Page 64 of One Chance

Needing to focus onanythingother than how Lee Sullivan made me feel, I focused my attention on Penny.

“Okay, kiddo, in a few minutes the parade will actually start. Let’s get you some candy. Remember ... elbows out!”

Penny’s rolling laughter soothed my soul as she grinned and shot her arms akimbo and growled like a tiny linebacker.

TWENTY

LEE

After the 5K race,I was on cloud nine. My unit and I threw on some shirts and climbed on the fire truck.

“Looking slow out there, Sullivan.” Brooklyn smirked at me as she pulled her shirt over her sports bra. It struck me that the wholeshirtless firefighterstunt was pretty sexist. Sure, Brooklyn and Emery always jumped at the chance to beat us in the race, but maybe next year we could think of something else to rile up the crowd.

I patted my abs. “It was the birria tacos. This is your fault.”

She laughed as Whip scoffed. “Taco Tuesday istonight. Find another excuse.”

I laughed, enjoying the easy camaraderie of my unit. It was the sense of belonging I had missed from my Army days. Stressful jobs had a way of bonding people, and despite our relatively quiet town, we had each other’s backs.

“Let’s load up!” Whip bellowed out to the group, and we all climbed aboard the three fire trucks that would toss candy to the crowd. I found my spot on the right, beside a twenty-five-gallon bucket filled to the brim with candy.

Circling back through town, the trucks meandered to the beginning of the route. Whip blasted the siren and horns as we lined up to lead the parade.

As the truck rolled toward Sand Dune Studio, my heart ached. Standing and waving was Beckett with his arms wrapped around Katie. Lark leaned into Wyatt, who had Penny perched on top of his shoulders. In the middle of the two couples, next to my frowning oldest brother, Duke, was Annie, beaming at me and waving wildly.

She had never looked more beautiful.

I couldn’t hear a damn thing over the sirens, but I could see Penny’s excited giggles. I called back to Whip. “Be right back!”

Whip flipped me a middle finger as I hopped off the truck and jogged toward my family with a laugh.

Without even giving it a second thought, I ran straight for Annie, grabbed her by the back of the neck, and planted my mouth on hers. I swallowed her shocked little gasp and wound my arm tighter around her back when she melted into me. I pressed my forehead to hers and whispered, “Fair’s fair. This isverypublic.”

I grinned down at her before looking up at Penny perched on my brother’s shoulders.

I held my hands out to Penny, who launched herself into my arms. I hoisted her up onto my own shoulders. “You want to go for a ride?”

She smiled down at me. I looked over at my brother Wyatt. “I’ll meet you back at the fire station.”

Wyatt smiled and nodded as he pulled Lark into his side.

I held on to Penny’s legs. “All right, you little rat. Let’s do this.”

“Woo-hoo!” Her fists shot into the air.

I jogged back toward the fire truck. Grabbing the handle, I hoisted her inside before pulling myself into the truck. Her eyes went wide when she saw the large bucket of candy on the floor.

“Now, listen. We still have to give some of this away.” I laughed.

Penny dug two hands into the bucket, scooping out candy. She looked at me with hopeful eyes.

I grabbed my own handful. “Okay, let’s do it.” I tossed the candy out of the truck to scatter on the roadway.

A delighted giggle tore through her. Penny tossed her two handfuls as children scattered like ants to collect it.

“This is epic!” Penny shouted. Her laughter was infectious and lifted the moods of everyone in the truck.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Annie had ever wanted kids. She had a natural and easy way with my niece that made it all too easy to imagine her surrounded by children. It wasn’t anything we ever talked about, and for the briefest moment I let myself fantasize about a funny little girl with Annie’s freckles and wild hair and my grin.

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