Page 77 of Deck the Fire Halls

But he didn’t.

He’d ordered it with me in mind and hand-delivered it. Even driving and walking in the snow, which I knew he didn’t love. And for me, the guy who had dreamed of having someone in his life to look after and be looked after by, well, this was a gesture I’d never forget.

And damn, he’d looked so uncertain when he was standing at the door. And incredibly gorgeous.

As soon as Chuck relieved him of the pizza, I had to do something that expressed how insanely happy I was in that moment. Which apparently was dancing in the fire hall.

I was kinda glad it was just Chuck and me, not because I cared what anyone else thought, but holy hell, the ribbing they’d give me for weeks would be relentless.

Chuck was too busy feeding his face with pizza to even notice.

So I danced with Rob. Because he made me so fucking happy. And my god, the way he laughed, the way he smiled.

The way he kissed me when he left. It was so soft and sweet it was almost indecent.

It did crazy things to my heart.

“Go and enjoy your pizza,” he said. “While it’s hot.”

“What’s left of it,” I said. “Tomorrow’s your last day this week?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Working three days a week is... a lot to get used to.”

“Good,” I replied. “Then tomorrow night when I finish work, I’ll come to your place. You’ll need your first day off to sleep it off.”

His pupils blew out and his cheeks grew pink. “Oh.” He swallowed hard. “Okay.”

I watched him as he walked to his car. He managed not to slip and slide, and only when his car turned the corner did I close the door and go inside.

Chuck gave me his shit-eating grin with his mouth full of pizza. “You are in so deep already.” He nodded to the door. “I saw you dancing.”

I fell into my seat with a sigh that ended with a groan. “He is so...” I let my head fall back with a groan. “Perfect. I can’t explain it.”

Chuck pushed the pizza box toward me. “Eat it before it gets cold. And no one is perfect. If you believe that, you’re setting yourself up for heartbreak, my friend.”

“He’s not perfect, obviously.” I shrugged as I bit into a slice. Because Chuck was right. No one wasperfect. “But I dunno, Chucky. I’m thinking he’s perfect for me.”

Chuck looked at me and shook his head with a long sigh. “I’m happy for you, bro. I know you’ve been wanting someone of your own for a while now. I hope it works out. I really do. I mean, he brought you a pizza. A whole-ass pizza.” Then he shrugged. “If you decide he’s not as perfect as you thought, put a good word in for me.”

I shoved him so hard he almost fell off his chair. “Fuck off.” Chuck was as straight as an arrow and in a long-term relationship with a great girl, whom he absolutely adored, despite his best efforts to act blasé. “Your girlfriend might have something to say about that.”

“She’s never brought me a pizza at work.”

I nudged him this time, finishing off the rest of the slice of pizza. “You get lazy in the bedroom, you ain’t getting no pizza. Do them so thoroughly they can’t form words for ten minutes and you’re getting pizza. Trust me.”

Chuck cracked up laughing and I bit into a fresh slice—it was so damn good—but then a call came in and we were on our feet and out the door in a flash.

Workingshifts wasn’t all bad, and it’d been a part of my job forever. I was used to it. What I wasn’t used to was wishing I kept similar hours to a certain someone or wishing he was in my bed sound asleep when I finally got home, that I could crawl in beside him, cuddle up to his warm body, and fall asleep with him in my arms.

It was early hours of the morning when Chuck and I’d finally clocked out. My house was dark and my bed incredibly empty and cold. I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep. Knowing Rob was just next door, so close but yet so far.

But I didn’t have to wish that tonight, because I’d told him I was coming to his house straight after work, no matter what time it was. I’d also implied it was just as well he wasn’t working the day after as he’d need to sleep in the following morning.

To say that I was looking forward to it was an understatement.

I arrived at work, smiling when I saw Rob’s car at the clinic across the street. He was right there, again, yet so far.

I wouldn’t disturb him at work. His was an important job involving the private lives of people in town. And I only had to get through one shift.

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