Page 115 of Ink and Ashes
She grins, fidgeting with her napkin on the table. “I’m not sure how to tell my family or anyone at the station.”
My brows pull together. I assumed she would’ve told them already. “Wait, they don’t know?”
She shakes her head. “I’ve had crushes on girls before, but I’ve always dated men. I’ve never officially come out to anyone, and I’m not really sure how to go about it.”
“Your family loves you, Cass, and I know they love Sam too. So does everyone down at the station. Most of them are the most accepting and understanding people I’ve ever met. Don’t make it more complicated than it has to be. Don’t label yourself if you aren’t comfortable with it. Just tell them you’re together. I’m surethey’ll be just as happy for the two of you as I am.”
“I know you’re right, but that doesn’t make it less nerve-wracking.”
I nod. I can understand that. “Start with Colson. I know you guys tell each other everything, so he should be an easy starting point. I’ll be there if you want me to be. I’m sure Sam will come too.”
She jerks her head. “I would appreciate that.”
I reach across the table, placing my hand over hers. “I’m here for you, Cass, for whatever you need. And I really appreciate you telling me. Though, I’m a little surprised I’m the first person you came to.”
She huffs a laugh. “I love everyone at the station, and I love my family. But I love you too. And over the past few months, you’ve become one of my closest friends. Arguablytheclosest friend I have next to Sam. I guess I just knew you wouldn’t judge me.”
My throat tightens. “I love you too, Cass. I’ve never had a friend like you, and it means a lot to me to know you see me the same way.”
“Always, Hol. Even when you go back to Toronto, though I wish you wouldn’t leave. You’ll always have a friend in me.”
I smile, but I still don’t tell her I’m not leaving anymore. I need to talk to Colson about it first.
“You’ll always have a friend in me too.”
Before we know it, our food is brought out, and we continue chatting while we both enjoy our meals. I fill her in on everything we do have in the investigation, and we talk about a bunch of random, unrelated things too. It feels nice—I’ve never had a girlfriend like Cassidy, and part of me thinks that even if I hadn’t decided to stay for Colson, I might’ve chosen to stay for her.
She tells me more about herself—her childhood, what it was like growing up in a family of first responders—and I share more about mine. She still doesn’t know my true identity, but at this point I feel more myself as Holland Rhodes than I ever did as Hollis Rothwell.
This is who I was meant to be all along.
Another five dayspass before the twelfth fire is contained. By day eleven, it merged with a holdover fire that popped up, so it now spans over 15 hectares. They finally managed to control the spread, so now they’re tasked with trying to put it out before we get hit with another.
Aside from the size, nothing unusual has happened with this fire, which only makes me feel worse about the next one. We’re just over a week out from day eighteen, and I’m scared about what might happen when it hits. The crew has been stretched thin fighting this fire, and I have a bad feeling that’s only going to continue over the next few days.
They’re back at the station today though, and for the first time in over a week, I’m here too. The whole town is trying to distract themselves from the reality of the situation right now, so Chief Whitlock thought it would be a good idea to host a big lunch at the station and open it up to the public to try to build morale. Colson wasn’t crazy about the idea, considering it gives the arsonist even more opportunity to blend in, but the rest of the crew wanted to do it, so here we are.
It’s been a few hours of everyone chatting and eating as if everything’s normal, and I’ve been making the rounds, keeping an extra close eye on everyone who comes and goes. Right now, I’m standing with Mary, Emmett, and George and his wife, and nothing out of the ordinary has happened. I just hope it stays that way.
I tune out their conversation as I scan the station for Colson. I haven’t seen him in a while, and knowing how against this gathering he was, I worry about him.
When I don’t find him, I excuse myself and head inside. I make my way upstairs to where some of the crew is hanging out at the dining table, smiling when I see Colson sitting at the head of the table. He meets my gaze and the tension in his jaw lessens slightly, and knowing my presence alone is enough to give him some peacemakes the butterflies in my stomach flutter wildly.
Ethan, Hayden, and Ace line one side of the table with Cass, Sam, and Ollie sitting across from them, so I make my way to the other end of the table to join them.
As I take my seat, I make eye contact with Cass, a silent question hanging between us. She rolls her lips together and shakes her head, letting me know that she hasn’t told Colson—or anyone else—about her and Sam yet. It’s been a busy week with the team out at the fire so much, so it doesn’t surprise me.
But everyone’s here now, so I jerk my head, signalling that she should go for it. Everyone in this room is family, and none of them will judge her for it.
She looks to Sam, subtly conveying that she’s going to tell them, and Sam places her hand over Cassidy’s. My heart surges knowing what’s about to come next.
Cass clears her throat. “We have something to tell you guys.”
Everyone turns their attention on her. She glances from Sam to me, and I nod, urging her to go on.
Cassidy opens her mouth and closes it again, as if she can’t quite get the words out. When Sam catches on, she takes the lead. I catch her squeeze Cass’s hand once, then without missing a beat, she announces, “Cassidy and I are dating.”
The room stays silent, as if none of the guys were prepared for that. But after a beat, Ace cheers, and the rest of the guys join in. Colson stands from his seat and moves over to his sister, pulling her up to give her a hug.
