Chapter 39 Lainey
Remington
Iam finally so close to finishing Lainey’s journal.
Every shift I have at the fire station I pull it out and work on it when we have downtime.
The guys have all gotten used to seeing me with my drawing stuff and are respectful about giving me space and privacy, not lingering over my shoulder.
I appreciate them not razzing me about this and also not trying to peek at what I’m doing.
If I was drawing for myself that would be one thing, but this is Lainey’s, and it is staying just between us.
Flipping to the next page, I frown at what I see. There is a quote, which the journal has a lot of. Song lyrics are also common, and once in a while she will write a thought about her day or something random.
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
Nobody will ever love me like Harry Burns .
. . I am always given empty promises and not worth sticking around for.
No relationship I have ever been in has made me think a forever was actually possible.
I can’t even write down my biggest dream here, probably will jinx myself even though I don’t see it coming true anyways.
Things feel off with Brett lately, so there is no way I would ever tell him what I really want. Maybe things will get better after my birthday. New year, new possibilities? Maybe?
Things definitely changed after her birthday, that’s for sure. That idiot ruined his chance with the most perfect person on the planet, and I got to meet the woman of my dreams.
Lainey is wrong, however. I want a forever with her and have known it for a long time.
I hope she knows that she can trust me, that I love her unconditionally, and that I am not going anywhere.
Having her move in with me and officially being able to call my house our house is great.
We’re even having a housewarming party tomorrow, the day before my own birthday.
Reading over what she wrote again makes me wonder what dream she was talking about.
What is she afraid to even write down in her most sacred space?
I want to give her the world, including the confidence in our relationship to know that no matter what her dreams are I will love and support her through them all.
Knowing this is the last page in the journal and I will be able to give it to her soon, I can see exactly what I want the final drawing to be. Hopefully I can finish it before we get a call or I need to get some sleep.
The housewarming party is not in fact a housewarming party.
My sneaky woman pulled off the ultimate surprise along with the help of my sister, Jess, and Kendra and threw me a birthday party.
I have never been big on my birthday. Cora always made me feel like I should not be excited about my own birthday, but of course made a huge deal out of her own.
It very much sucked all the fun out of my own day, so I gave up on it a long time ago.
At most I would grab a beer with some of the guys, but this? It was incredible.
All of our friends—minus the guys on shift—my parents, sister, and Lainey yelled “Surprise!” to me as I walked back in the door from an urgent grocery run that Lainey sent me on for some last-minute things for the simple housewarming party she planned to have “for us” with just a few friends.
I have no idea how they got everyone here and things set up so fast; I was gone less than half an hour.
Wrapping Lainey in a tight hug, I growl into her neck. “Baby, this is unreal. How the hell did you pull this off? I was just here!”
“Kendra was party planner extraordinaire. She loves to be bossy, you know.” I laugh and nod my head, because yeah, I do know.
“And Jess organized all the fire crew. Then we coordinated the decoy grocery run so we could get everyone here. Your mom had all the birthday decorations stashed and ready for me, so everyone helped set up super fast.” Her happy smile as she finishes telling me the behind-the-scenes details makes me feel a warmth spreading in my chest.
“I love you so damn much.” I kiss her, deeply and much more thoroughly than I should in a room full of people, but it’s our house and I frankly don’t give a fuck.
Whoops and whistles sound out around us. Lainey pulls back from our kiss, a deep blush staining her cheeks, and she buries her face into my chest.
I cup her face and say, “Hey, Lainey?”
“Yes, Remington?”
“You know that song about it being your birthday party?”
Nodding with a frown she asks, “Do you want to cry?”
“Nope,” I say with a playful smirk and tug her closer so she can feel the hardness behind my zipper. “But it is my party, so I’m gonna kiss you if I want to. Is that alright with you?”
I can feel her practically melt against me as she hums her consent and kisses me again, laughing behind our lips at the whoops that continue to follow.
“Are you ready for your gift?” she asks me with a shy smile.
“You are the only gift I need, baby.” I plant a kiss right under her ear, making her moan.
“As sweet as that is, I think that you are really going to like what I got for you—I hope.” Now she’s nervous, and I don’t want her second-guessing herself.
“Lainey, you know me better than anyone, so I am sure you picked me out the perfect thing.” I tuck a dark lock of her hair behind her ear.
“Eli!” Lainey shouts. Our friends move out of his way as he comes down the hallway, emerging from the spare bedroom.
Holy shit. She did not.
“Happy birthday, Remington.” Lainey grins as Eli takes up a place next to her and hands me the cutest puppy I have ever seen.
Black and brown fur, so soft and fluffy, fills my callused hands.
Little dark eyes, so deep brown they are almost black, look up at me and my heart soars.
A pink tongue drops out of the puppy’s mouth to the side making it look adorably goofy.
