Page 88 of Knot Baked Out For This

---

"Oh, it definitely happened. I have photographic evidence."

"Hazel, control your friend."

"Nobody controls Reverie. She's a force of nature."

"A force for chaos."

"That too," Reverie agrees cheerfully. "Now shoo, Captain Puddles. Some of us have viral content to create."

I wave goodbye, trying to maintain some dignity while water streams from my uniform. Hazel waves back, still fightinglaughter, and something warm unfolds in my chest despite the cold puddle water in my boots.

"Rowan?" she calls again.

"Yeah?"

"Saturday? Maybe dinner? Somewhere dry?"

She's asking me on a date. An actual date.

"Saturday," I agree immediately. "I promise not to fall in any puddles."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

I squelch my way back to the station, leaving wet footprints and probably my dignity, but I'm grinning like an idiot.

She thinks about me. Wants to date me. All of us.

Jenkins looks up when I enter, takes in my soaked uniform, and immediately pulls out his phone. "Dude, what happened?"

"Gravity."

"Gravity made you wet?"

"Gravity and feelings are a dangerous combination."

"I need details. The group chat NEEDS details."

"The group chat needs to mind its own business."

But I'm still smiling, even as I change into my spare uniform, even as the morning briefing turns into a roast session, even as my phone blows up with notifications about Reverie's post.

Because Hazel Holloway wants to love us.

Slowly, carefully, at her own pace.

But still. Love.

Worth every puddle in Oakridge.

The day stretches ahead—training drills, equipment checks, probably at least one call about Mrs. Patterson's cat—but all I can think about is Saturday. About the possibility of actual dates, actual time, actual chance to show her we're worth the risk.

My phone buzzes.

Text from Luca:

LUCA: Saw the puddle video. Smooth.

Then Levi:

---