Page 21 of Curvy Girl and the Firefighter Chief

I watch him dress quickly and rush out, my body still humming with satisfaction. But before I can fully process everything that just happened, I hear laughing outside my door.

"Can I come in?" Sadie's voice calls out.

I groan, pulling the sheets up to cover myself. Damn it - she won the bet about her father's feelings fair and square.

When she opens the door, her triumphant grin tells me I won't hear the end of this. But looking at her smug face, I can't help but smile. After all, losing this bet might be the best thing that's ever happened to me.

"So," she says, bouncing onto the edge of my bed. "I believe I don't have to attempt to ask out a certain brooding firefighter..."

I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant despite my post-coital state.

"Actually, you might be missing out. I think Kane's more interested in you than he lets on."

Sadie's eyes go wide. "Are you just saying that to make me feel better? Because if you are-"

"I'm not," I cut her off. "I can't be certain of anything, but I definitely caught him sneaking glances at you when you weren't looking. Whether those mean anything... well, there's only one way to find out."

Sadie leans forward, clenching her fists as she takes a deep breath.

"I just need to be brave enough to make the first move. If he rejects me, fine. At least I tried. But if he says yes to the ball..." Her eyes sparkle with hope. "I mean, look at Dad! He was single for years and fell in love in a day. If that happens, maybe I can also crack Kane's icy exterior. Right?"

"After today, I believe anything's possible," I say, thinking about how my life has completely changed in just twenty-four hours.

We both laugh, and Sadie's expression turns serious for a moment.

"I hope you know that you didn't just get a man today - you got a sister, too. You can count on me for anything."

My throat tightens with emotion. "Same here. We'll help each other through whatever comes our way."

"We'll need to stick together to survive in this house full of men," she says playfully, but I can hear the genuine affection in her voice.

I laugh, feeling the warmth spread through my chest that has nothing to do with my recent activities with Luke. I've never felt this happy or this accepted before.

It's ironic—my house burning down should have been the worst thing that happened to me, but instead, it led me to everything I never knew I needed: love, family, and belonging.

"You know what's funny?" I tell Sadie. "Sometimes the worst things that happen to us can turn into the best things."

She nods, understanding precisely what I mean. "Like a phoenix rising from the ashes?"

"Exactly like that." I smile, thinking about how fitting that metaphor is.

"Now," Sadie says with a mischievous grin, "let's talk about the best ways to ask Kane to the ball...”

As we start plotting and giggling like teenage girls, I realize that while I might have lost my house, I've gained something far more precious—a family.

And somehow, I know this is just the beginning of our story.

Epilogue - Luke

A Year Later - The Wedding Day

I adjust my tie for the hundredth time, my hands shaking slightly. I've never been this nervous in twenty years of running into burning buildings.

My heart's hammering against my ribs like it's trying to escape, and I can barely focus on the reflection staring back at me in the mirror.

The fire station's locker room has been transformed into a makeshift groom's suite, and my team surrounds me in their tailored suits, all of them grinning like idiots.

Some people might think getting married in a fire station is strange, but for Stella and me, it's perfect. This is where we first kissed and fell in love. Even though we bought our own house last year, this place will always be special to us.

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