Someone, and I believe it’s Gemma’s aunt, pipes in, “Just like Brad. He always wanted to be a police officer.”
“That’s right, Donna,” Brad says. “I’m working my way up to lieutenant.”
Donna beams up at him, and I take Gemma’s hand into mine. I bring it to my mouth for a kiss as Brad continues to talk about his accomplishments.
I lean into her. “Do you swim down there?” I ask as I take in the long dock and the wharf in the water. I also note the speed boat.
“I haven’t for a while,” Gemma says. “It’s the Atlantic Ocean. It’s always freezing. I prefer the pool.”
I glance around, and spot the pool off to the side of the house. I hadn’t noticed it earlier. “Did you want to go swimming?” Gemma asks.
“I forgot to pack a suit.”
“We can head into town and get you one,” Gemma says. “They have some great shops.”
“Maybe we can have a game of pool volleyball later,” Jim says.
“Great idea,” Brad says, and I lift my head to see him perched on the deck railing. “Station champion three years running.”
“Sounds like fun,” I say.
“Do you drive a firetruck?” a small voice asks, and I turn to find a boy about four standing beside me, a toy truck in his hand. “I don’t drive it, but I ride in the cab.”
“I like firetrucks,” the boy says.
Gemma’s sister Nicole drops into one of the empty chairs near me. “Caleb loves any vehicle that makes a noise,” she says and ruffles his hair. “Don’t you, bud?”
Caleb’s eyes are big and wide when he says, “Uncle Brad lets me use the sirens in his car.”
Uncle Brad?
He’s definitely not the boy’s uncle, but no one corrects him. He’s seriously inserted himself into this family if the kids are calling him uncle. No wonder it was hard for Gemma to get out of the relationship. It might have been easier if she told her parents what was going on, but I get not wanting to cause tension between families.
“I can bring the cruiser by tomorrow, Caleb,” Brad says.
“Yay,” Caleb hollers and starts making a whirring sound.
“I want to ride in it too,” Caleb’s cousin, I think her name was Jenna, says.
“Of course.” Brad takes a drink from his can. “We can all go for a ride.”
“This summer, I’m arranging a tour of the fire station,” Gemma says to her nephew as Janice and a few of the women head inside to refresh their drinks and people break off into conversations. Brad, however, still seems very interested in ours. “Maybe you could come?”
“Can I, Mommy? Can I ride in the firetruck?”
“I bet we can arrange that,” Nicole answers.
Amanda comes over. “My kidlets will want in on that,” she says, a small child on her hip, while the other, around two years old, hugs her legs. She gives me a wink. “Rumor has it firefighters give the best rides?”
“Ohmigod,” Gemma says under her breath as I nearly choke on my beer.
“Uh, yeah,” I say, and glance around the table, but the only ones listening in are Brad and Nicole.
Amanda pops a strawberry into her mouth. “I heard another rumor too. Something about firefighters having the biggest hoses.” My jaw drops, and I have no idea how to respond. She gives a dismissive wave. “Wait, that’s not a rumor, Gemma already confirmed that.” She leans into me, her words for my ears only. “Sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire.”
8
Gemma
“I can’t believe Amanda said that,” I say and shake my head as we stroll down Main Street, taking in all the quaint shops, the buildings all painted in bright colors. Off in the distance water beats against the shore and the smell of salt is thick in the air. I’d forgotten how much I love it here.
“She obviously doesn’t like Brad.”
“I never knew that. She never went out of her way for him, but I guess she wanted to support me, no matter what.”
“We don’t want to provoke a guy like him, Gemma. But we also can’t let him think he has any sort of control over you. I think it’s just best if you spend the rest of the weekend close to my side.”
I nudge him. “Not a hardship. I like being with you.”
“I like being with you, too. I like your whole family, actually.” He glances around. “I don’t think Brad will fuck with you, as long as he knows you’re with me.” He frowns. “He sure knows how to fool your family, though. Most of them, anyway.”
“Like I said, he wears a different face behind closed doors, and his parents, Misty and John, have been friends with my folks forever. I don’t want any trouble, Callan. It’s over between us, and I think we drove that point home.”
“Good. I’m not much into pissing contests, to be honest.” He takes a deep breath, and glances into one of my favorite bookstores, his mood mellowing. “Kaitlyn would love it here.”
“We could bring her here sometime,” I say, and he nods, like he knows that’s never going to happen. Once this weekend is over, we’ll go back to being friends, and soon enough, school will start up and we’ll rarely cross paths again. I ignore the odd little ache in my stomach at that reminder. “Over there,” I say. “They have some great jewelry. Let’s get her something.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course.”
He scratches his face as we cross the street. “I have a confession.” I eye him. “I have no idea how to pick out jewelry for a six-year-old.”
“Good thing you’ve got me, then.”
“Yeah, good thing,” he says and tugs me to him. I collide against his big warm body, and for a brief minute, a miniscule second actually, my mind goes off in a strange direction, one where Callan and I really are a couple, and happily ever after does exist.
“Callan?”
The voice comes from behind me, and Callen stiffens and lets go of
