And he was right. My instinctual desire to please overrode the anger I felt toward his crappy decision, and I worked my butt off to make the best possible first impressions for our company. I wasn’t buying Don’s nonsense, but the increased workload—on top of playing catch up—made it difficult to even think about looking for another job. No doubt that played right into my boss’ hand, but whatever. At least I got the fulfillment of making clients happy, added to my growing portfolio, and enjoyed a nice spike in my commissions.
Evenings were spent at the fire station. I ate dinners with the group, but then sneaked up to my room to work or read. Carly and Trent had moved in with Wasp, and the trio stopped by every couple of days to check on me and do whatever Wasp did for the club. Carly had given notice at the Copper Penny so she could spend nights and weekends at home with her little family. I was happy for my friend, but missed having her and the little man around, so when she knocked on my door Saturday evening, I was all too willing to set aside my work and let her drag me downstairs to be social.
Wasp and several of the guys were hanging out in the common area, watching a baseball game and drinking beer. Trent played with Army men and plastic dinosaurs at their feet. He saw me and bolted upright before sprinting in my direction. I braced for impact as he crashed into my legs and wrapped his arms around me.
“Hi Jess!” His smile made my heart melt and my ovaries weep. I wanted a child of my own someday. One to crack silly jokes and watch Disney movies with. Someone to love and protect, to read stories to and tuck in every night. My older sister had a four-month-old baby, and I was trying not to be jealous, but sometimes she sent one too many heart-melting pictures and that ugly green giant reared its head.
Of course, starting a family would require a man, which I did not currently have. Spade’s smiling face flooded my mind, and a little stab of pain sliced right through my heart. We’d had so much fun together, but judging by the way he’d ghosted me, he clearly wasn’t interested.
And why would he be? You asked him to be your one-night stand, remember? One night. Get over it!
So, why did I still feel so attached to him? We’d shared something special; I was sure of it. It wasn’t just the sex I missed. It was the way he made me feel when I was with him. How could someone act so into me and then completely disappear from my life? It had been almost a week, and he still hadn’t returned my text. Every time I walked past his door something inside of me ached for what we’d shared. Maybe Shari had it right, and becoming a club whore was the best way to go. No, I could never do that. I craved a connection and a real relationship far too much.
Trent’s smile fell. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his eyes brimming with concern.
Wishing I could stop wearing my emotions all over my face, I reached down and picked him up, squeezing him tight and trying to live in this moment of happiness. “Nothing. My favorite little man in the world is here. Everything is fine, now. Look at that, you’re magical, Trent. You make life better.”
He grinned and snuggled against me. “You’re magical, Jess.”
My heart swelled. Yep, I needed my own child someday. Brushing a kiss against his forehead, I thanked him.
He gave me one last squeeze before wiggling free. “Oh! I have to show you something.” He grabbed my hand and towed me toward a collection of toys, retrieving a small clear container full of rocks. Hoisting it into the air with all the pride and confidence of a child, he said, “They’re dragon eggs. I’m intibating them.”
“Incubating,” Carly corrected.
“They’re gonna hatch and be my dragons.” Trent carefully set the container down and grinned up at me.
I had no idea what to say, so I looked to Carly for help.
“This is what we’re doing now. We’re hatching dragons.” She looked as clueless as I felt.
“Wow. That’s… exciting.”
“When they hatch, I will let you play with them, too, Jess.”
“Come here, buddy,” Wasp said, saving me from having to feign excitement over rocks that would never hatch into dragons.
Trent released me and ran and jumped into his lap, forcing Wasp to hold his beer up and away from the attack.
“Come on.” Carly grabbed my hand and towed me away from the guys. “Wasp has Trent, so we’re having a girls’ night.”
That sounded expensive, and I didn’t have money to throw around on alcohol and bad decisions. I opened my mouth to object, but she talked over me.
“We won’t go anywhere. I know you don’t like crowds, so it’s just a few ladies chatting at the bar.”
“Small talk is difficult for me,” I reminded her.
“Then we’ll skip the small talk and go straight to solving the world’s problems.”
“Like what you’re gonna do when those rocks don’t turn into dragons?” I asked.
She winced. “Yeah. I have no idea. I’m way out of my league here. I don’t even remember having an imagination, so I have no clue how to deal with Trent’s. I want him to keep believing, though, so I’m probably going to have to buy lizards and glue wings onto them or something.”
I patted her hand. “You’re a great mom. You’ll figure out something.”
She sighed. “Thanks. I’m trying. He should have come with a handbook or instruction manual or something.”
Agreeing, I let her lead me to the small bar inside the fire station, where Link’s wife, Emily; Havoc’s fiancé, Julia; Emily’s friend, Jayson; and Shari were already engaged in a conversation about some restaurant they wanted to try. Over the past week, I’d gotten to know them all pretty well, and enjoyed their company. Everyone got up to hug me before I took the open stool between Carly and Jayson.
