51. Eli
Eli
“She’s been watching my videos,” I tell the guys gathered for dinner at the fire station.
Adrian Garcia cooked tonight, so we are all full of another one of his mom’s famous recipes and happy.
This time he made one of our favorites, a cheesy green chili chicken with Mexican rice.
Unfortunately there are zero leftovers for my midnight snacking.
“So you’re going to seduce her through thirst traps? Instead of in person? Doesn’t she live with you now?” Ryan Banks, one of the younger rookies, questions me.
“Banks, I am using every tool in the shed. And now that I know Kendra’s been watching these”—I shake my phone at him—“I’m going to sharpen them.”
“So you want to stab her with your pitchfork?” Jacobs chuckles, elbowing Garcia.
“No, dumbass. I just need to use everything I have to my advantage, and this can’t hurt if she’s already looking.”
“The new fancy dick glitter didn’t do it for her?” Ryder chuckles.
I groan.
“I’m out!” Chief exclaims, shoving away from the table. “This is too much information for me. Banks, Jacobs, you are both on clean-up duty tonight.” Chief exits the room like his pants are on fire, leaving everyone else at the table laughing.
Rem says, “Not going to call Keller to book another appointment then?”
“Hell no,” I answer Rem. “And, for your information, not that any of you nosey bitches deserve it, I haven’t gotten to test it out yet—officially.” I cough.
“Hmmm.” Ryder glances around the table.
“Look, I ruined a relationship with Kendra once, you guys,” I admit, “so I have an uphill battle to prove to her that she can trust me with her heart. I’m taking this one day at a time and trying my best to not fuck it up again, because if I do there won’t be a third chance.”
“Maybe you need to do some kind of special grand gesture to show her that you are all in this time,” Garcia suggests. “Like get a star named for her or something, or plan a special trip that’s a few months away?”
“That’s a good idea, man. Thanks, I will think about it.”
A grand gesture that shows her that I’m all in this time? Pretty sure the biggest thing is to convince Kendra that I’m capable of actually loving her, that I am in love with her . . . that I have been in love with her for the past nine years, despite my actions.