Deck the Fire Halls

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ROB

Walking into the youth center with Soren felt... exciting? Different?

I was strangely nervous, because it felt as if we were making some announcement. To Gunter, and Gunter alone. But still... we were arriving together, which meant we’d been together beforehand, and I don’t know...

It just felt official or something.

“Good morning,” Gunter said brightly and a touch conspiratorially.

“Morning,” we replied.

Gunter looked between us, smirking. “Good to see you two together at this time of day...”

He was absolutely fishing for details, which I had no intention of giving him.

But Soren grinned. “Oh, I was already at Rob’s this morning, because I spent the night. You know, all night,” he said with a nudge to my elbow. “And anyway, he mentioned coming here and I thought I’d come check it out before I went to work.” He looked around. “Great place, by the way.”

Gunter was too busy giving me his raised eyebrow. “All night, huh?”

I had no clue what to say to that, and given my face felt as if it were about to burst into flames, I guessed I didn’t need to.

“ All night,” Soren said nodding. “And again this morning.”

Now it was I who nudged him. “What are you doing?”

Soren laughed and gave me a quick hug. “Oh, come on, I have to tell someone. I’ll get to work and Chucky won’t want to hear any of it.” He looked around again. “And there’s no one here. It’s just us. And Gunter gets it.”

Gunter nodded, grinning at me.

I sighed, embarrassed but unable to stop the giddy feeling in my belly, which of course made it impossible not to smile. This was so ridiculous.

Soren eyed me, proud as punch. The fact he was wearing his firefighter uniform didn’t help because he was so freaking hot, and he was looking at me like that...

Gunter laughed. “You two are as cute as hell.”

“So anyway,” I began. “I’m free all day if you need me to do anything.”

“Oh, that’d be great,” Gunter replied. “I’ll never say no. Actually, can you go do a quick count of the health supplies in the bathrooms? That’d be great.” He handed me his notepad. “Condoms, sanitary pads, that kind of thing.”

“Oh, sure.” I gave Soren a smile as I disappeared into the bathrooms and filled out a quick tally of all items, including the toilet paper and hand towels, and when I came back out, Soren and Gunter were standing there, smiling at me.

Yeah. They’d definitely talked about me.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Oh, sure,” Soren said.

“Of course,” Gunter added.

I laughed because they were terrible liars. “Did you have enough time to talk about me, or do you need me to go back in there?”

Soren burst out laughing and threw his arms around me, giving me a rocking side-to-side hug. “You’re too damn cute,” he said. Then, as if we were alone, he planted a kiss on my lips. “I gotta go. See you tonight? Don’t stay up for me. I’ll let myself in.”

Then he breezed to the door with a wave goodbye.

Damn.

Gunter nudged me. “He’s incredibly hot,” he murmured. “Jeez. How’s it dating a younger man? Fun, isn’t it? Clay’s younger than me too.”

Oh dear lord.

My stupid blush gave me away. “If by fun you mean the hottest, best sex of my life, then yes.”

Gunter laughed. “He’s down bad for you.”

I sighed and waved that comment off, ignoring the thrill that gave me. “It’s new.”

He put his hand on my arm, his eyes serious. “I’m telling you, Rob. He is down .”

I rolled my eyes. “You’ve been hanging out with the kids too much.” I gave him back his notepad. “So what did you talk to him about. It was about me, I’m guessing. Do I get any clues?”

He shook his head, smiling, as he collected a box of paper cups. “Nah, it was just about the upcoming fire inspection, that’s all.”

“Sure it was,” I said.

He chuckled. “He did mention you had some ideas for this place to run past me.”

Wait. What?

“He did, huh?”

“He meant no harm,” Gunter said. “He actually said they were great ideas and how excited you were to sink your teeth into some community projects.”

“Ugh,” I grumbled. “Sorry, I don’t want you to think I’m taking anything over. Because I’m not. I just had some ideas that you’d be in charge of. Should you decide you wanted to go ahead. I’d just be the helper.” I shrugged. “I don’t even know if it’s possible or feasible or what kind of funding we could get...”

“I’m always willing to listen,” Gunter said.

