Chapter 20
Addy
“Well, someone sounds happy. What gives?” As the words Alden asks hit my ears, I realize I’ve been whistling as I decorate this large rectangular retirement sheet cake.
“I don’t know. I guess you could say my weekend ended far better than how it started.”
“Oh, yeah? That sounds like a─”
Alden’s words are cut short as the little bell above the door clinks, and none-other than the boys of station 12, all decked out in their yellow turnout gear, stroll in.
“Hey, Dave. Addy start a fire in the kitchen I don’t know about?” Alden greets.
His words barely register as I make eye contact with Trevor. I can’t fight the huge grin. For the first time since I’ve known him, the sparkle in his eyes has to compete with the gleam bouncing off of his megawatt smile. My legs are moving in his direction before I can stop them. Heck, he said he was all in, right?
“Hi, cupcake,” he teases with a peck on my nose.
“Hell, Laurence. I didn’t know you had teeth.” Dave laughs. “I don’t think I’ve seen you smile ’til now.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He chuckles, looking down at me with the dreamiest gaze.
“’Bout time he got his head out of his ass,” Alden says. “Is this why you dropped by. So loverboy could pay a visit?”
Standing on tiptoes, I give Trevor a chaste kiss on the mouth. I can’t help myself. He’s like the stuff of a teen heartthrob magazine right now. All pearly whites, shining blue eyes, and six foot three of muscle and ink, wrapped in a firefighter uniform. Gah!
“Oh, for shit’s sake. We don’t want to see that,” Jason bellows. “Can we please pick up something for Mrs. Robinson and get out of here?”
“They’re just jealous,” Trevor whispers before bending down to repeat the action.
“Wait. Mrs. Robinson? It can’t be her birthday. I just made her a cake for that,” I blurt, confused.
“Um, no.” Jason stands looking at the ceiling like he has lost his tongue.
I give Trevor a blank stare.
“Apparently, it’s Purdy’s. She’s upset because her doctor told her to stay off her feet because her rheumatism is acting up. So it’s now become a town emergency.”
“Town emergency? Please tell me she didn’t─”
“Call 911? Yep. I would’ve loved to have been sitting next to Darlene when that call came in.” Jason changes the pitch of his voice to sound like one of the town’s veteran dispatchers. “911, what’s your emergency? Oh, you need a birthday cake for your chicken? Let me send the fire department with lights and sirens.”
I almost laugh until I realize the boys are all stone-faced. Heck, Sycamore doesn’t get that many calls where it would be an imposition. But I suppose it is demeaning to have your profession reduced to such nonsense. The poor woman is a little off her rocker.
“That one,” Dave says, pointing at a small round chocolate cake.
“Are you sure Purdy likes chocolate?” Alden pretends to ask in earnest, failing miserably.
“This whole thing is ridiculous. The woman probably just wants an excuse to light candles and sing happy birthday.” Dave snorts.
“Can we stay to watch it blow out the candles?” Trevor chuckles.
“Sure. We’ll leave you there to party with them,” Jason says, grabbing the cake box from Alden.
“Come on, Trev,” Dave calls.
“Bye, sass.” Kiss. “I promise not to check out any hot chicks at the party.” Kiss.
“Oh my, god. Get out of here, you goof.”
As they all meander to the engine, Alden stares wordlessly at me. “So?”
“So, what?” I grin as I pick up my piping bag and continue to place a decorative buttercream border along the bottom edge of the cake.
“Is this the real thing?”
“It’s so new I don’t want to get my hopes up. I think Trevor was hurt pretty badly, so he keeps his guard up. But I’m so happy, Alden.”
“I see that. Did you tell him you’ll be out of town this weekend for a modeling gig?”
“No. He has friends from Virginia coming this weekend. He’ll be so busy he won’t even know I’m gone.”