If I kiss her—if I let myself cross that line—everything changes.
For me. For her. For Holly.
Especially Holly.
I step back like it physically hurts.
Her eyes flicker. “Right. Okay.”
She turns to leave.
“Lucy—”
She pauses at the doorway.
I can’t say it. Not what I want. Not what she wants.
So I give her something small. Something pathetic. Something real.
“I liked seeing you here,” I admit.
She goes still.
Then—slowly—she smiles.
Soft. Warm. Deadly.
“Goodnight, Ash.”
“Night.”
She steps into the cold December air. The door swings closed behind her. And just like that— The firehouse feels colder than it should. The crew wanders back in.
Boone leans beside me. “So. We talking feelings yet, Calder?”
I glare. “No.”
“Because you two were staring at each other like a Hallmark movie on steroids.”
“Drop it.”
“Uh-huh.” He snorts. “Sure.”
Levi bites into another cookie. “You know she’s into you, right?”
“Not interested.”
They both laugh.
Boone slaps my shoulder. “Buddy. You’re screwed.”
I say nothing. Because the worst part is— He’s right.
I am screwed.
Completely.
Ridiculously.