I took a deep breath and told him my ideas, the same ideas I’d outlaid to Soren earlier. Accredited training for the kids in a bunch of fields, such as retail, working a coffee machine, how to work reception. But also helping kids with their resumés, job applications, subject choice, and college applications.

“Not all kids have the homelife to help them with these basic life skills, like budgeting, rental applications, car loans,” I added. “And most of these kids are gonna be leaving Hartbridge in a couple of months, and cities can chew up a small-town kid and spit them out. I just thought if we could start up some classes, even if it’s in conjunction with the high school? I don’t know how that works, but if we can maybe help them get skills for a job when they go off on their own, they’ll have a better chance. You know, I’ve seen a lot of kids—or young adults, but they’re really just kids—and they come through the hospital system for drugs or abuse, and I just can’t help but feel that as a society we failed them. They had no one to teach them, no one who showed an ounce of empathy.” I shook my head because this went way off track. I sighed. “It probably sounds like a stretch, but from these kids here in Hartbridge to the shit I’ve seen in my old job, it’s not a stretch. It’s a real short step. And a simple thing like a few certificates and practical experience just might be the difference between getting a job and sleeping rough.” I let my voice trail off. I really hadn’t meant to get so dark. “Anyway, it was just an idea. Maybe a little start-up café in the vacant store next door, some tables out front. They’d learn barista skills, how to work a register, how to do staff scheduling. I’m sure there’d be some grants we could apply for. Could be worth looking into...”

Gunter’s smile was slow spreading. “I love it. I was just saying to Clay not too long ago that the kids in town don’t have much opportunity for practical experience.” He looked around the center, his eyes were dancing with possibilities. “We could set up a proper coffee machine in here... Or maybe a start-up café next door would be better. The real estate agent said it was empty... I should look into that. And yeah, the local high school would have a better idea about courses and vocational tests. Maybe they already run some kind of program. I haven’t heard the kids talk about it at all. Evie was saying some of the kids travel to Mossley for their weekend jobs because there’s not enough jobs for teens here in town. Maybe we could create something? I don’t know what, but...” He grinned at me. “I really think you could be onto something.”

I was so happy I could have just about burst. “Awesome.” I clapped my hands together. “Let’s look into it.”

“I have no doubt there’ll be copious amounts of red tape,” Gunter said, “but we can only try. Thank you,” he added genuinely. “I really appreciate someone caring as much as I do.”

Hamish bustled through the door, his cute black fluffy dog under his arm. They were wearing matching pink coats, and I shouldn’t have been surprised by that, and yet...

“Good morning,” he said brightly. “Oh, Rob, I’m glad you’re here. I come bearing gifts. Well, okay it’s not actual gifts, it’s more instructions on the gifts, but you get the gist.”

Confused, both Gunter and I waited for him to put the dog on the floor, then he produced some envelopes from his inside coat pocket. He flipped through them and plucked one out. “Gunter, for you and Clay.” Then he pulled out another. “Rob, for you and Soren.”

Before either of us could ask, he gave Gunter a very pointed look before turning to me. “So Rob, every year, our little group of friends does a bit of a Kris Kringle thing. I put the names in a hat and Ren pulls one out and it goes in your envelope. ”

I was familiar with how Kris Kringle gift giving worked. “Okay.”

Gunter, on the other hand, seemed confused. Until Hamish gave him another pointed look. “Oh, right. I forgot about it,” Gunter said. “Had a lot going on lately.”

Hamish gave him a big nod, like he’d done a good job for playing along.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Between Soren and Gunter’s secret conversation and now this? I had the feeling they were trying to plan something. I wasn’t sure. But I went along with it.

“Awesome,” I said. “What are the rules?”

“Oh,” Hamish said, grabbing my arm. “I’m glad you asked. The rules, yes. Given the somewhat-limited shopping experiences we have here in Hartbridge, I thought this year we could do something different, and the rule is you have to make the gift.”

Gunter stared at him. “Make . . . the gift . . .”

“Yes! Something homemade,” Hamish said, and he seemed to be making it up as he went along and, at the same time, equally horrified at the words coming out of his own mouth.

I coughed to cover up my laugh. “Okay. So pity the poor person who gets me.”

“All hopes for our gift now lay solely on Clay’s shoulders,” Gunter added. Then he gave a very big fake smile to Hamish. “Gee, thanks, Hamish.”

