Page 12 of The One Who Risked it All

I nodded, trying to ignore the way my name sounded on his lips and the warmth that spread through my chest. “What’s going on? Is your dad okay?”

He ran a hand through his dark hair, his eyes clouded with worry. “It’s not good. He collapsed this morning. They think it is his heart. I need to get to the hospital, but...”

His gaze drifted to where his nephews were playing with a few of the other firefighters. I could see the conflict written all over his face.

“How are the boys doing?”

Eli ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I knew meant he was stressed. “They’re okay for now, but I’m worried about how they’ll handle everything once it really sinks in.”

I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but I held back. Instead, I said, “They’re tough kids, Eli. We’ll get through this together.”

He raised an eyebrow at that, a hint of his usual cockiness seeping through. “We, huh?”

I felt my cheeks flush. “I just meant… All of us. Don’t turn this into anything. This is about the boys and your father.”

He nodded, his expression softening. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I appreciate you being here, Carla. More than you know. I just…”

As I looked into his dark eyes, I could see the vulnerability he was trying so hard to hide. It made my heart ache, and I had to remind myself why I had kept my distance all these years. But standing here now, with Eli looking at me like that, all those reasons seemed to fade away.

“But you’re worried about the boys,” I finished for him.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I mean, I know they’re in good hands with you, but...” I watched as Eli’s jaw clenched, his eyes darting between me and the boys. His fingers drummed an anxious rhythm against his thigh, a tell I remembered all too well from our high school days.

“Look, I know this is a lot to ask,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “And with our... history... I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to back out.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Classic Eli, always assuming the worst. “I’m here, aren’t I?” I replied, trying to keep my tone light. “The boys will be fine. You need to focus on your dad.”

Eli nodded, but I could see the hesitation in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, running a hand over his face.

“Spit it out, Wells,” I prodded, crossing my arms. “What’s really bothering you?”

He let out a shaky breath. “It’s just... my dad. You know how he can be. If he found out you were watching the boys...”

I felt a twinge of hurt at his words, but I pushed it aside. This wasn’t about me or our families’ ridiculous feud. It was about those three little boys who needed someone to look after them.

“Your dad doesn’t need to know,” I said firmly. “Right now, all that matters is that you’re there for him and your mom. Besides, I’m with the boys all the time. I’ve got this, Eli. Trust me.”

Watching Eli’s shoulders relax slightly, I knew I’d said the right thing.

“You’re right,” he admitted, his trademark grin finally making an appearance, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You always were the smart one, Puddles.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “Someone has to be,” I quipped. “Now, let’s get these boys settled, shall we?”

We turned our attention to loading the kids into my sedan. As I helped buckle in the youngest one, I felt Eli’s eyes on me. I pushed away the sudden awareness of my gym clothing. It was tight and hardly appropriate for the weather.

“Alright, munchkins,” I said cheerfully, “who’s ready for an adventure with Miss Carla?”

The boys cheered, their earlier hesitation seemingly forgotten. I couldn’t help but grin at their enthusiasm. Teaching had its perks, and connecting with kids was definitely one of them.

Eli approached me as I closed the door, a folded piece of paper in his hand. “Here’s my number and the garage code, in case you didn’t have it. I’ll be at the hospital, but I’ll be back as soon as possible,” he said, his voice low.

As he handed me the paper, our fingers brushed ever so slightly. A jolt of electricity shot through me, and I saw Eli’s eyes widen almost imperceptibly. For a moment, we were frozen, that brief touch speaking volumes about our unresolved history.

I cleared my throat, breaking the moment. “Got it. Don’t worry, Eli. We’ll be fine.” I already have his number in my phone—I’d never been strong enough to delete it, and he called me no less than an hour ago—but his mind is clearly elsewhere.

As Eli drove off, I turned to the boys with a grin. “So, who’s up for some fun?”

The older boy, Alex, eyed me skeptically. “What kind of fun?”

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