Page 16 of Curvy Girl and the Ex-Military Firefighter

The entire crew stands there – Chief Luke, Sadie, Damon, Shane, Kane, Danny, and Ashton. They burst into applause and cheers the moment they see me.

"Dad Max!"

"Looking good, Papa!"

"There's the man of the hour!"

I blink, stunned, as Ashton steps forward, grinning like an idiot.

"How..." I start.

"We know, brother." He claps my shoulder. "We all know."

"But I just found out hours ago. How did you—" I stop, realization hitting me. "Emma told Autumn."

"And Autumn told me," he confirms, looking way too pleased with himself.

"And you told everyone?" I shake my head. "How'd you know I wouldn't freak out?"

Ashton's grin softens.

"Been your best friend for five years, man. You think I don't know you'd step up? Besides," he glances around at our crew, "you've been talking about wanting a family since we met. Now you get that, and the woman you love? It's a two-for-one deal."

"So," Chief Luke steps forward, his usually stern face breaking into a rare smile, "a baby Thompson. God help us all."

"Hey!" I protest, but I'm grinning. The tension in my shoulders eases.

These guys – this is what family looked like for me until today.

Kane throws an arm around my shoulders, nearly knocking me off balance.

"Better start baby-proofing that death trap you call a house, brother."

"And maybe buy a new car," Danny adds with a smirk, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"No way in hell—"

"Your truck isn't exactly car seat friendly," Shane points out.

"And you'll need space for all the baby stuff," Sadie chimes in. "Trust me, babies come with more gear than our entire station."

"Speaking of Emma," Ashton interrupts and something in his tone makes me nervous. "When did you officially ask her to be your girlfriend?"

The question hits me like a bucket of cold water. Shit.

"I... uh..."

"You didn't ask her?" Sadie's eyes widen to comical proportions. "Max Thompson, you got her pregnant before making it official?"

"I was distracted!" I run a hand through my hair, messing up what's left of my carefully styled look. "She told me about the baby, and then there was her aunt, and—"

"Dude," Shane shakes his head, looking genuinely disappointed. "You need to go. Now."

"But—"

"No buts," Chief Luke's voice carries that familiar command tone that got us through countless fires. "That woman is carrying your child. The least you can do is ask her to be your girlfriend properly."

"What about the fire?" I glance around at their dress uniforms for the first time.

---