Seattle

DREW

That was quite possibly the longest plane ride of my life. Thankfully, I only had a carry-on so I was able to take off for the parking garage while the others went to Baggage Claim. I really need to get a handle on my reactions to Charlee’s proximity. Brody’s bound to notice sooner or later that I’m always sporting wood around his sister. Plus, I can’t seem to keep my eyes off of her. I thought it was bad before, but now that I remember sealing the deal on our marriage—parts of it anyway—it’s even worse. I can’t stop picturing her naked. And Charlee plus naked equals instant raging boner. I feel like I’m fucking thirteen again where a gust of wind would get me hard.

Now that I’m home, I think it’s actually starting to sink in that I’m a married man. I know that once we get an annulment, it will be as if it never happened, but what if I don’t want that? I keep thinking about that couple we met on the observation wheel. Sure, having a drunken Vegas wedding work out is the exception, not the rule, but who’s to say that Charlee and I can’t be one of the lucky ones?

I take a drag from my bottle of beer as I walk around my condo. This place screams bachelor pad with its minimalist furnishings and giant TV, but it wasn’t always like this. When Devyn and Nathan lived here, it was a home built for a family. Pictures of Nate growing up lined the hallways, his books and toys were in the corner of the living room, and Devyn’s girly touches were all over the place. Candles, throw pillows, blankets, fancy soap, you name it. She took all of that with her when the two of them moved in with Riley, leaving me with the barren space that I see before me.

I didn’t realize how much I missed all that shit until now. Not the actual stuff, but the comfort that it gave me. My mom died when I was thirteen and my dad followed shortly after my twenty-first birthday. Neither one of them had siblings, and their parents had already passed, so it was just me and Devyn until Nathan came along five years later. Maybe I’m trying to create something that isn’t there with Charlee—because I have abandonment issues or some shit. But if I’m being honest, I really don’t think that’s the case. Although I live alone now, I have good people in my life.

You don’t have to share the same blood to be considered family. I think it’s more about having each other’s backs. Loving unconditionally. Supporting someone when they’re down or celebrating their successes when they’re up. Brody, Rainey, and Riley definitely fall into that category. The guys at the fire station, too. I’m not lacking by any means.

But still, I can’t help but envision what life would be like with Charlee here. What personal touches she’d put on things. How our wedding picture would look propped on the bookshelf. Okay, maybe not our actual wedding photo, because that thing is ridiculous, but you get the point. My mind even goes as far as wondering what our children would look like and how it would feel tucking them into bed at night like I used to do with Nate. Listen to me, talking about being tied down and actually liking the idea. Who would’ve thought?

Fuck. What the hell am I going to do? Before I have the chance to contemplate that any further, my phone buzzes in my back pocket. When I pull it out, I see an incoming text from Charlee.

Charlee: Are you free to go over this paperwork tomorrow?

Me: Can you do it tonight? I have to be at the station at 8 in the morning and I’m on duty for 24 hours.

Charlee. No can do. I’m still with my mom.

Charlee said she was stopping by her parents’ house on the way home from the airport. From what I can gather, she and her mom are pretty tight and see each other often.

Me: Tuesday then? I can come by your place.

As soon as I hit send I realize that I don’t even know where the fuck she lives. Jesus, this situation is complicated.

Charlee: Can you have visitors at the station? The restaurant is closed Mondays so I have the night off. I can bring dinner for everyone.

I smile when I think about Charlee sitting around the long dining table at the firehouse with my team. We don’t usually have visitors but they’re not prohibited. Plus, no one in their right mind would turn down her cooking.

Me: Does 5:00 work for you?

Charlee: 5 is perfect. How many am I feeding?

Me: We have 6 people on duty at any given time.

Charlee: Okay, so 12 servings for the manly firefighters plus one for me. Got it.

I laugh. She’s already seen how much food I can shovel in my mouth. I’m sure she’s assuming my co-workers are the same and she’s not exactly wrong.

Me: So, I’ll see you tomorrow?

Charlee: Tomorrow at 5. *wink emoji

Me: I’ll text you if we get a call and that changes, otherwise I’ll see you then. *wink emoji *wink emoji

Charlee: Over and out.

I pocket my phone and smile, thinking that five o’clock tomorrow cannot get here soon enough.