Hamish’s smile was more of a grimace, and I chuckled again. “It’ll be fun,” I said. “Though if there’s no budget and we have to use something we have, I’m just trying to think what I could possibly make out of alcohol swabs and tongue depressors.”

Gunter snorted and held up some cups from the box. “I have paper cups.” Then he offered me an apologetic shrug. “Maybe Soren can... make something.”

“Hm,” I agreed. I was going to make the comment that he was very good with his hands, but I stopped myself. “Maybe.”

“Orrrrr,” Hamish said, as if we were missing the point completely. “You could make something together. Like a fun little project together. It’s a couple thing.”

“It’s a torture thing,” Gunter grumbled.

“Oh shush, it’s supposed to be fun and Christmassy,” Hamish said. “And the gift exchange will be a week before Christmas at Jayden and Cass’s place.”

“Are they not busy enough right now?” Gunter asked.

“I know, I know,” Hamish said, exasperated. “But that night’s free and he said he feels bad for missing our last few dinners. I told him we’ll make it potluck. Hope that’s okay?” He asked, looking at me.

“Sure. Of course.”

“It’s just so he doesn’t have to cook for ten people on his day off. We’ll discuss menu options in the group chat.”

I was in the group chat?

Hamish apparently can read minds. Or faces. “I added you already.”

“Oh.”

“You’ve been absorbed into the masses,” Gunter joked. “It’s easier if you don’t resist. ”

I laughed. “Awesome.”

He shrugged. “It’s mostly harmless, save the occasional inappropriate comments or unsolicited fashion advice. And the Australians and the Brit will sometimes argue amongst themselves about something the rest of us don’t understand, like Vegemite or brands of teabags or something. The cooking tips are usually good though, and if you need anything done around the house, one of us will usually be able to help.”

I laughed at that. I knew he was only joking but he had no idea just how amazing it sounded. A group of friends—of queer friends—each doing their own thing in this little town but making time for each other, supporting each other, helping each other, and the casual dinners and coffee catch-ups were such a beautiful thing.

And rare.

In my world, in my old life in Seattle, I could only ever dream of finding this.

I went to open the envelope Hamish had given me. “So do we open these?—”

“No!” Hamish said. “Not here. It’s supposed to be a secret.” He collected his dog. “Okay, I have to go find the sexy deputy to give him his envelope.” Then he breezed back out the door with no more than a wave of his hand.

Gunter and I looked at each other and laughed. “We do love him,” he said, taking the box of cups and sliding it onto the small kitchen counter.

I was almost certain the Kris Kringle idea wasn’t a tradition with these guys, and for some reason, I got the feeling it was for me. And that somehow Soren was behind it .

The wide-eyed looks Hamish kept giving Gunter, telling him to go along with it, was pretty obvious. But it was sweet and a fun Christmas idea, so I was happy to go along with it too.

“Speaking of Christmas gifts,” I said, following Gunter toward the kitchen. “I need some gift ideas for Soren.”

I kept my word to Soren.

My front door was unlocked, and knowing he’d be home around midnight, I spent a good while getting myself cleaned out. I put the condoms on the bedside for easy access, then crawled into my bed with a bottle of lube.

Douching was never my favorite thing to do, but the hot, steamy shower helped relax my body and get my mind into that languid state in preparation of what I knew was coming.

I lay on my stomach, one leg bent, and began working the lube over my ass and then inside me. One finger, then two, making myself slippery and open, slow and sensual. I was no stranger to ass play during masturbation. I loved it, so I took my time, enjoying the act itself rather than a means to an end. Getting myself all worked up, turned on, and waiting.

Desperate for what Soren would do to me.

I didn’t have to wait long.

I heard his boots on my porch, the front door open and close, the lock sliding closed. “It’s just me,” he said softly.

I smiled into my pillow.

A few seconds later, he was at my bedroom door. “I’m awake,” I murmured. I was more on his side of the bed, laying on my front with my leg bent, hoping he’d get the hint.

He was a smart man.

Or maybe the fact I’d left the bottle of lube on his pillow was a strong clue.

He slid into the bed, his body cool, his hands cold. I startled and shivered at his touch.

“And you’re naked,” he said.

