Page 94 of Embers in Our Souls
Both women look over at Indy and she shrugs. “Ana Clevesky had early copies available so I phoned in a favor. Told her she had a fan celebrating a birthday. It’s signed too.”
He quickly opens the cover to reveal it personalized with his name and her signature. “Holy shit. She knows my name,” he whispers the last part reverently.
“Are you fangirling, Malloy?” I ask, containing a laugh.
“Fuck you, Hunter. You don’t get it. I’m going to devour this book, Indy. Thank you,” he says, closing the cover and running his hand down the ridges of the foiled design of the front.
“Actually, I do get it. Indy used to send me steamy romance novels when I was overseas. They kept me going sometimes. I’ve just been holding out on you with that little tidbit.” He and the girls stare at me, mouths agape. “And that look right there, is exactly why I’ve never told you.”
“You’re very welcome, and you should really try a little harder to get him into your book club. He’s a fangirl at heart too,” Indiana says, her smile growing.
This woman is weaving herself, not only into every portion of my heart, but into my life, and I have never been happier than I am now.
“Saturday was a ton of fun,” I say as we walk into the station that following Monday.
“Thanks again for coming, man. I can’t believe I didn’t catch on they were planning it.” He laughs as we fall into step together. “Kinda bummed we missed the live premiere ofLove Struck, though.”
I roll my eyes at him, and know he’s joking. They taped it and watched it together last night.
From what he was told, he was headed to Kennedy’s house to watch the premiere of a new reality show. He didn’t think much of it, because that’s something they’ve done in the past. They always get all dressed up for the premieres to pretend they are arriving on the show with the contestants. They’re ridiculous.
Malloy is one of the kindest guys I’ve met. He puts everyone first, and seeing him shown that kind of support and love from those around him is really all he deserves. He’s still going through a rough patch with his mom’s cancer, but she seems to be feeling a little better these days. It was a good time for him to take a night off.
His wife Baylee has been busy this semester, and I could tell Saturday was the break she needed from all the studying she’s been enduring.
It was a relief to see Indy mixing so well with all my friends. I was glad they welcomed her with open arms, not that I had any doubts.
To say this has been a seamless transition is an understatement. I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and I’m finally letting that unsettled feeling wane. A little…sort of.
I think after losing Georgie, I pushed away everything and everyone I cared about because I didn’t know how to handle that type of emotion in my life. I’d never had to deal with love and loss. I was constantly anxious and feeling like my life wouldn’t feel right ever again. I never let myself believe it could feel whole despite the pain I endured.
Growing up with parents that showed me little compassion ill-prepared me for a life surrounded by people that want to love me back. Being loved by Jerry and Scarlet even after Georgie was gone, showed me that unconditional love really does exist. Now that I finally have Indy and Noah in my life to love with my whole heart, I’ve been waiting to see how life can wreak havoc on me again. But I have to let that go. There isn’t going to be something bad or negative lurking behind every closed door. And we can get through hard things together, I don’t need to push people away as soon as life gets hard.
We can have our happily ever after.
“So, since you have this side-gig posting videos online, does Indy get annoyed with the comments the women make about you and your body when you post workouts without your shirt?” Malloy looks over at me.
I think about it. “She hasn’t mentioned it. I know Kalli has shown her theFire Hunterspage, but she doesn’t seem too bothered by it. She knows that social media group is out of my control and not something I put much weight on. I really love doing the workouts, but no matter what, I only have eyes for her.”
“Who’s becoming the softie now?” He smiles.
“I’ll never be as big a softie as you, Malloy. You’re a teddy bear deep down, man. Actually, not deep down, you’re a teddy bear on the surface too. You’re what “Booktok” would call a golden retriever.”
We make our way inside where we’re greeted by the previous crew.
Once we get report from them, we begin our shift—dividing our tasks and inspecting our equipment. I’ve been tasked with Malloy, River, Clay and a few others to check one of our three trucks. Being housed at a larger station in the city, our crew is a decent size.
For spring, it’s especially humid yet again. The more we work, the hotter it’s getting.
“What the hell is up with the weather today?” River complains.
“Stop whining.” Clay laughs as he checks the lights on the truck.
“I can whine all I want, Clay. It’s not even ten in the morning and I need a shower.” River wipes at his brow. “Hey, Hunter. When are you going to film again at the station?”
“Why? You craving some attention?” I laugh.
“I think my fans crave me.” He winks.
