Chapter Twenty Two
Ω Blakely Ω
After I get to Bronx’ house, I go to his bedroom. He’s going to get off tomorrow morning, and I know he sleeps better when I’m here with him. I have a couple of things I can do to keep myself occupied.
Calling Charlie is one of them. She quickly became one of my best friends. I grab my phone and videochat Charlie. I smile when I see Oliver’s face.
“Hi, Ollie.”
“Aw. I thought it was Bronx calling.” He pouts.
I laugh. They are really close.
“He’s on shift right now,” I tell him.
“He calls me when he’s on shift!” Oliver turns the phone to Charlie, and she shakes her head.
“Sorry about that. He’s a little grumpy today.” Charlie looks stressed out.
“What’s going on?” Nothing’s wrong with Oliver, is it?
“Alexander asked me if he could move in with us,” Charlie tells me as a smile breaks out on her face.
“OH! Yay!!!” I move so I’m leaning against the headrest. “That’s so exciting!! I’m so happy for you!”
Charlie laughs. “He’s been staying over and Ollie has known about us for a bit now… I thought it was about time anyway. I just didn’t want to pack up my entire house to move to his.” Charlie sighs and sits down in her kitchen.
“What’s Alexander going to do with his house?” They live right beside each other.
“He wants to knock it down. It would give us room to just add onto this house and have a bigger yard for future children.” Charlie’s cheeks turn pink.
They’re already talking about children? I mean, I know Charlie has been wanting to give Oliver siblings. I didn’t think they were at that stage yet.
Charlie goes silent as she stares at me. I almost think she’s frozen, but then she talks. “Where are you?”
I look around me. Oh. I’ve never called her in Bronx’s house before. I laugh nervously. “I’m at Bronx’s house…”
Charlie laughs harder than I’ve ever heard her laugh before. I didn’t think that it was that funny. “Girl. You move FAST. He’s on shift, and he just lets you in his house?” Charlie giggles. “He must be down bad for you.”
I grin at her. “He gave me a key to his house so I can walk in freely.”
Charlie shakes her head. “You better be careful. You know what they say about first responders.”
I roll my eyes. “You act like my dad isn’t a paramedic.”
She knows my dad. We’ve gone out to dinner before together.
“Wait.” Charlie stops laughing for a minute.
“Okay?”
“Bronx is a paramedic,” she tells me.
“Yes.”
“Your dad is the Crew Chief.”
“Yes?” I don’t think I know where this is going.
“Is he Bronx’s Crew Chief? Are you dating a paramedic that works for your dad?”
I don’t know if dating is the right word for it.
“Yes. But I don’t know if dating is the right word for it. He never asked me to be his girlfriend.” I try to shrug it off.
I know we’re together. Ever since we ran into each other, we’ve spent pretty much everyday together besides when he’s been at work.
Charlie starts laughing again. “Big bad Mr. Bronx The Paramedic can’t even ask the girl he likes to see if she’ll be his girlfriend. This is hilarious! I need to tell Alexander! He’s going to love this!”
Before I can say anything, Charlie hangs up at me. She really tells him every single bit of gossip she hears.
My phone pings with a text message.
Bronxy: Hey, butterfly :) I just got a minute to message you.
I’m finally getting a chance to eat dinner.
You need to ice your hand and probably take an anti-inflammatory.
Everything is in the medicine cabinet in our master bathroom.
Feel free to get into whatever you want.
I have a grocery order coming soon with some more stuff for you.
I can’t wait to climb into bed with you tomorrow morning. I miss you already.
My heart feels warm at his text. He’s honestly one of the nicest people I’ve ever known. I type out a message back to him.
Butterfly: Thank you B <3 I was actually going to place a delivery order for something to eat for dinner. My hand is kind of throbbing, so I will take something for it after dinner. I miss you.
I look back over his original text and see the part where it says ‘our master bathroom’. Did he really mean ours? We don’t live with each other. I know I stay over here a lot, but that doesn’t mean I moved in. We’ve barely been together. Wouldn’t that be too fast?
No matter how much I want to worry about this, I feel better knowing that it’s with Bronx.
Bronxy: We’re supposed to be getting bad weather, so I wanted to make sure we had everything we needed for a few days. This shift has been awful…
I frown when I see his text. I can only imagine how terrible it’s been for him. Paramedics have to see and deal with a lot… I wish I was able to help him in some way.
Butterfly: I can come give you a hug?
Bronx: No. I don’t want you to drive in the storm. I’ll feel better tomorrow morning when I get to climb into bed and hold you :);) I like to cuddle.
I laugh. He does like to cuddle.
Butterfly: I wouldn’t imagine it any other way. I need to start on some work so that we can lay in bed together all day tomorrow.
Bronxy: That sounds like heaven, butterfly. You make this job a lot easier for me to handle.
I smile and pocket my phone. I never thought I’d be here waiting for Bronx to come home. I always figured he wasn’t into me. Now that thought just seems ridiculous.
My phone pings again.
Bronxy: I start eating my sandwich, and we get a call. I’m going to starve to death before I get to see you again :(
I shake my head, I love how dramatic he can be.
Butterfly: I’ll make sure to have food ready when you get home :) Stay safe