My stomach instantly twisted into knots.
This had to be it. The moment we’d been waiting for. The results of his captain’s exam. Nothing else would make him look like that.
Our entire future hinged on this. If he passed, he’d have the more predictable schedule he’d promised, less dangerous work, a chance for us to build the life we’d always wanted. If he didn’t... Well, we hadn’t actually discussed what would happen then. Would he take the exam again? Would we be back to the same old patterns?
The conversation with his family died as they followed my gaze. Rhett’s eyes locked with mine across the diner, ignoring everyone else. He looked so solemn I couldn’t read him. My heart thumped against my ribs like it was trying to escape, and I gripped the edge of the counter so hard my knuckles turned white.
“Well?” The question caught in my throat, coming out barely above a whisper.
For a heartbeat, nothing changed in his expression. Then his face broke into a grin so wide it nearly split his face in two. “I passed.”
Without a care for who was watching or what they might think, I whooped and launched myself from behind the counter, rushing across the checkered-tile floor to leap at him. He caught me easily, spinning us both in a circle as he laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest and into mine.
“Wait, wait. What happened?” Confusion was written across Austen’s face. “What did you pass?”
Rhett let me slide down his body until my feet touched the floor, the friction between us sending a delicious tingle up my spine, but he kept his arm tight around my waist as he shifted focus to his family. “The captain’s exam. Best of all, there’s an opening here now. I’ll start next week.”
I gripped his arm, digging my fingers into the muscle. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. It’s a done deal. Promotion offer has been signed.” His eyes sparkled with triumph when they met mine again.
“Captain?” Mrs. MacAvoy pressed a hand to her chest and went brows up. “But you never said anything!”
“That was kind of the point, Mom.” Rhett’s arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer. “Didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up in case it didn’t work out.”
“Including mine,” I added, poking him in the ribs with my index finger, trying to mask how emotional I actually felt with playfulness. “Though we’ve already had that discussion.”
Chief MacAvoy stepped forward, clapping his son on the shoulder. “Damn proud of you, son. That’s a hell of an accomplishment. When did you even have time to study for this with deployment?”
Rhett’s chest puffed out slightly at his father’s praise. “Had a lot of time to think while I was recovering. Made good use of my downtime.”
“Oh my God, this is amazing!” Austen bounced on her toes. “Captain MacAvoy. Has a nice ring to it.”
“This calls for champagne.” Mrs. MacAvoy dabbed at her eyes with a napkin. “We should have dinner tonight. All of us. Celebrate properly.”
“Actually...” Rhett’s fingers traced circles against my hip. “We kind of had plans.”
“Plans that involve christening every room in the house now that you’re officially moving back in?” Austen waggled her eyebrows.
“Austen!” Mrs. MacAvoy’s scandalized tone made me laugh. Especially as she wasn’t entirely wrong.
“What? They’re engaged. Again. And clearly making up for lost time.” She grinned. “Don’t think we haven’t noticed all the time you’ve been spending over there ‘fixing the porch’, big brother.”
Rhett’s ears went red. “The porch needed fixing.”
“Uh huh. Sure.” Austen winked at me. “Don’t worry. We’ll do dinner another night. You two deserve some time to celebrate. All this good news at once.”
He’d done it. We really were going to have the chance at building the life we’d always wanted. The life I’d dreamed about in those quiet moments alone, when I allowed myself to hope that somehow, someday, Rhett and I would find our way back to each other.
Giddy with relief, I hugged him again. “Does this mean you’ll already be going back to the station this week, or do you have more time off?”
“I’ve actually finished the last of the projects around the house, but if you’ve got something else for me to do, I’m happy to oblige.” His eyes sparkled with that mischievous glint I’d fallen for years ago.
I rose to my toes and brought my lips close to his ear to whisper only to him, my voice low and full of promise. “I think it’s a great time to get started on that family for real.”
“Sold.” He scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing at all, his firefighter strength on full display.
I was still shrieking with laughter as he hauled me straight out of the diner, past my startled staff and the handful of afternoon customers who were suddenly getting quite the show. But for once, I couldn’t bring myself to care what anyone thought. This was our moment, and I wanted to savor every second of it.
