Page 37 of My Three Hometown Firefighters
A yelp comes from my right. I see Cash, one of the dogs that was at the photoshoot, on a leash by the table Sienna has things set up on.
Stepping over in his direction, I pet his big head. He lets out an excited bark, so I keep petting him.
When I look back over to the pen, I’m shocked to see Jacks sitting in Sienna’s lap. All the dogs are climbing on them, and he looks like he’s having the best day of his life.
Sienna looks at me over his head of brown hair. “Sorry,” she mouths.
“Don’t be,” I mouth back, even though I can’t really believe what I’m seeing right now.
Jackson takes a long time to warm up to people, especially women. He was so young when his mom left both of us and moved to Europe. He doesn’t even remember her being around.
I’ve never seen him get this comfortable with anyone after just meeting them a few minutes prior. But Sienna saw that he was shy and respected his boundaries. She met him where he was and didn’t push him for more.
My heart squeezes in my chest at the sight of them together. I want to pull my phone out to take a picture of them so badly, but I don’t because everything with Sienna is just casual. It isn’t something Jackson will ever be involved in.
I’m suddenly realizing it’s going to be more difficult than I thought to keep my heart out of this equation.
Jackson looks over at me, a big smile spread across his face. “I’m hungry, Dad,” he says.
I give Cash one last pat before walking over to crouch by the fence. “Do you want a hamburger or a hot dog?”
His head tilts to the side while he contemplates. I already know what he’s going to say, but I let him process it anyway.
“Hot dog,” he says.
Called it.
“Do you want anything?” I say, turning to look at Sienna.
She bites her lip, and now all I want to do is clamp down on that lip withmyteeth.
“I’m actually pretty hungry. Can you get me a hot dog, too? I have cash in my purse.” She motions to the table.
I wave her off. “I got it. Come on, bud. Let’s go get you something to eat.”
He shakes his head, clutching the black puppy that’s curled up in his lap. “I want to stay. Please?”
My eyes move between Sienna and my son.
“I could use an assistant for a little bit, if that’s okay with your dad,” she says.
His eyes brighten. “Really?” he asks, turning to look up at her.
“You can help me give them some dinner.” She looks up at me. The question is clear in her eyes.
“Okay. I’ll be back in, like, five minutes.”
“We’re good. Right, Jackson?” she says, looking down at where he’s still perched in her lap.
“Yeah,” he says, grabbing for the dog bowls through the fence.
My eyes connect with her for a long beat before I give her a single nod and walk toward the stand where the football team is selling food.
My head feels like it’s constantly on a swivel between the line moving in front of me and to Sienna and Jacks, who are pouring dog food into all the bowls.
It isn’t that I don’t trust her with him. I just keep waiting for Jackson to freak out or for him to need me.
Being a single parent is a lot. The pressure of making sure he’s getting everything he needs rests solely on my shoulders.
