Page 23 of She’s Got that Spark

Because I’m his girlfriend.

16

CROW

Emma seems surprised that I have a fire pit in my backyard, until she realizes how incredibly safe it is. Why wouldn’t I? Fire is hypnotic – when it’s well controlled.

Once we’re full of flame-roasted hotdogs and marshmallows, we crawl into the tent. She laughs as I zip two sleeping bags together on top of the thick air mattress.

“This isn’t exactly roughing it,” she says.

“Never said it was. If you want to go camping-camping sometime, we’ll go and do it right. This is just something I do now and then.”

We kick off our shoes and hoodies at the edge of the tent. In the dim glow of the porch light through the blue nylon walls, I can’t stop staring at Emma. She’s a vision as she slowly pulls off her clothes, crawling into the sleeping bag. I join her, opening the clear skylight panel so we can look at the stars.

“How are we going to look at the meteors when you’re probably going to be on top of me?” she giggles.

“Oh, is that what you think? That I only brought you here for”…I make a disgusted noise and shake my head…“that?”

“Not justthat. But…” Her fingers trail up my spine. “I think I’d reallylikesome ofthat.”

Once I make sure that the tent is zipped up tight, I click on a tiny amber lantern. Lying down close beside Emma, my fingers trail down the side of her beautiful face. “I need to ask a few questions, Sparky.”

She props herself up on an elbow. “Fire away.”

I blow out a breath and shake my head. “Bad choice of words, since I got a fire call to your house today.”

She squeezes my arm. “True. I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. That’s what I’m here for. Well, one of the things I’m here for.” Taking a deep breath, I smile. “Are you truly okay with me being a firefighter, and potentially running into danger whenever I get that call?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

My lips brush the tip of her nose. “It's not just your answer, but that you answered so fast. Good." I exhale loudly, making her hair flutter. "And you understand that I might have to take off in the middle of a date, or be held up on your birthday, or New Year’s Eve, or who knows what?”

Her palm lands in the center of my chest. “Yes. I mean, I'll worry sometimes, of course. It'll take some time to get used to the idea. I’m glad that you mentioned there’s a time limit on how long you’re going to be a firefighter, that it’s not forever. But for the foreseeable future, I understand, and I support you.”

Leading in, I brush a kiss across her forehead. “And now, the big question.”

Her eyes light up. “Is it if I can update the website for your shop? Because I have a lot of ideas. That dropdown menu is?—”

“I love you.”

The soft breeze seems to stop, and even the crickets become silent for a moment. Emma is perfectly still for a few seconds, then she blinks a few times.

“Sorry, that wasn’t really a question,” I whisper. “I guess the question is whether telling you that too soon is going to freak you out. No pressure or anything, Sparky. We can take our time?—”

“I love you, too.”

My heart starts beating again when she says it. “Really?”

She nods, grinning. “You’re amazing. And we’re amazing together. And…” Her eyes fall closed as her head shakes. “I was so grossed out by my sisters shoving their lifestyles down my throat that the thought of getting married and having kids so fast just creeped me right out.” Her fingers walk in a circle around my heart. “But with you, it’s different… Anything is possible.”

“Yes! Like I said before, we can do everything our way. If you want to wait a few years, that’s great. If you want to stay living with your aunt and uncle for as long as you like, that’s great. Or you could move in with me tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is good. Well, maybe in a week or two, so I can get things sorted.”

The magnitude of what we’ve just agreed to pulls our lips together in a soft, tentative kiss full of promise and hope. Our bodies shift together, the heat building immediately as her hand slips down my side to grab my ass. Hard.

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