I slid my hand down my ass crack. “I’m also ready for you—lubed and stretched.”

He grunted, his forehead pressed to the back of my neck. “Jesus Christ, Rob.”

“I told you I would be?—”

He was gone before I could finish speaking. He whipped his briefs off, was on his knees and tearing into a condom in a flash. Then he lay his body down over mine, his cock nestled along my ass crack, his lips at my ear.

“And I told you I’d fuck you just like you wanted.”

I groaned out a laugh. “I don’t remember you saying?—”

He pushed into me, breaching, stretching, then pushed my shoulder flat to the mattress so he could sink in all the way.

Every thick inch of him.

Once he was fully planted inside me, he left his body weight on mine, keeping utterly still. For a few moments, there was only our breathing, his lips at my ear. “Been thinking about you all day,” he rasped. “Been thinking about this,” he rolled his hips, sending sparks of fire through me.

“Oh god,” I breathed. “You feel so . . . your cock . . .”

He rolled his hips again, his cock flexing inside me. Thick, full, and rock-hard. “You wanted this, huh?”

“So bad.”

He pulled back a little, sliding in again, pushing deeper, again and again, until he was rolling waves of pleasure through me. An ebb and flow, pushing and pulling, amassing an ocean of ecstasy until the tidal wave broke and I cried out as my orgasm took me under.

I felt his cock swell and pump his seed into the condom as he came. The way his fingers dug into me, the way he roared as his orgasm ripped through him.

Utter bliss.

I was warm all over, my bones embers, a fire in my belly.

I had a vague recollection of him cleaning me up, but I was soon in his arms, wrapped up warm and safe.

And I slept like the dead.

The next morning, I woke up before Soren, and I slipped out of bed and left him to sleep. His job was a physical one, and mental and emotional too. So as much as it pained me to leave this gorgeous man alone in my bed, I kissed his temple and went in search of coffee.

I ached in all the right places, and standing in my kitchen, in my robe and slippers, sipping my coffee, I took stock of how I felt.

My ass wonderfully tender, my shoulders relaxed, my heart happy.

Actually, my heart was more than just happy. It was full and felt too big for my chest. It thumped a wild staccato, sending a buzz through my belly and limbs.

I put it down to the mind-blowing sex, and the giddiness was simply because this was a new and exciting thing.

It couldn’t possibly be anything else. It could not be because of that sexy man in my bed; not his body, not his soulful eyes, not his breathtaking smile or the sound of his laughter.

Or the way he looked at me.

Or how he made my whole body feel alive...

It was ridiculous to think it could be anything else. Anything more than infatuation. Certainly not anything starting with the letter L.

Love. The word you’re looking for is love.

Oh good. You’re back.

I never left. I’m you, you idiot. For an intellectual person, you’re pretty daft.

I don’t love him. I can’t. It’s too soon for that. It’s just... new and wonderful, and something I haven’t had in my life in... well, forever. That’s all.

Hm-mm.

Don’t give me that tone.

I’m not giving you anything. I am you.

Oh shut up. And keep your opinions to yourself. It’s not love. I’m not in love with him .

Anything you say, champ.

. . .

What? No comeback?

Champ?

My inner voice sighed. Yeah, look, I’m just gonna leave you to get used to the love idea.

Good.

What?

“I said good.”

“Huh?” Soren said behind me. “What’s good?”

I jumped, almost spilling my coffee. “Oh. Sorry. The coffee,” I lied. “Coffee’s good. Want one? I’ll make one for you.” I went to the machine, and he wrapped his arms around me, giving me a sleepy back hug. “I thought you might want to sleep in.”

“Hmmm,” he moaned out a sigh.

“Rough night at work?”

“Long,” he said, still holding me tight, still pressing his face into my shoulder. “Was exceptionally better when I got here though.”

I chuckled. “Glad I could help.”

I finished his coffee and, turning in his arms, put it in front of his nose. He inhaled and took it gratefully. I noticed then that he was only wearing his underwear.

“Are you cold?”

He shook his head, sipped his coffee, and sighed. And then he froze and looked down at his junk. “Are you saying I’ve got shrinkage?”

I burst out laughing. “No.” Then I also looked at his junk. “You definitely don’t have a shrinkage problem. ”

He smirked without shame and went back to sipping his coffee.

It gave me a great idea for his Christmas gift though.

“Are you hungry? I’ll make you breakfast.” I went to the fridge and collected the eggs and milk.

“You don’t have to do that,” he murmured.

“I like looking after you,” I replied, not really meaning to sound so breathy and honest. I also didn’t mean to blush. “I mean, I like looking after people.”

It was too late. He was already smiling. He leaned against the kitchen counter and watched me as I went about my business, and it was then he noticed the opened envelope with both our names written on it.

Soren and Rob .

“Oh, what’s this?” he asked.

“Open it.”

He pulled out the small piece of paper. “Colson and Braithe.”

“Don’t happen to know anything about that, do you?”

He seemed genuinely confused. “About what?”

“About the Kris Kringle gift exchange that Hamish organized. Swore it was some group tradition, though Gunter seemed as surprised as me.”

His eyes went wide as it dawned. “Oh. Oh, yes. Right.” He swallowed hard. “Uh, yeah. I’ve heard about it. But I wasn’t in on it last year or anything.”

I smiled. He was definitely in on it. I put the butter beside him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a terrible liar. The tips of your ears go pink when you lie.”

He tried to lie again and gave up, giving me a smile instead. “I... I, yeah. So it’s a couple thing, huh? ”

Couple thing.

Were we a couple? Dating, yes. We’d established that. But couple seemed next level.

“Mm,” I said. “So now we get to handmake a gift for Colson and Braithe.”

His gaze went to mine. “Handmake?”

“That was the rule, apparently.” Then I laughed. “Don’t worry. Hamish looked increasingly horrified as he went along. I guess it’s a good thing that none of you can lie convincingly. It’s cute.”

He sighed. “I just thought it’d be a nice idea,” he said gently. “And another gift to go under your tree. I hated seeing it was bare and thought it’d be fun. I also wanted you to see how...” He frowned and shrugged. “How well you fit in here. With them, the whole group. I didn’t know he was going to make it handmade gifts.”

“Pretty sure Hamish didn’t know either until he’d said it.” I went to Soren, lifted his chin, and kissed him softly. “It was very sweet of you.”

My heart squeezed, double tapping my ribs when his eyes met mine. “You’re not mad?”

I shook my head. “How could I be?” I kissed him again. “But we need to think of something. We have just over a week to come up with something.”

“Oh.” His face fell. “I have night duty next week, remember? Three-week rotation. Morning, night, then I stay at the fire hall. We each have to do it, but I’m captain. I get it every three weeks. Someone needs to man the station at all times, and it’s?—”

“Hey,” I whispered. I kept my hand to his cheek. “It’s fine. Why are you worried? ”

“Because,” he murmured, “I won’t see you for almost a week. And we have to handmake something for Colson and Braithe, and I won’t be here to help.” He frowned. “I could make it while I’m at the station all by myself, I guess. Midnight to seven is pretty quiet, but still. I feel bad.”

He was just the absolute sweetest.

“It’ll be fine. I can do it. I’ll think of... something. No clue what, but I’ll think of something.” I sighed, softly kissing his lips one more time. “A whole week, huh?”

He nodded. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” I said again. “If anyone understands shift work and crazy hours, it’s me.”

He finally smiled. “Yeah. And then I get five full days off in a row.”

“Every month?”

“Yep.”

“So, if you can’t come by my house at midnight for a whole week, then you get to spend five days making up for it.”

He gave me a filthy smirk. “Oh yes.”

“I really hope those days line up with my days off,” I added. “Then you can do to me over and over what you did to me last night.”

He chuckled. “Oh, believe me, I have no problem with that.”

I was half tempted to take him back to bed right then and there, or sink to my knees, but decided to feed the man instead.

“Breakfast,” I said, turning back to the eggs. “You distract me far too easily. I swear, I’ve had more sex this last week than I’ve had in the last three years, and I still want more. It’s absurd. I haven’t been this horny since I was seventeen years old and found the editorial locker room photo shoot of the all-star hockey team in a sports magazine.”

He laughed. “Was that your awakening?”

