5. Kailee
Chapter five
Kailee
H ad I really just helped deliver a baby? I looked at the two men who had quietly and confidently helped me. Neither man doubted me, just encouraged.
It was a heady feeling, just as it was walking between them, on our way to the park down the block.
Few were out on the cool spring day, but sitting on a picnic bench with them seemed perfect.
“Heck of a first date,” Davin said.
I nodded. “Romantic dreams are made of this, guys. How will you two top this?”
“I could cook for you at the cabin sometime,” Creed said.
I had a feeling this was the equivalent of another man asking a woman to go to an expensive restaurant.
“That sounds nice. Do you cook at all?” I asked Davin.
“I do some, some of my mother’s Indian recipes. I also like to bake bread, but with only the two of us there, we don’t need that much.”
“Does your family think it’s odd that you both live on the mountain now?”
They glanced at each other.
“Yes.” Davin said. “It was quite a switch from the high-powered finance career.”
I knew there was more to it, but didn’t want to push too hard.
“I’d love to see your rescue group in action.”
Davin pointed a fry at me. “We’ve been through two rescues together. What more do you want to see?”
I laughed.
“Why are you studying to be an EMT?” Creed asked.
Ah. We were already on this subject.
“I lost my high school friend when we were at the beach. I could do CPR as I was a lifeguard, but she didn’t wake up.” She’d had a heart condition, but I didn’t want to get into all of that.
“I’m sorry.” Davin said.
Creed covered my hand with his. It felt terrific, though it was twice the size of mine.
“Have you two dated one woman before?” If we were getting it all out on the table, I was curious about that especially.
“No.” Creed said.
I wondered if that was all he would say and pictured myself teasing his thoughts out of him. It was oddly appealing.
“There are two men in our group who married a woman.” He finally followed up his response.
“Married? How is that legal?” I thought of my nurse friend at the hospital, with her three boyfriends.
“We don’t ask about that,” Davin said. “But they are amazing and told us of a town in Colorado with lots of groups like themselves.”
“Losing our friend in the car accident bonded us even more than our years of friendship from college and National Guard. We want to live together, and we understand each other.” Creed looked into my eyes.
“No one else can put up with Creed,” Davin teased.
We finished our food, and I couldn’t remember a date I’d last enjoyed this much. I always felt so awkward over coffee or at bars, meeting men. Maybe the issue had been that I’d been dating one man at a time. But something inside me knew it was these two men who made this work.
We were clearing up, and I was wondering if they’d ask to see me again, when Creed’s phone buzzed. Then Davin’s phone buzzed.
They both looked at their phones.
“Missing kid on the trail,” Creed said. “I’m sorry, but we must go. It’s all hands on deck.”
“Of course,” I said, feeling oddly disappointed that I wouldn’t be with them on this mission.
“Can we see you tomorrow?” Davin asked as they hurried to our cars.
“I’m on shift at noon, but maybe the day after?” I walked with them, extending our time before I would return to my apartment.
“Perfect.” Creed paused at my car and leaned in to kiss me.
His beard was soft against my face as I leaned up to meet him. I braced my hands on his shoulders as the moment stretched, though it wasn’t a pushy kiss. It was perfect, with a promise for more.
Best first date kiss ever. Then it got even better when Davin turned me into his arms for his kiss. Creed’s arms stayed wrapped around me from behind, and I was in between them.
I gripped Davin’s strong biceps as he slanted his head a little to fit his mouth against mine.
After he stepped away with a heart-melting grin, I leaned against my his car door for a moment.
“See you soon.” Creed waved out the window as they drove away.
***
“You look stunning,” Sheila, Tina’s future mother-in-law, said as Tina stood in front of us at the bridal store.
This entire store made me uneasy with its luxury style. I could never spend five thousand dollars on a dress, and I would never want to. As it was, I had to spend three hundred on a lilac bridesmaid dress.
Tina looked beautiful, but honestly, she always did. What really stood out to me was that she didn’t seem happy.
“I’ll help you get changed,” I said when the attendant finished adding a couple of pins along the waist.
“You’ve lost weight. Good!” Tina’s mom said.
I tried not to sigh aloud.
“You okay?” I asked quietly when we were in the dressing room.
She shook her head. “I just want this over with, and to be married to Edgar. This dress is like six months of mortgage at our new townhome.”
I thought for a moment. I’m still certified from officiating at my brother’s wedding. My brother Kevin married his partner, Alton, two years ago. I’d gotten certified online and married them at a state park near their home a couple hours from here. We’d all gone out for cake and a meal.
As I told her about it, I could see her expression brighten. “Tina. Is that what you want, for me to marry you guys?”
She nodded. “But how can I get out of all of this?”“What are the cancellation policies?”
“Sheila would kill us. I don’t even know if Edgar would want that. He has his bachelor party tonight, but then I’ll ask him.”
I nodded. “Let me know. I’m sure Pam would help, too.”
“You and she are the only ones with sense in my life sometimes, it seems. My mother, who eloped, has put so much on this wedding.”
I’d known her mom a long time. “I know. She just wants you to be happy.”
“Would spending this much make you happy?”
As she rattled off the costs for the different aspects of the wedding, I tried to keep the shock off my face.
When she got dressed, I carefully hung up the dress, handling it like a priceless artwork. Then I gave her a hug.
***
My apartment seemed lonely that night. After living in a house with four brothers, it had seemed like a luxury to have this little studio to myself. My brother Scott had a friend looking to sublet, and it was pretty reasonable. I suspected Scott put in some money for the rent, but I was happy to babysit his three-year-old twin girls often, so I knew he wouldn’t let me pay him back.
It was a rare night when family or friends weren’t reaching out. I was thinking about the rescue the night before, and the baby today.
I’d received a text from Jessica’s sister, saying mom and baby were doing well. I wouldn’t have thought of her as the thoughtful type, but I’d learned in my work on the ambulance that people reacted differently in times of crisis. Maybe she was just scared.
I turned on the news, though I rarely used my TV. One of my brothers gave it to me when I’d moved in. I was looking for news about the missing kid on the trail. He hadn’t been found yet.
“Thinking of you, guys. I hope the mission turns out well.” As soon as I texted Creed and Davin, I slapped my forehead. It was oddly formal and didn’t really get to the heart of a missing boy.
***
I heard the phone buzz later as I changed into a t-shirt and shorts for bed. “Thank you. Looking forward to seeing you.”
That was from Creed.
As I was reading my phone later while in bed, I got a text from Davin.
“We found him. Fallen with broken arm.”
I searched up local news sites and even found a video. It showed Creed rappelling down a small ravine. It was hot.
I rolled my eyes at myself. Another shot of Davin pulling the rope with a team to help Creed and the wrapped boy come up was also sexy.
Thoughts of kissing them both made me smile as I drifted off to sleep.