Cade waited for three hours, but Lily never came back. He’d never seen her like that before—picking fights and freaking out over nothing.

What the hell was that appointment about?

When she’d told him she had a quick appointment, he didn’t think much of it. Now, Cade realized he should have dug deeper. It wasn’t like Lily to keep secrets.

Had she gone to talk to Elijah?

By the time Cade had given up on her returning, he left the cold sandwiches on the kitchen counter and stormed downstairs to the parking lot. Tucked under the windshield of his car, he saw a yellow note in her familiar scrawl.

Went hiking at Northgate. Needed fresh air. Sorry, L.

Cade slammed the door shut and crumpled up the note.

What the hell is her problem?

His phone vibrated and he scrambled for it. Lily had turned off her phone, but maybe she was finally coming back to her senses. But it was Elijah’s name that lit up his screen.

“Hello?” he asked quietly. Cade didn’t know what to expect. What if Lily was with him? What if this was Elijah calling with a death threat?

“Hey!” Elijah said. His voice was light, happy. “Where are you?”

“Uh… just getting some gas,” Cade said as he glanced at the single pump the mechanic shop used.

“You nearby? Want to grab some coffee?”

“Sure,” Cade said. The last thing he wanted to do was get some coffee, but at least being around people would keep his mind off Lily. “Where are you thinking?”

Elijah laughed. “Where do you think? The usual. I have a craving for eclairs.”

“Uh, okay. See you there in ten?”

The last thing he wanted to do was go into Lily’s place of work with Elijah, but there weren’t any plausible excuses at the ready. He pulled the Mustang onto the main road and started toward the bakery.

Elijah was already there. He leaned casually against the truck with sunglasses perched on his nose. His eyes were impossible to read.

“Real hog, huh?” Elijah asked when Cade approached him.

“What?”

“The Mustang,” Elijah said. He slipped his glasses off. “It’s a real gas hog, right?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s not too bad,” Cade said.

“Come on. I need some caffeine. And sugar.”

The bell chimed as they entered, and Cade locked eyes with Jean-Michel at the register.

“Lily’s not working today?” Elijah asked, disappointed.

“No,” Jean-Michel said slowly. He looked at Cade curiously. “Wouldn’t he know—”

“That’s alright, we’re just taking some stuff to go. Right?” Cade interrupted.

Elijah looked at him strangely. “Are you in a rush? I thought we could eat here—”

“Young love, is always in a rush,” Jean-Michel said. “What can I get you?”

“Young love?” Elijah asked with a chuckle. “Sorry, Cade and I are just friends. Uh, half a dozen eclairs, two for here, and two Americanos.”

“Americanos,” Jean-Michel said with a sigh. “Terrible name. You should try the espresso. Or French press,” he said.

“Sure, we’ll try that,” Elijah said as he took out his wallet.

Cade felt the guilt settle in deeper as he watched Elijah pay. Secrets weighed an enormous lot. He felt the secret he kept from Elijah grow heavier every time they were together. It was almost impossible to keep himself from spilling it right on the spot.

But now? When Lily was freaking out? Obviously she didn’t say anything to Elijah, but then what else could it be? Is she having second thoughts?

The last thing he wanted to do was go and tell Elijah when Lily had come to her senses and realized she could do better.

What does she want with a broken guy who’s all messed up in the head, anyway?

“What did you say?” Cade snapped out of his thoughts at the tone in Elijah’s voice. Elijah stared at Jean-Michel in disbelief.

“I tell your friend, he better treat the young lady right.”

“And what the hell is that supposed to mean?” Elijah demanded.

Shit. All this planning, and the fucking Frenchman goes and spills the beans?

Jean-Michel’s eyes widened as he realized what he’d done.

“I mean nothing,” Jean-Michel said. “Just tease.”

Cade turned to Elijah.

“Come with me,” he said.

“But the eclairs!” Jean-Michel called from behind.

Cade followed Elijah dutifully out of the shop. The parking lot was deserted. Cars zipped by. Anything could happen here, anything, and nobody would see it.

“You want to tell me what the hell that guy was talking about?” Elijah demanded. His arms folded across his broad chest.

This is it. Just tell him. Tell him.

“I, uh, I don’t know what Jean-Michel knows—”

“I don’t give a fuck what he knows or doesn’t know. I want you to tell me the truth.”

