Chapter 10
10
KARA
K ara sat on the edge of the empty fire truck, her helmet resting at her side, the smell of smoke still thick in the evening air. The fire had been contained after hours of grueling work, and her team was in the process of wrapping up. But Kara couldn’t quite shake the adrenaline buzzing beneath her skin. The fire had been ferocious, and there had been moments when she wasn’t sure how things would play out. Yet, they had made it through. They had saved homes, protected lives, and brought the blaze to a halt. It was, as always, a victory, but that didn’t mean it had been easy.
She reached for her phone, knowing Mallory had likely been watching the news coverage. Her pulse quickened slightly at the thought of her, as it always did. Kara had seen Mallory’s message on her phone earlier, causing that familiar ache to stir in her chest. It was impossible not to notice the pull between them. But the complexity of it—Mallory’s hesitancy, her fears—made things harder than they should be. Kara had never been one to shy away from hard things, but this felt different.
Kara unlocked her phone and quickly typed a simple message: I guess you saw the news?
She wasn’t sure what she expected. Maybe a casual response, maybe something more. She didn’t know. What she did know was that Mallory had been on her mind far too much, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep pretending that she wasn’t drawn to her in ways she couldn’t control.
Kara’s phone buzzed with Mallory’s reply, and she felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth. She read the words slowly, letting them sink in.
I saw. You’re incredible, Kara. I was worried.
The words were simple, but they hit her deeper than she expected. She had always known Mallory was special—intelligent, strong, and kind. But it was moments like these that reminded her of how much she wanted to be close to her. To feel that connection, even if it terrified them both.
Kara quickly typed a response, trying to keep the tone light, even though a part of her was already wrapped up in the emotions swirling inside her.
I’m fine, Mallory. You don’t have to worry about me.
She read it over once, then twice, before sending it off. But deep down, Kara knew the words weren’t enough. They never were. Mallory’s worry was rooted in something deeper. Kara could feel it—feel the tension building between them, the unspoken fears that held them back. She wanted to tell Mallory it was okay, that she didn’t have to be afraid. But she wasn’t sure how to say it without pushing Mallory further away.
Mallory: It’s not that I don’t trust you, Kara. It’s just… this life you lead, it’s dangerous. Every time you go out there, I wouldn’t be able to help but wonder if I’m going to lose you. I can’t do that again.
Kara felt a knot form in her stomach as she read Mallory’s message. It wasn’t what she had expected, but it was real. Raw. Mallory was scared. And Kara understood that, even though it stung.
Kara: I don’t need you to protect me, Mallory. I’ve made my choices, and I can handle them. You don’t have to worry about me, and you don’t have to shut me out because of your fears.
The words were sharp, but Kara couldn’t help it. She was frustrated—frustrated by how hard it was for Mallory to understand that Kara had made her peace with the risks. It wasn’t about Mallory protecting her; it was about trusting that Kara knew what she was doing, that she had chosen this life. But she also understood that Mallory’s fears weren’t something she could just push aside. She could feel the hurt in her response, but she couldn’t bring herself to soften the blow. Not yet.
Mallory: I know you can handle it. I just… I don’t know how to stop being scared.
Kara didn’t reply right away. When she finally did respond, her words were softer.
Kara: It’s okay to be scared, Mallory. I just need you to trust me. Trust that I’m here for you, just like I need you to be here for me. We both need to take risks if we want something real.
When Mallory didn’t respond, Kara worried that the conversation had become too heavy, and she’d scared Mallory off. Needing to lighten the situation and buy herself more time with Mallory, she sent a more playful text.
Kara: If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were worried about me getting too hot… but then again, you’re probably into that.”
Kara was thrilled with the near-immediate response:
Mallory: I think you’re the one who likes to play with fire, Kara. Always have, always will.
Much to Kara’s relief, the tension in their conversation began to melt, replaced by something lighter, flirtatious.