I hug him to my chest, looking to Lainey who has watery eyes.
“He is ten weeks old. A German shepherd, black lab mix. Eli helped me find him at a special rescue place that’s between Richmond and Norfolk .
. .” She gives Eli a side hug in thanks as he grins down at her with brotherly affection, wrapping her tightly in his arms. Giving her more of that family connection that she so deserves.
“Lainey,” my voice is rough with so many emotions, “thank you, baby. He is perfect. I love you so much. I have always wanted a dog. This is not what I was expecting at all.” The puppy licks my cheek, making us and everyone around watching laugh.
“Well, I figured that this was a perfect time to make that dream come true for you with me moving in. I work from home and can take care of him when you’re at the station without you needing to worry. Plus, he can keep me company when you aren’t home. Be my guard dog.”
I pull her into a hug, the puppy wiggling between us, making her giggle. She pets his soft head gently, kisses me, and asks, “What should we name him?”
A couple hours later I make my way outside after mingling and showing off our new puppy, Ash.
I spent a lot of time eating from the spread of great food the girls had planned and enjoying having a house full of the people that I love.
Locating Sutton sitting with Eli on comfortable, cushioned chairs under the shaded oak trees in the backyard, I grin and sit in the empty spot next to her.
“I really hope that one of those is for me.” Sutton eyeballs the two plates of Lainey’s apple pie, licking her lips.
I was so shocked and elated that she made me her pie instead of cake.
It is also a big deal that she made extra and is allowing other people to try it.
They are unsurprisingly all drooling over how delicious it is.
I decided in this moment that I want this every year—the pie, not necessarily the party.
“Yes, big sis, this is special pie for you.” I hand over the plate a little reluctantly, and Sutton tugs it from my hand.
“Hey! Where’s my pie?” Eli protests.
“It’s my birthday, why should I be serving you? Go get some yourself. You have big boy legs.”
“No fighting, ugh.” Sutton grabs at her side and shifts uncomfortably. “And, Rem, need I remind you not to call your nine-month pregnant whale of a sister big?”
“You are not a whale, you are the prettiest pregnant lady I have ever seen.” Eli stands and kisses Sutton’s cheek. “Need anything else while I go get my pie?” he asks her.
“Y-yeah. UH. Sorry, my back must be bothering me from sitting in this chair for too long, and I am cramping up again. Do you guys mind if we move inside so I can sit on the couch and put my feet up? It’s also getting too hot out here.”
“Sure thing.” Eli takes our plates and I help Sutton stand, her blue dress flowing over the swell of her very pregnant belly. Sweat beads at the brow of her blonde hair that she has in a braid, pulled away from her face. The late August sun is hot, even as it’s setting.
When we start walking up to the steps of the porch, Sutton grips my hand hard and stops walking. Her eyes lock on mine. The soft brown orbs go wide with worry. “Oh, shit,” Sutton whimpers.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, and Eli steps toward us. Everyone else outside takes notice that something is going on, too.
“I think my water just broke,” she whispers, looking up at me, her eyes now swimming with tears.
“It’s okay, Sut. How long has your back really been bugging you? Have you been feeling cramps?” I ask.
She whooshes out a contemplative breath.
“I don’t know, all morning, all night. I am uncomfortable all over, all the freaking time.
I figured it was just the next level of pregnancy torture, not the start of labor.
Not like I’ve got anything to compare it to, Rem!
” Her voice goes up, panicked with her wave of emotions.
“You got this. We’re here for you,” I try and reassure her. “Eli . . .”
“Yup! On it.” He runs up the steps and into the house.
Seconds later my parents, Lainey, Kendra, and Jess surround us.
“I don’t even have my bag here. I was supposed to have more time,” Sutton says. “Ohmygod, Lainey! Her room, we didn’t finish her room. Now she is going to hate me.”
Lainey steps up, places her hands on Sutton’s shoulders, and says, “Sutton Brooks, you listen to me. You are already the strongest mom I know. We will get her room ready, I promise. The only thing we have left to do is her mural wall and organizing some things. But right now, let’s focus on getting you to the hospital. ”
Jess says, “Matt and I will go get your bags and whatever else you need, yeah?”
Sutton nods and squeezes my hand through another contraction.
All our friends at the party wish us luck and congratulations as we head out.
My dad stays back to lock up the house and promises to be right behind us once everyone has left.
Adrian Garcia offers to puppy-sit Ash for the night.
I feel bad leaving the little guy already but am thankful for our people stepping up as always to help.
I drive carefully and quickly to the hospital, Lainey in the front seat next to me and my mom in the back with Sutton. This is not how I thought my party would end, but I am excited to be an uncle and have this sweet baby bringing joy and light into Sutton’s new darkened world.