Page 17 of The One Who Risked it All

“Well,” I said, trying to lighten the mood, “looks like we’re in for quite an adventure, huh?”

Carla took the boys home while I stayed at the hospital for a few more hours. Around five in the afternoon, I stepped into Nathan and Rebecca’s house, immediately assaulted by a chorus of shouts and laughter. Three blurs – otherwise known as my nephews – zoomed past, nearly knocking me off my feet.

“Uncle Eli! We’re starving!” Alex skidded to a stop in front of me.

I grinned, ruffling his hair. “Well, we can’t have that, can we? What’s on the menu, Chef Alex?”

“Pizza!” all three boys chorused.

I glanced at Carla, who was eyeing my duffle bag. “Pizza it is, then. Do you want me to call?”

Carla raised an eyebrow. “We’re cooking instead. Rebecca keeps dough on hand. These hooligans can help. And you, I suppose.”

I couldn’t help but notice how her eyes lingered on my chest for a moment. Butterflies took flight in my stomach., but I pushed the feeling aside.Focus, Wells.

As we maneuvered around the kitchen, I found myself hyper-aware of Carla’s presence. Every accidental brush of her arm sent tingles through me. I scolded myself. We weren’t teenagers anymore.

“Alright, troops!” I called out, trying to wrangle the boys. “Who wants to be my official cheese sprinkler?”

Linc’s hand shot up. “Me! Me!”

“Excellent choice, soldier. Alex, you’re on sauce duty. And Joey,” I said, addressing the youngest, “you’re our very important pizza inspector. Make sure we don’t miss any spots!”

Carla laughed, the sound warming me more than the preheating oven. “You’re good with them,” she said softly as she unrolled the refrigerated dough onto a sheet pan.

I shrugged, suddenly self-conscious. “They make it easy. They’re great kids.”

After what felt like hours of controlled chaos, we finally got the boys fed, bathed, and into bed. I collapsed onto the couch, exhausted but oddly satisfied.

Carla sank down on the other end of the couch. “We did it,” she said, a note of triumph in her voice.

“Yeah, we did.” I turned to look at her, struck by how beautiful she looked even with flour in her hair and tomato sauce on her shirt. I cleared my throat. “Uh, you should take the main bedroom. I’ll crash on the couch.”

She started to protest, but I held up a hand. “I insist. It’s the least I can do after you agreed to help with this whole... situation.”

Carla studied me for a heartbeat, her gaze softening. “You’re not the same Eli I remember from high school, are you?”

I swallowed hard. “I’d like to think I’ve grown up a bit. Maybe even learned how to be responsible now and then.”

She smiled, and I saw a flicker of the girl I’d fallen for all those years ago. “Good night, Eli,” she said softly, standing up. My fingers ached with the urge to reach out and touch her. One thought of my dad lying in his hospital bed sent a twinge of guilt through me at my betrayal of his wishes.

This was going to be a very long week.

Ten days, I corrected with a grimace. I could handle ten days of essentially living with Carla. Then we’d just go back to our default setting of ignoring each other.

CHAPTER 7

Carla

Istepped out of the van, autumn leaves swirling around us due to the windy day. The boys exploded from the backseat like popcorn kernels, their laughter echoing across the park as they sprinted toward the playground.

“Whoa there, slow down!” I called after them, but it was no use. They were already scaling the jungle gym like tiny Spider-Men.

Eli chuckled beside me, his familiar cologne tickling my nose. “They’ve got more energy than a pack of Duracell bunnies.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the way his smile made my stomach lurch, as if the ground had shifted beneath me. “Yeah, well, let’s see how long that lasts. I give it an hour before someone’s crying for a snack.”

As we walked toward a nearby bench, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Eli. His dark hair was tousled by the breeze, and his firefighter’s physique was evident, even under his casual flannel shirt. I scolded myself. I was here to babysit, not ogle my high school ex.

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