Page 55 of The One Who Risked it All

As she scampered off to show her parents her new hat, I couldn’t help but smile. It was moments like these that remind me why I became a firefighter in the first place. Sure, initially it was to prove something to my dad, but now? Now it’s about these kids, this community. And a little about the adrenaline.

The sound of carolers warming up caught my attention, and I straightened, brushing off my knees. The familiar strains of “Silent Night” drifted across the pavilion, and I found myself humming along, scanning the festive crowd.

That’s when I saw her.

Standing there in a red sweater, Carla’s hair caught the twinkling lights strung up around the square. She hadn’t noticed me yet, her attention on the carolers, a soft smile playing on her lips. Man, that smile. I wanted to see it every day.

I should look away. I should focus on handing out more helmets, on being the responsible firefighter, on anything but her. But I couldn’t. It was as if she had her own gravitational pull, and I was helpless to resist.

“Hey, Eli!” Kyle called out. “We’re running low on stickers. Can you grab some from the truck?”

“Uh, yeah,” I replied, reluctantly tearing my gaze away from Carla. “I’m on it.”

As I turned back, my eyes instinctively sought her out again. And this time, Carla was looking right at me. The world around us seemed to blur, the festive chaos fading into a muffled hum. Her dark eyes locked onto mine, and I swore I could feel the electricity crackling between us, even from across the building.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The twinkling lights, the carolers’ voices, the laughter of children – it all melted away. There was only Carla, her gaze holding mine with an intensity that made my heart race.

I didn’t even realize I was moving until I heard Kyle’s confused voice behind me. “Eli? Where are you going? What about the stickers?”

“I, uh...” I fumbled for words, my eyes still fixed on Carla. “Cover for me for a sec, will you?”

Without waiting for a response, I stepped away from the booth. My feet carried me forward of their own accord, weaving through the crowd. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of anticipation and nervousness making my palms sweat.

What was I doing? I continued to push through the throng of festival-goers. This was crazy. Dad would flip if he found out. And seeing as the entire tri-county area had turned out for the Christmas Market, he would definitely hear about it.

But for once, I didn’t care what my dad would think. All I knew was that I had to talk to her, to bridge this gap between us.

As I got closer, doubt started to creep in. What if she didn’t want to talk to me? What if I was misreading everything? But then Carla’s lips curved into a small, hesitant smile, and suddenly, none of those fears mattered anymore.

I was done letting our families’ feud dictate my life. It was time to take a risk, whatever the consequences may be.

The festival’s twinkling lights danced in Carla’s eyes as I approached, casting a warm glow on her face. “Carla,” I said, my voice coming out huskier than I’d intended.

“We need to talk about the–”

“I found out something you should know.”

“Oh, you–”

“No, go ahead.”

Our words tripped over one another, and we both smiled.

I stepped closer. “I missed you,” I admitted softly, setting aside the rest of what needed to be said for now. My feelings wouldn’t be pushed down any longer.

“Me too,” she admitted, ducking her gaze away from mine.

The words tumbled out, fueled by years of pent-up emotions. “I’m terrified of disappointing my dad.”

Carla’s eyes widened, a hint of fear in them, but I pressed on.

“But you know what scares me even more? The thought of losing you. Again.” I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. A small voice in the back of my mind screamed,What are you doing? You’re ruining everything!But for once, I ignored it. I was tired of being the family screw-up, tired of letting fear dictate my choices.

“I know our families have this whole Romeo and Juliet thing going on,” I continued, attempting a weak smile, “but I don’t care anymore. I’d give up everything if it meant I could be with you.”

I held my breath, waiting for her response. The carolers finished their song, and the only sound was the applause of the crowd and my own thundering heartbeat.

I watched as Carla’s expression softened. She took a deep breath, and I braced myself for rejection.

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