Page 60 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

Nate’s words reminded me too much of myself. I understood his frustration because I felt the same way every time I thought about my mom. Back when my father was still around, I’d been her protector, her shield. Every bruise, every harsh word… those were battles I’d fought to keep her safe.

Even now, the instinct to protect the people I cared about ran deep, carved into me from those years of trying to hold my family together.

I knew exactly how Nate felt. The helplessness, the guilt, the desperate need to make things right.

“You care about her,” I said, my voice quieter, “and she knows that. It makes a difference.”

He didn’t respond, but the look he gave me was enough. It was a silent acknowledgment, one protector to another.

As we looped back toward the firehouse, the same thought kept circling in my mind, no matter how much I tried to shove it down.

If stepping back was the right thing to do, why did it feel so wrong?

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Lila

Everything was weird.

Staying in my childhood room at Dad’s home was… off.

Plus, I hadsomuch on my mind, a mess I just couldn’t sort out.

Instead, I tried to distract myself by doing something productive. It was the only way I knew how to deal with the mess inside my head—bury myself in work.

I pulled out my laptop and sat down at the small table in the corner of the kitchen. It wasn’t much of a workspace, but it was what I had.

I searched for design jobs in the area, even though I knew there wouldn’t be much. Medford wasn’t exactly the creative hub of the world.

Still, I couldn’t just sit around doing nothing.

I scrolled through page after page of job listings, feeling the familiar sting of disappointment each time. There was nothing for a graphic designer in this town.

I clicked on a few remote job postings, hoping for something promising, but they all required experience I didn’t have or offered pay too low to make it worth my while.

I was about to close my laptop when I saw a new listing, freelance work for an ad agency needing help with a rebranding project. The pay was decent, though not great. Still, it was a start. It was something.

I clicked “Apply” without a second thought.

Just as I hit send, I heard the shuffle of footsteps in the hallway. My dad appeared in the doorway, his graying hair a little messy from working on one of his wood projects. He wiped his hands on his apron and gave me a smile that made my chest tighten.

“Lila,” he said softly, his voice carrying the weight of years of quiet support. “You’ve been awfully quiet today. How are you feeling?”

I hadn’t realized how much I’d been holding in until he asked. I looked up from my screen, forcing a smile. “Just busy. You know, trying to get my bearings.”

He nodded, stepping into the room and leaning against the doorframe. “I know it’s been a tough time for you, honey. But I want you to know, I’m really glad you’re home.”

His words, simple as they were, hit me like a wave.

I’d been feeling so lost, so unsure of my place here, and hearing him say that made me want to crawl into his arms and stay there forever.

“I’ve missed you,” he continued, a softness to his voice that I didn’t often hear. “Things haven’t been the same since you left.”

I swallowed hard, blinking away the tears threatening to spill. “I know, Dad. I miss you, too.”

He walked over and sat down at the table across from me.

“It’s not the same without your mom, either,” he said after a pause, his eyes distant for a moment. “I know you were just a kid when she passed, but… I can’t help but see her in you sometimes. Mostly in the way you get quiet when something’s bothering you.”

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