut. She was understandably shaken by the idea that Luke and Wyatt were on site with the bomb. I guess the guys haven’t talked through what to expect when being close to a firefighter with her yet. I’ve had to learn it over the years, but I know Wyatt has had to coach at least one girlfriend through notjumping to the worst-case scenario when there are things on the news.

“I know I said I’d stop by tomorrow. I hope you don’t mind,” she says.

“Of course not. You’re always welcome wherever I am,” I tell her. “Is everything okay?”

She pulls back out of my arms and takes a breath. “It’s just been a long week. And…” She hesitates and looks down the hall past me. “I just need to see them. I’ve been thinking about them all day and I know I need to be tough and not let this rattle me, but I just need to put my arms around them.”

“Completely understandable,” I assure her. “They are going to be very happy to have your arms around them.”

And maybe actually having their eyes and hands onherwill convince them that all of us living under the same roof is a great idea.

I take her hand and lead her to the kitchen.

Without a word, she goes to Luke, who’s closest, and steps into his arms. He hugs her close, kissing the top of her head. After a few moments, he leans back and tips her head up with a finger under her chin.

Luke says simply, “I’m okay, Angel.”

She smiles at him. “I’m glad. I’ve missed you.”

He kisses her, then turns her and nudges her toward Wyatt.

---