Page 13 of From the Embers

Cam and I lived together, so it took a lot for me to leave the relationship for good and pack up my things and get out of there. I stayed with Delaney while I was figuring things out, and was just about to get my own place in Massachusetts when the idea came to return to Chicago. It made sense.

I’d flown over to visit Mom and Dad a couple of months out from the move, it was only when I was leaving them that I truly knew my heart was still here. It always has been.

There is just something magical about Chicago.

The thought wasn’t overwhelming or a distant way-off dream. I knew I could make it happen and be closer to my family, even if I was flat out broke.

This last year I’ve had so much time to reflect and grow as a person, and putting Cam behind me was a big part of that, there was no room for doing what I didn’t want to anymore. But I’m ready for the next stage of my life. And for months I’ve known I’m ready to find someone again.

I echo Eric’s comment as I focus back on him.

I keep telling him he’s been single too long now.

“Oh, yeah?” I hide my delight at learning Denver is available. Not that I can or would do anything about that, as the idea is ridiculous, but still a nice fantasy.

“True as I’m sitting here.” Eric pushes his glasses up and shrugs with indifference.

Brax is deadpan when he adds, “Denver is pretty fussy about who he spends time with.”

“Is that right?” I smile.

“Yup. So don’t go getting all weird about Daryl, he’ll understand,” Brax says.

My eyes widen. “It really isn’t like that.”

I barely know these men, but they’re good guys, I can tell.

They just smirk at each other knowingly.

I like the idea that Denver has talked about me to his friends, but now I want to know what he said. Not that I have the guts to ask them, but a tingle runs through me at the idea.

I should leave it alone, but I like it too much.

I feel a little old to be having a crush on someone, no matter how big the spark, but those old feelings were never really gone.

I could just turn my back on some intense feelings I’ve been having in such a short space of time, or I could embrace it and enjoy reconnecting with Denver as a family friend. Keep him at arm’s length. I’m sure he isn’t having any such thoughts about me the way I am him anyway, even if he has been talking about me. He’s just being nice.

So it’s best I keep that to myself. Daryl would probably have a fit as well.

I glance back over through the restaurant queue where Denver is placing his order. My eye catches a beautiful, leggy blonde beelining for him. I watch, slightly horrified, as she slides her arms around his waist. I don’t mean to bristle as a streak of jealousy runs through me. He knows this woman, enough for her to put her hands on him. I want to look away, but I can’t.

She’s whispering something in his ear and Denver is still like a statue. Someone calls my attention and I inwardly curse, tearing my gaze away. Maybe it’s for the best.

Denver Banks has women throwing themselves at him, it’s no surprise.

I internally chastise myself for even letting my thoughts get carried away. Denver is not interested in me in that way. He walked me home because he’s a nice guy and would do that for anyone he’s been friends with his whole life. Plus, Daryl asked him to look after me.

He’s a fucking firefighter. More than that, he’s in rescue and risks his life every single day. That shit is full on.

Of course he can have anyone he wants looking like that. It’s just how it is.

A guy like him wouldn’t go for me, and not because I don’t look a thing like Barbie over there. We have history. He’s a friend, my brother’s best friend. So stopping those thoughts of me putting my hands on him, or him turning and smiling down at me in that jaw dropping way of his, is the right thing to do.

We’re on different spheres. Our paths won’t ever collide like that, and I have to get used to it.

He’s just my brother’s best friend, not a crush.

I don’t look back because I don’t want my mood to plummet, and honestly? If I see that woman with her hands on him again, I might just get my ass thrown out of here for disorderly conduct.