“Partly. I knew I liked guys before that, and I’d relieved myself of many an erection to the images of guys, but that photo shoot?” I shook my head slowly. “Was the first time I’d really thought about not what I wanted to do with a man but what I wanted him to do to me .” I gave him a smirk over my shoulder. “If you get what I mean.”

“Oh, I believe I do, yes. You saw all those jacked-up men and finally imagined what it’d be like to get railed.”

I laughed. “Thoroughly.”

He chuckled. “My true awakening was high school gym class. Naked guys in the shower. Kinda knew then that I wanted to be the one that does the railing.”

I let my head fall back. “And my god, you do it so well.”

Soren groaned. “Yeah, we really should change the subject or we can forget breakfast.”

I looked at the eggs I was still whisking and, showing a willpower I didn’t know I possessed, poured them into the frying pan. Soren made more coffee and toast, and we, at least, made it through eating before I turned him around in his seat at the table and kneeled between his legs.

I sucked him dry, and when he left for work, he insisted I leave the door unlocked again.

Which I did .

And I tried to stay awake for him, but sometime after midnight, I fell asleep and woke up around 3:00 a.m. to him pinned to my back, sound asleep.

The next night he’d planned to make it up to me but he didn’t get home until after one. “Sorry,” he whispered when I stirred. “Car accident.”

I alerted, and all those years of sleeping in a cot at the hospital between emergency shifts kicked in. I sat up, ready to go. “How many occupants? Any injuries? Where are the?—”

“Hey,” he soothed me, urging me back down. “It’s all okay. Two occupants, both taken to Mossley hospital. Just a lot of road clean-up.” He shivered. “They were lucky.”

Realizing the night he’d had, I put my arms around him and pulled him to my chest. Hoping he felt the comfort he needed, the security.

Everything I wished I’d had this last decade after terrible nights at work but never had.

I kissed the top of his head. “Go to sleep,” I murmured.

He tightened his arms around me and sighed, his breathing evening out soon after.

Yeah, this is definitely not that L-word you’ve been trying to ignore.

Shut up.

Because it is the L-word, you do know that right? You can tell yourself it’s too soon or it’s just some teen-like infatuation. But it’s not, and you know that, right?

I sighed, then the voice in my head sighed too.

I wanted to tell my subconscious to shut up but there was no point .

Because it was right.

I told you.

Oh, shut up.

It is the L-word. He’s asleep in your arms right now and you’ve never been happier. Go on, say it. It’s the L-word.

Fine. It’s the L-word.

My subconscious preened.

Yes, you’re absolutely right. I do like him.

. . .

That’s not what I meant and you know it.

It was my turn to preen a little now, and I kissed the top of Soren’s head again.

You do know that I am inside your head, right? You can say the word like instead of love, but we both know which you mean.

I’m not answering. I’m going to sleep.

I’m not leaving you alone until you admit that you love him.

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

Fine! I love him. I’m in love with him. He’s absolutely the best thing to happen to me. Are you happy now? I’ve admitted it. Now leave me alone.

My subconscious smiled wryly, knowingly, then nodded to Soren.

Now you gotta tell him.

I was done arguing. I was too tired, too comfortable, and with my arms securely around the man I loved, I drifted off to sleep.

Work that week was great. Very conventional, very peaceful. Nothing out of the realm of ordinary, nothing drastically urgent, nothing terrible anyway. Katie kept my appointments structured, all patient files were prepared and organized. And if I wasn’t being too full of myself, I’d like to think that my patients were even happy to see me. Given I was so new and given Doctor Humphries had been their physician for most of their lives, I was generally very well received.

They even called me Doctor Rob.

Not Doctor O’Reilly. And it was hard to put into words what the distinction was, other than acceptance. They saw me as someone who was part of their town.

So yes, work that week was great.

I missed Soren though.

His late nights and my early starts meant less time together, but he had stayed over last night and kept me awake until after one in the morning. And I’d come to work this morning with a sore ass and zero regrets.

But tonight he’d start his graveyard shift, which meant a whole week of not seeing him at all.

Or barely seeing him.

Definitely no midnight thorough dickings, that’s for sure.

“Why the long face?” Gunter asked.

We were sitting at the table in the youth center going through information and proposals for the vocation idea I’d put to him, and I must have zoned out.

