Page 67 of Firemen Next Door
“That’s true,” I insisted, deciding to take the teasing even further. “I love you just the way you are.”
Ash rolled his eyes as Beck and I laughed. “Whatever.”
“I’ll take this up to him.” I grabbed my own mug and the one for Calder, before I left the other two in the kitchen and made my way up to the main bedroom.
I found Calder standing in front of the window, looking out toward the station. He was clearly deep in thought, but I decided to bother him anyway. I wanted to know what was on his mind.
“Hey,” I said, holding out the mug that was in my hand. “I brought you some hot chocolate. You know, to thank you for your hard work.”
“That’s very sweet,” Calder said with a small, hesitant smile, taking the mug and leaning back against the windowsill. “So, this is it, huh? We’re really all living together.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, but I noticed his reservations about the situation. “Does that bother you?”
“It shouldn’t,” Calder sighed, looking at the little marshmallows I’d put on top of the hot chocolate. “I don’t know, I guess I’m just not sure if it’ll actually work with all of us here. Won’t it be too busy? Won’t you get tired of all of us?”
I sighed and put my hot chocolate on the dresser before approaching him. Calder put his mug down on the windowsill, and I leaned against his chest, wrapping my arms around his body to give him a tight hug. I felt his arms make their way around me, too, and we stood like that for a moment.
“Listen, I know it’s scary,” I said, “but I think the risk is worth it. You’ll see. We can work through anything that comes our way, and I’ll be honest, I don’t think it’s even possible for me to get bored of you. Although, if you do start snoring, we’ll have to have a talk.”
I felt it when Calder laughed at that, and pulled away from him to look at his face. “I’m serious, though. I think we’ve made the right decision.”
“I know,” he was smiling now, one arm still around my waist. “I’m just a bit neurotic.”
“Mm, sometimes I like that about you.” I leaned up to kiss him, and he responded enthusiastically, picking me up and laying me down on our brand-new bed. We lay beside one another, staring into each other’s eyes.
“This isourbed,” I whispered. “Andourhouse. No matter what.”
I reached out to kiss him again, throwing one leg over his waist to pull him close. He put his hands under my sweater and on the small of my back, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin.
Laying there with him in a space that was no longer just mine, butours—it simply felt right. Like I was finally in the place I had always meant to be. Knowing that Beck and Ash were there too, and every morning I would wake up to the three of them around me (at least, when they weren’t on duty) was like a dream come to life.
It was something that I could never have seen coming, but now I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.
“Calder,” I said when we pulled apart and he pushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I love you.”
He smiled softly, a hint of redness on his cheek. “I love you, too, Rhea.”
“So do we!” Beck and Ash’s voices came from the doorway, and I laughed as I looked up at them. “Looks like something fun’s happening in here. Mind if we join you?”
“Sure,” I laughed, and they hopped into bed in the empty spaces around me. “Now, this is just perfect, isn’t it?”
“It’s about to be,” Calder said with a wink, and leaned in to kiss me again.
