Page 22 of A Very Grumpy Firefighter

“Likes?” Maple says with a snort. “That man has been in love with her since he moved to town.”

I blink, the alcohol clouding my judgment.

“No, he doesn’t,” I protest, and they all turn to stare at me in disbelief.

“How can you not see it?” Vera asks me. “I’m never in town and even I’ve noticed it.”

“I…he’s just friendly,” I try to argue.

“Only to you!” Cameron says with a laugh. “He keeps everyone else at arm’s length. Well, maybe not us. He startedbeing nice to me after he saw us together. Anyone that you’re friends with, he tolerates. Everyone else, though,” she says, trailing off.

“Yeah, he’s not really a people person,” Lilliana agrees.

“Really?” I ask, and they all nod.

My phone rings, and I pull it out of my pocket, pausing when I see Milo’s name on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Lilou? Are you okay?” He asks, and I strain to hear him over the music.

“Murphy’s,” I slur.

“Have you been drinking?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Are there guys there?” He growls, and I look around.

“Yeah. A lot.”

He swears, and then I hear rustling.

“I’m coming to get you.”

“Okay,” I agree happily.

I end the call and turn back to my friends.

“Milo is coming.”

“And then you’ll be coming,” Maple says with a snort.

She’s just as tipsy as I am, and I giggle.

“I wish,” I admit.

“Jump his bones!” Cameron agrees, raising her glass.

“Whose bones?” Foster, Lilliana’s husband asks as he leans against the booth.

“Milo,” Vera tells him, waving at her husband, Fisher, as he makes his way to our table.

“Alright,” Ford, Cameron’s husband, says as he stands next to his twin brother, Foster.

“Ford!” She shouts, and he grins at her.

“Ready to head home?” He asks her, and she nods.

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