Chapter 9 #2
He hums. “It’s only natural to feel left out when there’s a significant event involving loved ones. It doesn’t make you an asshole. It just means you care.”
I pick at a thread on my jeans. “I kinda wanna go home now.”
He sighs. “I’m sorry you’re feeling like this. If I wasn’t working, we could go for ice cream.”
That makes me smile.
“You know, I’ve never been kissed on New Year’s before,” I admit.
“Ever?”
“Nope. I just stand there like a gnome while all my friends kiss their partners.”
He laughs softly under his breath. “A gnome?”
“You know, like if you have a gnome in the backyard, they’re usually on their own, just fishing or doing something with a mushroom.”
He chuckles again. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen a mushroom gnome.”
“I’ll buy you one if I see one.”
He laughs, and I grin to myself.
“Don’t read too much into the whole New Year’s kiss thing. I guess it falls down to the age-old superstition that kissing at midnight brings love and luck, and going without equals loneliness.”
I knock my head against the wall behind me and let out a strained groan. “Hunter, don’t tell me that. You know I’m already superstitious. Is that why I’ve been alone for my entire life, because I haven’t kissed anyone?”
“No, it doesn’t mean that at all,” he snickers.
“What does it mean, then?”
“It means the one who wants to kiss you in thirty-six minutes is currently on shift,” he says, and it’s like I forget to breathe.
Heat rushes to my face within an instant. I try to stop my smile from splitting my face in two, but it’s no use. I’m grinning widely, to the point I can feel my cheeks start to ache. “You’d kiss me?”
“Yeah, El, I would. I kinda hate that I’m working right now.”
“Me too,” I whisper, and then I bolt upright as an idea hits the front of my brain. “What if…” I start, but my words trail off. Doubt creeping in. Am I being too forward? What if he says no? I’ll be so embarrassed and awkward.
“What?”
Swallowing hard, I tug harder at the loose thread on my jeans and take a leap. “What if I came there?”
He’s silent for a beat, and I begin to panic that I’ve ruined it.
“Here?” he asks.
“Yeah…” I manage to say around the lump forming in my throat.
“You know you’re welcome anytime. I’ll have to go if we get a call, though.”
Lifting my head, I rub over my lips as the simmering pain in my chest is completely replaced by excitement.
“I’ll leave now,” I insist, then quickly correct myself. “I mean, I’ll have to say bye first and find a ride, but I’ll do that now.”
“Okay, I’ll be here as long as we don’t get a callout.”
We say our goodbyes, and I rush down the stairs so fast Jackson’s eyebrows are nearly in his hairline when I jump down the final few steps. I notice his coat in his hand, and Hayden is already wearing his.
“Are you leaving?” I ask quickly.
“Yeah. My parents have the kids for the night, so we are going to make the most of having the night to ourselves,” Jackson says.
I scrunch up my nose. “So what you’re saying is you’re going home to bone?”
“Jesus,” Hayden chokes out a laugh. “Nothing gets past you, does it, Olsen?”
“Nope,” I say, popping the P and placing my hands on my hips. “Can you drop me off somewhere?”
“Depends on where it is,” Jackson replies, shrugging on his coat.
“Can you take me to the fire station near my place?”
His expression turns quizzical then his eyes track down from my head to my feet. “Why? Are you hurt?”
“No, but there’s someone I wanna see really bad, and if I can get there before midnight, I won’t have all the bad luck for the rest of my life, and it’ll reverse all the loneliness.” I wave my hands in the air.
I don’t need to say any more because Jackson has become my confidant over the last few months. He knows everything. From my torn-up feelings over Blaine getting married to my nerves about meeting someone.
So, I’m not surprised when his lips tip into a smile and he motions to the living room with his hand. “Fine. Go and say bye, and we’ll wait for you in the car.”
“Will you be alright getting home?” Hayden asks over his shoulder once Jackson pulls up outside of Engine 3.
I’ve already unbuckled my seat belt and am reaching for the door handle as I drawl, “Yes, dad.”
“Oh, that’s something we haven’t tried,” Jackson says to Hayden.
“Okay, I’m going. I don’t need to know anything about your bedroom funtivities.”
“Funtivities?” Hayden laughs.
“Yes, fun activities. Funtivities.” I open the door, and movement behind one of the doors has my attention snapping toward the station. “Okay, have fun, bye!”
I jump out of the car and shut the door behind me. My teeth chatter at the cold air hitting my face, and I tug my coat tighter. The station door opens, and Hunter steps out. He’s wearing a thick Engine 3 fleece that looks super soft. I want to bury my face into it.
And suddenly, the cold doesn’t matter when I see the pleased expression on his face.
Fuck. I love seeing that look on his face. Like I’ve done something to make him happy.
“Hey,” I say dumbly when I reach him.
“Hey. I was starting to get worried you weren’t going to make it.” He holds up his phone. There are only three minutes left until midnight.
“Jackson and Hayden dropped me off.” I turn around to point, but they’ve already gone. When I face Hunter again, he lifts his hand and cups my face like he did that night in the car. His touch is so warm, I can’t help but lean into his palm. His thumb gently strokes over my cheek.
Is he going to kiss me? I really fucking hope he does.
“I don’t know how much time we’re going to get, so I’m going to tell you everything now. I really like you, Elliot. A lot, actually. But there’s one thing I need you to know before we take this any further, because I understand if it’ll make you change your mind.”
My heart rate kicks up speed, pumping faster than a race car.
“You’re kinda scaring me,” I confess in a whisper.
He strokes my cheek again, smiling softly.
“I’m widowed, El. My husband died seven years ago, and I haven’t dated or been in a relationship since.
” He swallows, and something fractures in my chest at the thought of all the pain he must have gone through.
“I understand if you don’t want to get involved with me.
I have some baggage. Well, a lot of baggage, which I’ll tell you about another time, but I wanted you to know before… ” He trails off.
Before the new year strikes. Before we kiss.
I reach into my pocket to check the time on my phone, but there’s no need.
The sound of people counting down from ten echoes from inside the station, and my gaze lock with Hunter’s gorgeous brown eyes.
Swallowing hard, I ignore how fast my heart is beating in my chest and grab onto the flare of confidence hearing him say he likes me has given me.
Three…
“Hunter?” I whisper.
Two…
“Yeah?”
One…
“Kiss me.”
A smile lights up his face at the same moment the fireworks on the pier in the distance are set off. He moves his hand to grip my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head up slightly before sliding his mouth onto mine.