Page 53 of Cross Checks

Hank laughed as I attempted to draw what our new living room would look like. I struggled to draw the most basic pieces of furniture.

“We need a big couch.” I tried to draw a rectangle with legs. “It’s important for cuddling on movie nights and…other stuff.”

Hank raised an eyebrow. “Other stuff, eh?” We both laughed and shared a kiss.

“We need a guest room, too. That way, maybe I can convince Jensen and Beth to come and see us. I bet they’d love a chance to escape the cold.”

“And my parents,” Hank said. “They might want to stay over sometimes.”

“And maybe one day, we’d turn that guest room into a bedroom for a little one?” We both grinned at the idea of being parents to a son or daughter.

As I turned to look into Hank’s eyes, the depth of his sacrifice to follow me sunk in. I caressed his bearded cheek.

"I'll spend every day trying to be worthy of what you've given up for us," I vow softly.

Hank turned his head to kiss my palm. "You already are,” he whispered. "Loving you gave my life purpose that I didn’t know I was missing.

I didn’t have any appropriate words to answer the devotion in his eyes. All I could do was pull him close and stay locked in a warm embrace as the fire slowly died down.

On the edge of a massive life change, I clung to one certainty. Hank and I would see each other through any trials the world threw at us.

Chapter16

Hank

The big day arrived. It was time for me to talk to my firefighting family about my future. Chase accepted contract terms with the Florida Panthers and had a week to report to the arena in Sunrise. It was all happening incredibly fast, but I didn’t have to leave my house immediately. I had time to make final arrangements and sort out a long-term place to live down South.

Chase did his best to comfort me while I paced back and forth in the living room. “I’m just nervous, that’s all,” I told him. “We’ve made all the right decisions, but saying goodbye isn’t ever easy. Those guys have been by my side through thick and thin.”

“You’ve got this. They will be happy for you. True friends always are in this kind of situation. Give me a huge hug before you go,” Chase insisted.

We squeezed each other tight. “You’re my dream come true,” I whispered.

“Aww, such a flatterer.” We both laughed, and Chase sent me off with a gentle slap on the ass.

He planned to break his news to his teammates later in the day, and the story would also be out to the media soon, too. By the end of the day, we would no longer be a secret to Cold Pines. I looked forward to stepping out of hiding.

“Okay, Hank,” I muttered, taking a deep breath to calm my emotional storm. “You can do this.”

I decided to ask Chief Newton and Lyle to meet with me first. I wanted Chief to have a heads-up before I shared with the rest of the guys, and Lyle already knew about my relationship with Chase.

“Is something wrong?” Chief Newton asked when I requested the private meeting.

“Not exactly, but I have something to say, and I want you to hear it before everybody else. Lyle knows a lot of it already.”

Chief Newton’s forehead furrowed. “This sounds ominous.”

He closed his office door behind the three of us. “Okay, Hank. You’ve got our full attention. What’s up?”

Lyle and I sat in chairs on the opposite side of Chief Newton’s desk. I stumbled over my first words. “There’s…um…I mean, I want you to know I’ve had some huge things happen in my life lately.”

Chief Newton looked at me and then at Lyle. “Does he know about the plans I mentioned the other day?”

“Yes, he does, Chief, but there are things that you don’t know. First, I’m in a relationship.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, but how does that have anything to do with the firehouse?”

“I’m…uh…getting to that.” Lyle reached out and steadied my bouncing knee.

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