Page 90 of My Three Hometown Firefighters
“What color?” she asks him.
“Red,” he says. He pops the treat into his mouth as soon as he gets the wrapper off.
Mom chooses a purple one, sliding the others back into her purse.
“What about me?” Tucker groans.
Mom pats his leg. “You’re cute, but not that cute.”
Sienna throws her head back against the seat, laughing hysterically.
Why does this feel so right?
I can’t help the genuine happiness that radiates through me at this moment, being here with so many of my favorite people.
We walked a few blocks along the course, but eventually Mom wore out. We found a free bench outside of Peak Brews where she and Sienna could sit and still see the racers fly down the street.
Hadley and her family found us about an hour ago. Hadley is now sitting on the bench with the other ladies. They are laughing and giggling, no doubt gossiping about something.
Sienna is wrapped up in Warren’s Carhart jacket, that he had in his car. It’s way too big on her, but at least it easily fits over her bump. It took a full five minutes for Tucker, Warren, and I to convince her to wear the damn thing.
Her stubbornness is one of the things I love the most about her, yet it drives me up a damn wall most of the time.
Jackson and Evelyn are leaning over the railing, stretching to see more of the race in either direction. I don’t know if Jackson likes the horses or if it's the guys flying off the jump right in front of us that has him smiling the entire time.
Then there are six grown men standing guard over all of them.Yes, six.We must look ridiculous right now. I’m sure this is one of the things the girls are laughing about.
Austin bumps my shoulder. “So, are you ready for all of that?” he says, pointing toward the kids in front of us.
“I am.” I know it might not be perfect, but somewhere deep down, I have to think it will all work out. “I’ve wanted to be a dad for a long time.”
I remember when Austin told me his ex was pregnant. There was a little piece of me that was jealous, even though the entire situation was less than ideal.
In the end, he got Evelyn, and I know he wouldn’t change that for the world. Maybe that’s why I’m okay with all of this, even if it’s killing me a little inside.
“I know you have.” He sighs. “I just want to make sure you aren’t setting yourself up to have your heart broken. As much as you’ve tried to hide how you felt about her in the past, it was pretty obvious.”
I turn to look at him. “You knew?”
He shakes his head. “I didn’t know what exactly had happened, but it was clear how you felt.”
“Really? I thought I hid it pretty well.”
He adjusts the ball cap. “Maybe for other people, but you’ve been my best friend my entire life. I could tell.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
He laughs quietly. “Again, I know you better than that. If I had asked, you would have denied it. I knew you would tell me in time, if you wanted me to know.”Typical Austin.
Hadley worms her way between us. “Mom’s ready to go home,” she says. “I told her we could take her, since you guys brought her up here,” she says, looking up at me.
“That’s fine,” I say.
She looks up at Austin. “Are you okay with that?”
He pulls her against his chest. “You don’t even need to ask, angel. Of course we’ll take her home.”
After hugs and a few snappy remarks from my mom, they all walk away toward Austin’s truck.
