Page 65 of Dandelions and Smoke

Once we’re both cleaned up, Chief helps me get dressed, gently pulling my shirt over my head and placing a tender kiss on my forehead. The man he was a few minutes ago, authoritative, fierce, and intense, is a stark contrast to the one who stands before me now, gentle and at peace. Raising a hand, his palm cups my cheek before he brushes a soft kiss to my lips.

Somehow, the passion that consumed us only moments ago has given way to something quieter, something reverent. The way he watches me now, with naked admiration and words left unspoken, causes my lips to part on a quiet breath.

I love you, too, I think to myself, but still, neither of us utters the words out loud, as if sparking them to life would risk having them extinguished.

He unlocks my bedroom door and is about to open it when I slap his hand away from the doorknob. His eyes bulge in confusion. The laughter of our friends, conversations, and the sound of the music filter through the door, waiting for us to join, but this is not the way we came in, and I will not be answering any questions about how we got here.

“Are you crazy?” I ask, a warm chuckle leaving me as I push him back toward the window.

I peek carefully to the left, making sure the coast is clear before awkwardly hopping out and motioning for him to follow.

“Your turn, Garre-Bear.” With a lopsided grin, I stretch out my hand for him to take.

He’s halfway out the window and back onto the porch when a cackle floats through the air, surprising us both. Startled, I withdraw my hand like a kid caught with her hand in the candy jar and accidentally throw Chief off balance, sending him tumbling over himself.

“I was comin’ out here to check if y’all were okay, but I can see now’s not a good time.” Ainsley cocks her head farther and farther until she’s practically upside down, blinking at Chief’s dazed expression. “Should I come back?”

Standing up with a huff, his cheeks tinting a warm crimson, he wipes at his jeans, trying to play off that we haven’t been caught sneaking out of my window.

“Uhh,” he stammers, looking at me with wide eyes, not sure what to say.

Feeling more like myself and totally at ease, a bubble of laughter escapes me, and he joins in nervously.

Ainsley’s lashes lower as the corners of her mouth lift slightly. “Whatever this is, I don’t wanna know,” she says, her tone filled with a playful warmth. “But y’all better hustle inside so we can sing us some Happy Birthday.”

Intertwining my hand in his, we smile at one another before following behind Ainsley.

“Finally!” Billy yells out, pulling Chief from me and slapping the back of his shoulders before positioning him behind his cake. “Tell me this isn’t the best cake you’ve ever seen.”

Immediately, Chief’s gaze locks on mine, his baby-blue eyes flashing with amusement and a private joke all our own.

“Absolutely,” he answers, but his eyes never leave mine.

I snort, knowing exactly which cake he’s thinking about.

“Definitely don’t wanna know,” Ainsley whispers beside me, nudging my shoulder with hers.

As everyone gathers around the cake, Tris stands on my other side and gives me an ‘are you good?’ look, silently acknowledging both my absence and the reason behind it without drawing anyone else’s attention.

Grateful for the check-in, I reach for her hand and gently squeeze.

“Alright, everyone,” I say loudly, looking between all our friends here with us, no longer caring about the noise, the chaos, who decides to eat with what plate, or even if they want to eat with their hands instead. “All together.”

A chorus of Happy Birthday breaks out all around me. Off-key and loud, we all sing and watch as the man I’ve fallen in love with winks at me before blowing out his candles.

1 He’ll eat a piece of cake, check his blood sugar, drink his linden tea, and go to bed.

FOURTEEN

CHIEF

Sitting at my desk, I find it hard to concentrate as the Councilman on the other end of the phone rattles off something about community outreach. As if sacrificing our lives on every call isn’t enough, the council wants the firefighters to spearhead this year’s Polar Bear Plunge. Bracing, I can already hear what everyone will say.

Mark:

Cool.

Billy: