Page 107 of Combust (Everyday Heroes 2)
“Just fucking fight.”
I stare at the ceiling. I’m surrounded by everything that smells of Grady—his sheets, his pillow, his T-shirt I’m wearing—as Emerson’s words ring in my head.
Over and over.
Grady is worth fighting for. But do I give up my life in Los Angeles on a wing and a prayer? Do I step away—step back—from my life once again for a man and put mine on hold?
It would be so easy to. Simple really.
But what does that say about me?
What does that mean when I put my career second again because of a man?
I close my eyes and try to sleep. But all I see is Grady.
All I want is Grady.
And I know this is going to be one of the hardest things I’ll ever do—walk away—and not because I don’t love him, but rather because he doesn’t love me enough to ask me to stay.
“Why the fuck are you here when she’s leaving tomorrow?”
“Because I’m here,” I grumble. Because if I go home then this is real, and she is leaving, and right now I don’t want that to be fucking true.
“You come straight from shift here? Don’t you think you should be somewhere else? Man the fuck up, Grady. You’ll figure it all out, but just ask her to stay. Or tell her to go, but add that you want to keep this thing going. Something. Anything. Just don’t let her walk out that door without saying a word. Quit being such a goddamn pussy, will you?”
“I’m not being a pussy. I’m being realistic.”
“Realistic? Do you know the odds of being in a plane wreck twice?”
“Can’t be too good considering most never survive the first crash.” I sit on his couch and take the beer he offers me.
“Exactly. And you did survive the first one. So why the hell do you keep thinking you’re going to crash again?”
I sigh and sink into the cushions and rest my neck on the back of the couch. “Spit it out, Grant. I’m not in the mood for one of your lectures so the least you can do is save me the wasted words.”
“I’m a cop.”
“No shit.”
“Don’t be an ass.”
“What do you want me to be?” I push his buttons so he stops trying to manipulate mine.
“I want you not to be so stupid and open your ears and listen to me.”
Without looking at him, I raise my hand and gesture a give-it-to-me motion. “I’m a cop. I’m married. I have a kid on the way. Do you see me shying away from Emerson? You bet your ass there are times I’m scared and worry about leaving them behind . . . but this is us, Grady. We’re Malones. This is who we are. We are public servants, and risk comes with the territory. We don’t have a choice in the matter. We were born to do this, but that doesn’t mean we should miss out on our lives because of it.”
“You weren’t there.” My voice is a whisper.
“You’re right. I wasn’t. But that didn’t stop you from falling in love with her.” I chuckle out a nervous laugh. It’s all fun and games until someone brings up the L-word. “You do love her, don’t you?”
“Does it matter?”
Grant leans over and slaps the back of my head like he used to do when we were kids. “Did I not teach you anything?”
I grit my teeth and fight letting my clenched fist fly. “What were you supposed to teach me oh-holier-than-thou one? We aren’t you and Em, so stop making it be that.”
“Then let’s look at Grayson.”