“Elijah… Lily and I, we’ve been—well, we’re together.”

“And what the hell does that mean?”

Cade drew in a deep breath. At least he hasn’t kicked my ass yet.

“I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you,” he said quietly. “And, please believe me, we didn’t plan it—”

“How long has this been going on?”

“A few weeks?”

Elijah nodded. “And what do you mean by together?”

“We—”

“Are you fucking her?”

“Elijah, please—”

“Are you fucking my baby sister?” Elijah dropped his arms and Cade saw the balled-up fists.

“It’s not like that.” It is like that. “I—Jesus, Elijah, I have real feelings for her. Okay? We’re in a relationship, and it’s pretty serious—”

“Fuck, Cade! The one thing I told you not to do! The one thing! And you can’t even keep it in your pants. She’s my goddamned sister—”

“I know! I know, and I’m sorry! I didn’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to lose you as my best friend. You’re like my brother—”

“Yeah, and Lily’s supposed to be like your sister! Or at least she was. I can’t believe you’d do this to me—”

“To you?” Cade asked in disbelief. “This … our relationship has nothing to do with you.”

For the first time, Cade realized that was true. What does it matter if Lily and I love each other? What does that mean to Elijah?

“She was the one person… what the fuck? What is wrong with you?” Elijah screamed. He lunged at Cade, who let his body go limp as his best defense.

“Hit me back!” Elijah screamed in his face. “Come on, you fucker, fight!”

Cade dropped to one knee and accepted the fists that showered his back. When Elijah hit his ear, he heard a sharp ringing and felt a sting that shook him to the core.

“What the fuck?” Cade looked up. Aiden raced around the corner. “Hey! Hey, both of you! I don’t know what the hell you’re doing, but a huge fire just broke out near Northgate.”

“Northgate?” Cade was breathless.

“Some idiot let a fire get out of control at the barbeque pits,” Aiden said. “You need to finish this shit about Lily some other time.”

“How do you know this is about Lily?” Elijah asked. “Shit, Aiden, if you knew—”

“Lily’s at Northgate,” Cade burst out. Both Elijah and Aiden turned to him.

“Fuck,” Elijah said. “Let’s go.” He reached down automatically for Cade and lifted him up.

“What are the reports?” Cade asked as he raced behind Aiden and Elijah toward the fire truck Aiden had parked at the end of the lot.

“Uh … up to twenty hikers are trapped,” he said. “And it’s only going to get worse if it spreads. I didn’t know. I didn’t know she was there—”

“It’s not your fault,” Cade said as he jumped into the cab.

It’s mine. Whatever happened, it’s my fault she’s out there. I didn’t stop her. I just let her go.

The helicopter was prepped and ready as they pulled into the station. No matter what had happened, as they climbed in they naturally assumed their roles. Cade slipped on his headphones and listened as the reports rolled in.

“Looking like closer to twenty-five hikers trapped at Northgate …”

“Are you sure that’s where she is?” Elijah asked loudly over the helicopter.

“Yeah,” Cade said. He gazed down as the helicopter brought them closer to the flames that licked across the park below.

I’m sorry.

The captain’s voice boomed in their ears. Cade made eye contact with Elijah. All the anger had drained out of him.

“Sorry,” Elijah mouthed.

Cade just nodded. He didn’t want apologies, or even Elijah’s acceptance. All he wanted was to know that Lily was alright. The chopper hovered above the worst of the fire and Cade gripped the rappelling rope.

As he descended into the heat, the adrenaline flooded him. Any linger of the pain from the beating Elijah had given him was gone. All that mattered was finding Lily, saving Lily.

When his boots crunched into the fallen branches, he looked up and saw Elijah and Aiden above him.

This isn’t Montana, he told himself. Breathe.

The three of them made their way into the smoke while his radio crackled at his chest. This is it. Your chance of redemption.

Maybe saving Lily wouldn’t make up for what had happened in Montana. Nothing would. But it was the best he could do.

This time, with Elijah and Aiden flanking him, for once he felt like he wasn’t alone. It wasn’t him against the flames, it was all of them.

Knowing they loved her just as much as he did, would do anything for her just like he would, Cade felt a safety and security that he’d never known.

Firefighters, we don’t run away from the flames. We run straight toward them, embrace the heat. Trust that the smoke won’t blind us forever. Lily, we’re coming for you.