Page 79 of Xavier

“Ready for the swamp?” I joked as soon as we reached the doors.

“As long as you’re suffering with me,” Xavier said, tugging me out into the afternoon sun of Baton Rouge.

CHAPTER 32

Xavier

Breathingout slowly for the fifth time since putting on my dress pants and pressed button up, I checked my pocket one last time to keep myself from fidgeting. The party was in full swing, Gage’s coworkers meandering around the fire station while classic holiday music blasted from a small boom box over by the refreshments table.

The place was tastefully decorated with both Christmas and New Years in mind. Normally, the mismatching green and red against the gold would come across as tacky, but they’d somehow pulled it off to create a seamless look.

There were two couples dancing in the middle of the station to the music, looking like they were having the time of their lives as they laughed and spun around to pass their partners back and forth. My gaze tracked Dexter, who was deeply engrossed in a game of cards with Gage’s captain, one of the paramedics—a feminine-looking young man that kept popping M&Ms inhis mouth every few moments and whose name was apparently Newt, and the twins.

I’d been a little nervous taking Dexter to a gathering like this. Mainly, because I’d been afraid of him getting overwhelmed and feeling out of place amongst a bunch of people he’d never met before. The twins had taken him on a tour around the entire station, introducing him to the crew one by one while keeping him squished between the both of them.

I was so damn proud of him for taking Gage up on his offer in spending New Years with us. After what happened at the botanical gardens, I was sure I’d have a shut-in on my hands.

But of course, like always, Dexter surprised the fuck out of me.

“You doing okay over here?”

I looked over to the woman approaching me who had a kind smile on her face; Ellie, if I remembered correctly. She nodded at the untouched drink in my hand. “Don’t tell me it’s flat. I swear, I had them throw in two entire bottles of soda.”

Cracking a smile, I said, “No, it’s great. This whole thing is.”

“Really? I’m glad. I was worried it was going to be a total disaster.”

“Not at all. Couldn’t even tell you guys pushed it back. Thanks for doing that, by the way. Gage was really excited that he didn’t miss anything.”

She laughed. “I don’t know about that. I think he was more excited that he got to bring you along.”

I actually didn’t know what to say to that. Obviously, Gage had told me his feelings about wanting me to come and thedisappointment that followed after I’d turned him down. But hearing it from someone else that he’d wanted to introduce me to everyone here, had me feeling almost honored in a way.

We were obviously serious—at least, I hoped we fucking were or else I was going to be embarrassing the fuck out of myself here in a little bit—and still, having someone else realize it, too, was almost like a confirmation that our relationship was real to not just us, but everyone else as well.

I’d spent a lot of my life denying my true self. Twenty years ago, I never would’ve imagined that I’d be here, standing in a fire station and talking to a woman—astranger—about the man I was in a relationship with. That I was in love with. All the while I had a hole burning in my pocket.

It was funny how things could change so much in such a short amount of time.

For the better.

“Everything okay over here?”

Both of us looked back to see Gage smiling at us with a slightly wary expression on his face. His preternatural instincts were off the chart sometimes. Especially, when it came to me. He’d been trying to suss me out all day and, thankfully, hadn’t done anything that had gotten me to crack.

I’d come close, but hadn’t folded completely.

Yet.

“All good,” I said, looping an arm around his waist as soon as he got close enough. “Surprised you guys haven’t gotten any calls tonight.”

Both of them groaned at me.

“Don’t jinx us!” Gage huffed.

“Too late. He already said the words.” Ellie frowned.

Oops.

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