I snorted. “Am I that obvious?”

“Did you and Soren have a fight?”

I scoffed. “No. Just the opposite, actually. We are... we are so good.”

He laughed. “Then why the long face?”

I shook my head at myself because this bordered on embarrassing. “He’s starting his week of the graveyard shift, where he has to sleep at the fire station. I won’t see him as much, that’s all. Which is stupid and pitiful, to be honest. And embarrassing.”

Gunter laughed. “Sounds fair to me. So you miss him. That’s not embarrassing.”

“We’ve been dating for like two weeks,” I cried. “I’ve known him less than three. Three weeks. It’s insanity, that’s what it is.”

Gunter sighed, still smiling. “To hell with sanity. If it feels right, go with it.”

I put my hand to my chest. “I’m a man of medicine. I trust science. I trust procedure and?—”

“And I hate to break it to you, doc, but your heart can’t see or hear, and it certainly can’t read. It can only go by feel.”

I sighed and possibly pouted.

He nodded as if he understood my internal plight. “And how does it feel?”

I didn’t really want to admit this out loud. I hadn’t even wanted to admit this to myself, but Gunter was my friend. My closest friend here in Hartbridge, if I was being honest and wanted to put a label on it.

I sighed again, slumping in my chair in defeat. “It feels like... love.”

Gunter’s smile was slow to spread. “I’m happy for you. But most of all I’m happy Hamish isn’t here to hear you say that.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes, mostly at myself. “You know, I think I can say unequivocally that it has nothing to do with any Hartbridge Cupid thing and a lot to do with Soren and his... you know.”

He clued in pretty quick. “Oh. His ability to keep you happy,” he said, then using his hands, measured a good seven inches apart.

I took his closest hand and moved it out another inch or so. “Yep.”

Gunter laughed and laughed, and I buried my face in my hands.

I had no idea how this was my life now, but the truth was, I’d never been happier.

“It’s not just that. It’s everything. He’s intelligent, and caring, and funny. And I know it was his idea about the Kris Kringle thing. He wanted to do something sweet for me.”

Gunter gave me a nod. “I had to get the lowdown off Hamish later. It was sweet of him.” Then he groaned. “Do you know what you’re doing for your couple’s gift?”

“No clue.”

He grumbled. “Handmade. I could have killed Hamish when he said that. ”

“To be fair, I don’t think Hamish expected Hamish to say that either.”

He snorted. “True. But we’re running out of days.”

“Yeah, I planned on using my week without Soren to get it done.”

“You make it sound like he’s going off to war.”

I barely refrained from wailing. “I know! It’s pitiful. I’m pitiful.”

Gunter clapped my shoulder. “He lives next door to you, and he works across the road from you. Put dirty little notes in his mailbox or something. So at the end of the week, he’ll be banging on your door.”

The more I thought about that, the more I had to suppress a smile. “That’s... that’s actually a really good idea.”

Just then the door pushed open and the first of the kids came in. Jeez, I didn’t realize the time. “Wow, school’s out already.”

“Hey Mister Z,” Evie said to Gunter, the first through the door.

Gunter straightened up all his papers and stood. “Hey Evie.” As the others filed in, he gave me an awkward smile, then said, “Hey, I have a question,” he began. “It’s just something we were thinking about. But you guys have, what, a year left of school?”

They mostly nodded.

“And you’ll be looking at colleges or even just moving to get out of town, right?”

They mostly nodded again.

“Well, you’re gonna be looking for work and whatnot, so what if we set up a coffee machine in here and get you all experts so you can walk into any coffee shop in any city and say yes, you have experience.”

They looked among themselves and it was Evie who answered. “Uh, yeah. That sounds cool.” She looked around. “In here?”

“Well, maybe. We don’t know. To begin with. But there’s an empty store next door, and maybe we could get a proper café set up, with tables. Make it a cool hangout for teenagers, but also staffed by you guys too. That way you get experience across the board. Then you could apply for jobs in retail, at the cinemas, but there’s a coffee shop on almost every corner and it’s a good place to start.”

They were clearly excited about it, and Gunter put his hands up. “Wait up. We’re just in the discussing stages, and if it can happen at all, it’s a long way off. It might not be up and running before you guys are gone, which would be a shame. But we can at least get the machine in here so you guys can learn that before you go. Proper training, with certificates and everything.”

