My stupid heart leapt at the sound of his name. “He made it pretty clear he wasn’t interested in me.”
Summer and Felix made the same incredulous expression, but that was probably because I’d told her everything except for the wholeforcing him to cuddle with mein the middle of the night. I pressed on. “But I thought I’d drop off some cookies at the fire station, as a thank-you for saving me.”
“Ahh, the real reason you came over here this early.”
I batted my eyelashes. “It’s only because you’re the best baker in town.”
She let out an aggrieved sigh. “Imighthave a batch of Vietnamese coffee cookies that I can give you only because it’s good advertising.”
I was organizing the bakery’s grand opening party. I’d already started on Felix’s outfit, which was really the most important part, but I was also in charge of the invite list. “I’ll make sure the firefighters come.”
We spent the next half hour talking through all the details of opening day. When I grabbed the large box of cookies from Summer and limped to the door, I spotted Olive and Lars outside in a golf cart.
“Your chariot awaits!” Olive said, hopping out of the cart.
I looked around, confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Summer said you hurt your ankle and needed transportation.”
I glanced over my shoulder and the omega in question blew me akiss. I shook my head, but my heart swelled with how amazing my friends were.
“Why didn’t you tell us you hurt yourself?” Lars was scowling, but he took the box of cookies out of my hand and set it in the golf cart. I did a double take when I realized Felix was already sitting in the driver’s seat.
“It’s just a sprained ankle. It’ll be better in a few days.”
“You’ve got to take care of yourself,” Olive said. She wrapped me up in a gentle hug and I melted into her. I’d only been away from my friends for a few days, but so much had happened that it felt like a lifetime.
“You also need to respond to the group chat,” she scolded.
“I will, promise.”
“And there’s karaoke coming up.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Lars groaned and pulled his omega to his side. “Easton won’t tell us what he’s planning, but he’s practically skipping around the house so you know it’s going to be terrible.”
I grinned. “Terribly good.” Easton went all out for his performances withuniquesong choices and elaborate costumes. I’d helped him source his drag queen costume for last month’s performance inspired by Omegalicious Essence, the winner of last season’sHeat Street Drag Race.
Olive coaxed Felix to the passenger side of the golf cart, and my brother boosted me into the vacated driver’s seat. I patted Felix on the head. “You can drive as soon as you get your license.”
“Don’t even joke about it. Margaret’s vision is so bad she would probably think he passed the driving test,” Lars said, referring to Starlight Grove DMV’s only employee who was approximately one hundred and twenty-three years old, give or take a few years.
“I’m assuming Stanley doesn’t know his golf cart is missing?” I asked, turning the key.
“Nah. He added an alarm to prevent theft, but I took care of that,” Lars responded.
I grinned. “Excellent. Thank you both for your help.” I waved to Summer through the shop window.
I pulled away from the curb, driving down the quiet Main Street. There was a small early morning breakfast crowd at Beans ’n Bliss and Rosie’s Cafe. Ella’s shift didn’t start until nine, and I felt like I was cheating on her if I got my daily latte from someone else. I would just have to power through without caffeine until then.
My heart started pounding the closer I got to the firehouse. “I’m being silly. It’s not like I haven’t been there before.” I’d dropped off a large batch of cookies the day after the Firefighter Appreciation Festival last year to make up for Stanley’s overzealous celebration that involved the gazebo catching fire. That must have been right before Wilder was hired.
When I pulled up to the curb, Felix hopped out and stretched before leading the way inside with a swish of his tail. The station was quiet. Most of the guys were probably still sleeping, like reasonable people, but Ezra was in the kitchen frying some bacon. He was a cute alpha who had asked me out shortly after moving to Starlight Grove a couple of years back, but my omega hadn’t been interested. He’d taken it well, though, and we sometimes hung out with the same friend group.
“Hey, Lucy. Fancy seeing you here.” Felix hopped up on the counter, and Ezra did a little bow. “Mr.Mayor. How kind of you to grace us with your presence.”
“I brought cookies.” I put the box on the counter and Ezra immediately opened it and popped one in his mouth, whole.
