Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Are you okay?” I ask as I embrace Kade, fear still racking my entire body. Even seeing him right now, it feels like my eyes could be playing a trick on me.
“I’m fine. I promise.”
“That was...” My heart actually clenches tightly in my chest, and I take a moment to take a deep breath. “I saw it on the news and...”
“I know. But I’m okay. Everyone made it out.
” Kade wraps his big arms around me, and finally, my heart rate starts to settle a little bit.
Elijah is already tucked into bed in his room, so thankfully, he didn’t see the news story of the large explosion at the manufacturing plant in town.
It was bad. So many people were trapped, and when everyone else was running out—it was my boyfriend and his brother running in.
Elijah and Kade moved into my house as soon as we got back from the aquarium.
They settled in pretty quickly, and we managed to make Elijah’s room feel like his by going shopping and letting him pick out some little touches for his room.
He also got to pick the color he wanted to paint his walls.
School started back up, and I started taking Elijah to school with me.
But since I often stay later into the afternoon, it depends on who picks him up.
Sometimes it’s his dad or his uncle—but sometimes he just hangs out at school with me until it’s time to go home.
It’s pretty obvious that I’m with his father. We don’t hide it, but so far, not one parent has lodged any sort of complaint. One of the moms of my students seems particularly thrilled and invites us to dinner quite often. I politely decline, but something tells me that won’t last forever.
Janelle and her husband, however, double date with us quite frequently.
And oddly enough, it wasn’t really Levi and me who formed a strong friendship.
No, that was Kade and Levi somehow. Not that I’m not friends with him, but now that there’s no jealousy whatsoever involved, Kade has become quite fond of Levi.
We hang out at the local bar sometimes when we need a night out. Kade and Janelle happen to have a lot in common too—always trying to set poor Levi up. It seems Kade Mitchell has really settled into his own these days.
There’s no numbness there or trying to just blend in. But it doesn’t mean he’s not even more popular than ever.
“Are you okay?” He holds me in his arms, and I nod against his shoulder.
“I was scared.”
“I understand. But I swear to you, I know what I’m doing, and I’m good at it.”
I look at him, seeing his worry for me—that maybe I can’t handle him being a firefighter—and I don’t like that fear he seems to have.
I take a deep breath again and release it before bringing my hands up to cup his face.
“Being a firefighter is part of you, Kade. It’s not something I’ll ever ask you to give up. ”
He visibly relaxes, his shoulders losing some tension I didn’t realize they were holding. “I would if I had to.”
I smile at him, holding onto his gorgeous face. “You never have to give any part of yourself up to have me. I was scared tonight, but I also knew those people you saved—they needed you. They were terrified, and you were there. That’s a beautiful thing, Kade.”
“You’re incredible, you know that? I really love you.
” I feel the intensity—how deeply he feels just that—and I know it because my love for him is just as intense.
Just as real. I saw that fire and knew he’d be there.
Knowing I could lose him was terrifying, but I also know that’s what I signed up for.
He’s a hero. A real-life rescuer, and I have to trust him to know what he’s doing.
It’s not always going to be easy, but loving him is. It’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.
I think it all started back when we were kids in school. When I looked at him and thought I saw something in his eyes. Something that kept me going and gave me hope.
I lean in and kiss him softly. “Show me.”
He grins, and I expect him to take my hand to lead me to our bedroom, but instead, he leans down and scoops me up into a fireman’s carry. I laugh but don’t fight him at all. I try to keep it down, since Elijah is asleep, and I’d really like to take my time with Kade once we get to our room.
If my boyfriend wants to carry me to bed like some sort of caveman, who the hell am I to argue?
I’m hoping for many, many years of this to come.