Chapter 17
I t was official; spring had definitely sprung. I was waking up with the pale sunrise peeking through the curtains and it made the early mornings just that little bit more bearable.
Knox and Wren were starting to work things out, but Scott and I, well we were in a weird place.
There had been a shift, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what.
It felt a bit like Scott was pulling away, only not in an obvious way. It was subtle, but I could sense it all the same.
I had the music on in the kitchen. We were in that lull sandwiched between the breakfast rush and lunchtime.
Kate hurried into the kitchen in a flurry of dishes and cups.
“We have visitors,” she sing-songed. “Come on. Come out here for a minute.”
She took hold of my arm and moved me in the direction of the café where not one but ten firefighters all in different stages of undress—and I didn’t mean in a naked way—were standing in a group at the chilled case.
They were loud and boisterous, but the man I was most interested in seeing stood up at the front. As I made my way through to the cash register I was greeted with hellos and high fives until I was standing in front of Scott.
He looked absolutely delicious. Tired, but delicious. I hadn’t seen him in two days—a record for us.
“Hey there, Lieutenant. What can I get for you and your entire firehouse this fine morning?”
“Are those a new addition?” he answered me.
“Huh?”
Was he talking about my new feta and pesto Spanakopita Tarte Soleil? I’d twisted the pastry to make it look like a sunflower—perfect for spring.
He shook his head, eyes trained on the little alcove behind me.
“The flowers. When did you get them?”
“Oh erm . . .” I trailed off. Had I really not mentioned them?
“On Valentine’s Day,” Kate cut in.
His brow furrowed. “And they’re still alive? What are they? Magic?”
Blake guffawed while an authoritative “No. They’ve been preserved to last,” sounded from behind Scott.
I looked up and a surprised gasp caught in my throat.
Holy Shit. Gabe.
He came and stood next to Scott. They were matched in height and build yet a total contrast from each other.
Dressed in a designer, tailored suit, Gabe had a powerful elegance about him while Scott gave off an intense heroic energy in his suspenders and long-sleeved crewneck.
“Hi, Jenny. You having an event for the local firehouse, or?—”
“ Jenny ?” Scott growled and Kate squeaked.
“Think I’m going to see what this hungry lot wants. Rams, let’s have some semblance of a line . . .”
Blake did a double take as he eyed the two gladiators in front of me, then he and Kate shared some wordless conversation. After whistling to his fellow house members, everyone took their turn in giving Kate their lunch orders.
Both Gabe and Scott stood stock-still, staring at me. Their shoulders were practically touching, both taking on the same stance.
I just stared back at them, not knowing what to do or where to look. Why was I even so bothered about them being in here at the same time?
Maybe it was a whisper from high school. Scott always scared everyone off in a she’s my best friend and you can’t have her type of way.
I shook out of whatever emotional muscle memory had come over me and addressed my friend.
Err, my other friend.
“Gabriel. It’s good to see you again. What can I get for you?”
He smiled then and stepped even closer.
“Jenny. It’s good to see you too.” He leaned a hand down on the counter in a casual, familiar sort of way.
“How about my usual? You always know how to please me.”
I gulped and nodded. “Yep, usual. And for you Scotty. Scott.” I put the back of my hand to my brow.
Flushed and overwhelmed, I needed to decipher why this had gotten me so flustered.
“What can I get you? Looks like you’ve had a long morning.”
Had he blinked? I don’t think he had. Had I? Also not sure about that.
“Suddenly I’m not so hungry.” He crossed his arms over his chest, and it somehow made him look even bigger.
The air was stifling. Two gazes, one a deep blue, and one golden brown, so intense, so severe, and yet completely different.
“Jenny, maybe I can go take a seat and when you’ve finished all these to-go orders we could catch up. I’ve missed you.”
“Missed me,” I croaked.
“Yeah, we need to talk more about our dinner date. We’ve still not set a solid plan...” And then he flippin’ winked and I about died.
Scott’s face looked murderous. “Maybe she hasn’t given you a solid yes because you keep getting her fucking name wrong. Can’t you read?”
“Oh, I can read just fine.”
Both their gazes dipped to the breast pocket of my apron.
Was it hot in here? It was hot.
