“So, Chip, huh? When were you going to let me and Mom in on the fact that you have a babe?”
“I wasn’t.” I untied the towel around my waist, turned halfway, and whipped it at his head. It missed. Guess my pitching skills were rusty. “What Chip and I have is complicated.”
“How can that be? You like him. He likes you. Seems simple.”
As I pulled on some underwear, I heaved a sigh so large I felt dizzy. Maybe that feeling was just the weight of a hidden relationship settling down on me. Talk about Mount Everest…
I turned to face Devon. “I met Chip at a fire.”
He placed the jar of pimentos on my nightstand then sat sideways to see me. “Okay, so there’s no rules against dating a fellow firefighter, are there? What station is he assigned to?”
“No, he isn’t a firefighter. I saved him from a fire.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.” There was a pregnant pause.
“That’s trickier.”
“No shit.” I huffed slightly as my ass came to rest on the dresser.
“What does Sully have to say about it?”
“Nothing. I haven’t told him.” Devon grimaced. “I know. Trust me, I know. I’m positive that Chip’s feelings for me are not in any way Nightingale syndrome.” Devon gave me a look. “I mean it. Sure, he’s grateful, but he isn’t showing any signs of transference or hero worship. He likes me because I’m me, just as I like him because he’s him. I’m sure it’s not a case of trauma bonding.”
“Are you? Sure, I mean? If you’re sure, then why don’t you tell Sully about it? We’ve known Sully all our lives. He’ll hear you out and make a good call.”
“What if he tells me to hang up my mask?”
“He won’t. The worst thing that he would do is to ask you to have a cooling-off period where you two don’t see each other just to make sure Chip’s feelings aren’t based on the trauma of the event that brought you two together.”
“Or he could suspend me.” I rubbed at my face, cursing when I scrubbed the cut on my chin.
“Maybe. I guess that’s a chance you have to take.” He stood and walked over to take me by the shoulders. His grip was firm, eyes finding mine. “If your relationship with Chip is strong, taking a couple of months to cool off might be good.”
“Not an option.”
“This is serious then?”
“Oh yeah, it’s serious. I think I could love him.”
“Wow, okay, well then, you should talk to Sully soon. It’s better if he finds out from you rather than via some firehouse gossip.”
Nasty gossip. Tim. Yeah. That was a possibility. “You’re right. I’ll talk to Sully when I go in today. Get the air cleared. He might be cool with it.”
“Yeah, he might be.” He didn’t sound sure of that statement. “For what it’s worth, I’m happy you found someone. I’d like to meet him. Does Mom know?”
“She met him at dinner with Eli about a month ago, but does she know it’s romantic? No, only you know.”
“I’m touched.” He pulled me in for a sound bro hug. “I’m not giving you your key back, though.”
I hugged him closer. “I’ll change the locks.”
He chuckled. “No, you won’t.”
No, I wouldn’t.
Sully wasin his office when I showed up at the station. I passed by his open door on my way to stow my personal gear in my locker. Tim was in the men’s locker room, bent over, tying his boots when I entered. He glanced at me and said nothing. Which was suspect.
