Page 32 of The Fire Between Us

"Hmm," is all Jennie says, accepting the glass I hand her. "And maybe my boyfriend is terrible at hiding when he's nervous about something."

I laugh despite myself. "That obvious, huh?"

"Only to me," she assures me, taking my free hand and leading me to the couch. "Come on, out with it. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together. We always do."

That's just it—we do. Through every challenge this past year, we've faced it as a team. When Jennie was offered a part-time position at the medical clinic that meant rearranging childcare; when I got trapped in that warehouse fire and spent three days in the hospital; when Derek finally tracked her down with threatening messages that had us filing for a restraining order—through all of it, we stood together.

Looking at her now, concern and love mingling in her expression, I know I can't wait until after dinner as planned. The question is burning in my chest, demanding to be asked.

"Jen," I begin, setting my wine down and taking both her hands in mine. "This past year has been the best of my life. Before you and Amelia, I was just... existing. Going through motions. Keeping everyone at a safe distance."

Her expression softens, thumb rubbing gently across my knuckles in encouragement.

"You changed everything," I continue. "You showed me what it means to be brave—not the running-into-burning-buildings kind of brave, but the real kind. The kind that risks your heart even when you're scared."

"Max," she whispers, her eyes widening as realization dawns.

I slide off the couch onto one knee, pulling the small box from my pocket. "I love you, Jennie. I love the family we've become. I love waking up with you making Amelia giggle, and planning futures I never thought I wanted until I met you both."

Her free hand covers her mouth, tears gathering in her eyes.

"I know we said we'd take things slow," I say with a small smile, "but a year feels slow enough to be sure that you're it for me. You and Amelia are my home, my heart, my everything."

I open the box, revealing the vintage-style ring Naomi, Ethan’s girlfriend, helped me choose—a sapphire surrounded by small diamonds, elegant but not flashy, just like Jennie.

"Jennifer Miller, will you marry me?"

For one heart-stopping moment, she's silent, tears spilling over. Then she's nodding, laughing through the tears, pulling me up to her.

"Yes," she says against my lips. "Yes, Max. Of course yes."

Relief and joy explode through me as I slide the ring onto her finger and then pull her into a kiss that says everything words can't capture. When we finally part, both breathless and smiling, I rest my forehead against hers.

"I was terrified you'd say no," I admit.

She laughs, cupping my face in her hands. "The man who runs into burning buildings was scared of little old me?"

"Terrified," I confirm. "Fires are predictable. You're... everything."

"Well, Firefighter Davidson," she says, holding up her hand to admire the ring, "you're stuck with us now. Me and Amelia both."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," I reply, pulling her close again. "Though we should probably rescue that lasagna before we celebrate properly."

"Hmm," she murmurs against my lips. "Food can wait. I have other priorities right now."

As Jennie leads me toward the bedroom—our bedroom—I send a silent thank you to whatever twist of fate brought her to Cedar Falls that day.

To Mrs. Gunderson and her army of gnomes. To Chief Brock and his second chances. To every choice and circumstance that led us here, to this moment, to this love neither of us expected but both of us deserve.

Some fires aren't meant to be put out. Some burn forever, warming rather than destroying. And this one—this love—is just getting started.

---