“Tate,” Scott barked, making me jump, and the new probie on Scott’s crew appeared at his side within a second.
“Stay and grab the takeout bags. Everyone else, let’s roll.”
“Ye-yeah. No problem,” the youngest-looking firefighter I’d ever seen replied.
“I’ll see you later.” Scott sent me a smug smile. “We ordering in, or shall we cook?”
“I . . .” I shook my head. What was happening?
“Never mind. We’ll decide later.”
Then he smiled at Gabe. But there were too many teeth on show, and it made him look menacing, or maniacal, I wasn’t sure which he was going for.
Rowdy but efficiently and in a flash of navy and yellow, the two crews of Firehouse 90 left and Cupcake was quiet again.
I stared after them, watching them heave their bodies up and into the trucks. The engines groaned to life and pulled into the flowing traffic.
I was left reeling.
“Erm, so shall I just stand here, or . . .” Tate asked with wide eyes.
I scratched at where my hair tie had started to feel too tight and pulled at the neckline of my shirt.
That was, that was a lot.
“You can come and keep me company over here,” Kate beckoned him, and he followed, heavy boots clonking over the hardwood floor.
“You okay?” Gabe asked, because of course he was still standing in front of me.
“Oh, yeah. Uh-huh. I’m fine.”
He righted his cufflink with his finger and thumb. “Who was that guy?”
I screwed my nose up and then let out a breath. “That was my lifelong best friend acting the weirdest I’d ever seen him.”
“Seemed pretty normal to me. He was just making sure I knew you were his.”
“I’m . . . not his,” I stuttered out. “I mean, I am his, but not in that kind of way.”
The smirk that erupted on his face reminded me of Knox.
“I think I just found the reason why you’ve been so hesitant to go out with me, because it definitely isn’t my good looks and sparkling personality that has you stalling.”
He flashed me a beautiful smile and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Go take your seat,” I said, shaking my head, “I’ll be right over with your lunch.”
“What was that?” I asked when I finally saw Scott later that afternoon.
“ Who was that?” he threw back at me, his brow arched.
“That was . . . You know what actually, yeah, let’s do this.”
I squared my shoulders, and he crossed his arms over his chest in the most Scott-like move ever.
Please. That wasn’t going to intimidate me. I wasn’t his young-buck rookie.
“His name is Gabe. He’s been popping in for over a year now. He’s the son of Alessio Parisi—the main coffee giant producing out of Italy and the coffee I sell at the bakery.”
His eye twitched. “ He’s the coffee douche?”
My eyes narrowed. “He’s no douche. You’re the only douche.”
I shook my head; I was being immature. I hated when Scott rattled me. I took a deep breath and tried again.
“I think. I think he’s been trying to court me.” I had no idea why I phrased it like that, and my cheeks heated.
“So that’s what the conversation the day we picked up Jack was all about.”
I nodded stiffly. “Kind of. He’s asked me out a few times, but I haven’t said yes yet.”
He puffed out his chest. “You don’t need to be bullied into going out on a date with anyone. Want me to talk to him? Tell him to back off?”
“No. No, it’s nothing like that. I just wasn’t sure. That’s all.”
“He calls you Jenny.”
“I know.”
“It’s annoying.”
“I have no idea why he does it. He knows my name is Jenna.”
“So do you like him?”
I wanted to squirm under his scrupulous gaze, but I tried not to.
“I erm, I’m not sure? He’s really handsome and I like talking to him. Could we move from chit-chat over my counter to a full-blown dinner? I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
“Cupcake.” He shook his head, backed off, and then stepped forward again.
“Jenna. You deserve to at least be taken out for a nice meal. I don’t think . . . I don’t think you have anything to lose. You should go.”
His fists were clenched at his sides and his jaw ticked.
“Scott.” I reached for him, but he backed off again.
“You know what? I’m barely managing to keep my eyes open. That last shift was brutal. The food is on its way, okay? I ordered you Greek. I googled your new creation and guessed you were in a Mediterranean mood. I’m going home to crash. I’ll speak to you in the morning.”
“Scott. Stay.”
“Night, cupcake,” he said, but I barely heard him over the clicking of the door as it closed.