Kara: Maybe you’d like to see me up close, get a better look at what I’m really capable of.
Mallory: You’re tempting fate, Kara. But I can’t say I don’t like it.
Kara: I bet you’re blushing right now. And you look beautiful when you blush. Am I right? Kara teased.
Mallory: Blushing? I don’t know what you’re talking about. But if anyone’s blushing, it’s you, imagining all the ways I might respond.
It didn’t take long for Kara to reply, her boldness shining through every word.
Kara: Oh, I’m not imagining. I’m very good at picturing exactly what I want.
Mallory: Is that so? And what exactly are you picturing?
Kara needed no time to think of her response.
Kara: Let’s just say it involves your beautiful body, that gorgeous green shirt dress on the floor again, and absolutely no interruptions.
Mallory: Hmm, sounds intriguing. But I don’t know… I might be too busy for all that. You know, saving lives and all.
Kara: Saving lives, huh? Funny, because you’ve been on my mind 24/7, and I’m not sure how much longer I can wait for you to rescue me from my own thoughts. Kara laughed at her own attempts to flirt.
Mallory: You seem awfully confident. What makes you think I’d rescue you?
Kara paused, her thumbs poised over her phone. How to respond to keep Mallory thinking about her? Kara took her time before answering.
Kara: Because, Doc, you’re not the kind to leave someone hanging. Especially not me.
It had started as playful banter, something that allowed them both to dip their toes into the intense chemistry that had been building for weeks. But now, maybe they were close to crossing a line. A line she wasn’t sure Mallory was ready to cross.
The night had fallen, and the air was cool, a welcome relief after the suffocating heat of the flames. Kara leaned back against the truck, her eyes on the stars above, her mind still racing from the adrenaline of the day. She wanted to be back with her team, doing the work she loved, but this sudden exchange with Mallory had her in its grip.
Her phone buzzed again, and her stomach fluttered with the anticipation of Mallory’s response to her last text. For the briefest moment, her heart swelled with hope, thinking that maybe Mallory was ready to let her in. But when she read the message, the words hit her with an unexpected force.
Mallory: We’re not getting anywhere like this, Kara. I don’t want this to be just about the chemistry. Because we both know how strong and undeniable that is. I want something real. And I do feel it with you. But I’m scared.
Kara stared at the screen, her heart pounding, the weight of Mallory’s vulnerability pressing on her chest. She could feel it in her bones—the fear, the hesitation, the walls Mallory had built around herself. Kara knew all too well what it was like to guard yourself, to keep your emotions locked away out of fear of getting hurt. But this? This was different. She wanted Mallory. She wanted to show her that she could be trusted, that she wasn’t going anywhere. But the uncertainty in Mallory’s words made Kara’s own feelings of doubt rise to the surface.
She typed quickly, wanting to reassure Mallory, wanting to bridge the gap between them. She didn’t have all the answers, but she knew that she could offer her heart, and that had to count for something.
Kara: I’m not going anywhere, Mallory. And you know I feel it too. I want something real with you. But you need to decide if you want to take the risk with me.
She hit send, the words lingering in her mind even as the message left her phone. She knew it wasn’t enough. She knew Mallory’s fear ran deeper than just this conversation. But Kara was tired of waiting for Mallory to come around. She was tired of hiding her feelings, of pretending that the pull between them wasn’t strong enough to break through the walls they’d both built.
The stars outside were brighter now, their light flickering in the night sky, as Kara sat in silence with her team. She knew Mallory’s hesitation would be the hardest thing to overcome. She had seen it before, felt it before—people held back because they were afraid. But she also knew that the longer Mallory waited, the more time they would lose. She could feel the weight of their unspoken words pressing down on her chest.
Kara wanted Mallory. There was no denying it. But she also knew that she couldn’t force Mallory to take that leap. She had to wait for her to decide. And as she sat there, the fire now just a memory in the distance, she wondered if that was the hardest part. Waiting.