I knock my head against the wall behind me and let out a strained groan. “Hunter, don’t tell me that. You know I’m already superstitious. Is that why I’ve been alone for my entire life, because I haven’t kissed anyone?”
“No, it doesn’t mean that at all,” he snickers.
“What does it mean, then?”
“It means the one who wants to kiss you in thirty-six minutes is currently on shift,” he says, and it’s like I forget to breathe.
Heat rushes to my face within an instant. I try to stop my smile from splitting my face in two, but it’s no use. I’m grinning widely, to the point I can feel my cheeks start to ache. “You’d kiss me?”
“Yeah, El, I would. I kinda hate that I’m working right now.”
“Me too,” I whisper, and then I bolt upright as an idea hits the front of my brain. “What if…” I start, but my words trail off. Doubt creeping in. Am I being too forward? What if he says no? I’ll be so embarrassed and awkward.
“What?”
Swallowing hard, I tug harder at the loose thread on my jeans and take a leap. “What if I came there?”
He’s silent for a beat, and I begin to panic that I’ve ruined it.
“Here?” he asks.
“Yeah…” I manage to say around the lump forming in my throat.
“You know you’re welcome anytime. I’ll have to go if we get a call, though.”
Lifting my head, I rub over my lips as the simmering pain in my chest is completely replaced by excitement.
“I’ll leave now,” I insist, then quickly correct myself. “I mean, I’ll have to say bye first and find a ride, but I’ll do that now.”
“Okay, I’ll be here as long as we don’t get a callout.”
We say our goodbyes, and I rush down the stairs so fast Jackson’s eyebrows are nearly in his hairline when I jump down the final few steps. I notice his coat in his hand, and Hayden is already wearing his.
“Are you leaving?” I ask quickly.
“Yeah. My parents have the kids for the night, so we are going to make the most of having the night to ourselves,” Jackson says.
I scrunch up my nose. “So what you’re saying is you’re going home to bone?”
“Jesus,” Hayden chokes out a laugh. “Nothing gets past you, does it, Olsen?”
“Nope,” I say, popping thePand placing my hands on my hips. “Can you drop me off somewhere?”
“Depends on where it is,” Jackson replies, shrugging on his coat.
“Can you take me to the fire station near my place?”
His expression turns quizzical then his eyes track down from my head to my feet. “Why? Are you hurt?”
“No, but there’s someone I wanna see really bad, and if I can get there before midnight, I won’t have all the bad luck for the rest of my life, and it’ll reverse all the loneliness.” I wave my hands in the air.
I don’t need to say any more because Jackson has become my confidant over the last few months. He knows everything. From my torn-up feelings over Blaine getting married to my nerves about meeting someone.
So, I’m not surprised when his lips tip into a smile and he motions to the living room with his hand. “Fine. Go and say bye, and we’ll wait for you in the car.”
“Will you be alright getting home?” Hayden asks over his shoulder once Jackson pulls up outside of Engine 3.
I’ve already unbuckled my seat belt and am reaching for the door handle as I drawl, “Yes, dad.”