Well, if this was a test group, the response was positive. It just made me more determined to make it into a reality.

I helped Gunter out for a short while, but the last thing a bunch of kids wanted was another adult hanging around, even in the office. I waved them goodbye, donned my coat, gloves, and beanie, and made my way up onto Main Street.

The old-fashioned awnings with Christmas decorations, the small Christmas trees along the shop walls, the snow-covered mountain backdrop... it looked surreal .

The way people smiled and said hello to me... it felt surreal too.

Maybe it was my good mood or the clean fresh air, but with my newfound inspiration for making little notes for Soren—and after a trip to the Home Mart—I needed to go to the hardware store.

I hadn’t been inside the store so I was excited, hoping to see Ren and Hamish in their natural habitat.

The doorbell chimed above my head, the smell of sawdust and lacquer hitting me as soon as I walked in. It reminded me of something like The Waltons , just more modern, obviously.

Ren was behind the counter, and he grinned when he saw me. He was cute as hell, wearing his plaid shirt and apron. “Hello there,” he said. “Is there something I can help you with, or are you here to see Hamish?”

“Well, both,” I said. “I need some supplies for this homemade gift thing I’ve been roped into.”

He put his hands up in surrender. “I know nothing, and I cannot be held accountable for my husband’s actions.”

Hamish appeared from an office. “He also can’t testify against me in a court of law, so.” Then he shrugged. “Did I hear you needed supplies?”

“Well, yes. For the Kris Kringle thing that Soren absolutely forced you into organizing.”

Hamish looked like he’d sucked a lemon. “Uh, no he didn’t.”

I laughed. “It’s fine. He told me. You’re all very bad liars.”

Ren put his arm around Hamish, smiling at him fondly. “All you had to say was that it was a ten-dollar limit.”

“I know.” Hamish winced. “I panicked.”

“It’s fine. I actually have an idea and I need some supplies. Oh, and this,” I said, fishing out my front door key. “I need to get a spare cut. Red or green if possible.”

Hamish came and plucked it out of my hand. “To give to anyone in particular.”

“No,” I squeaked.

Ren laughed and took the key from Hamish but then he looked at me. “Welcome to the terrible liars club.”

Hamish laughed and took my arm. “Tell me of these supplies you need.”

I took out my phone. “I had to have Google’s help I’ll have you know. I’m not creative at all and this will probably look terrible, but this is what I need.”

He took a quick glance at the screenshot of supplies. “Easy. This way.” He led me over to the paint supply section. Acrylics in red, white, and blue, painters tape, foam brushes, and something called Mod Podge. Hamish looked at the supplies he shoved into my arms. “I thought I could guess what you were going to make, but the food-safe sealant is throwing me off. Any clues?”

“No. You’ll need to be as horrified as everyone else when they open it.”

“I think you mean surprised.”

“No. I didn’t.”

“It won’t be that bad,” he tried. “But tell me, are you and Soren doing gifts?”

“We are. ”

He wiggled excitedly. “And? What are you getting him?”

“I’m not telling you. I’ve seen your face when you try and lie.”

He rolled his eyes. “Fair.”

“But I have ordered it.”

“Things between you are going well?” He raised an eyebrow.

“They are.” I still wasn’t giving him details. “But he’s working graveyard this week so I won’t see him.”

Hamish made a sad face, but then he corrected it. “Then you just need to go find yourself accidentally in his bed when he gets home.”

I laughed. “You know, out of yours and Gunter’s suggestions, I think I like yours better.”

This clearly pleased him greatly. But then Ren was back, holding up a brand-new red key. “All done.”

“Perfect.”

I paid for my supplies and Hamish walked me to the door. “I will be in touch with the list of potluck dishes. I know it all sounds like a lot of work, but it’ll be fun, I promise. We always have such a good night.”

“It sounds great, to be honest. I’ve been enjoying getting to cook actual meals lately,” I replied. “And a Christmas dinner sounds perfect. I’m looking forward to it.”

He really had no idea just how much I meant that.

Hamish gave my arm a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said softly.

Okay, so maybe he did know.

I met his gaze and nodded. “Me too.”