The next night the town descended on the city hall building. It was decorated to the hilt, lights and balloons and streamers everywhere. It looked like prom night in a movie. I observed as much in my opening remarks, and the crowd laughed.

I watched for Oscar, but he never appeared. After a while I had to stop looking for him and do my job. Tiger did his tricks for the crowd, and everyone clapped. The noise and the quantity of people spooked him a little, but he adapted fast. The steady supply of treats in my pocket kept him focused.

When we got to the auctioning of the men portion of the evening, the guys walked the “runway” one after the other, while I announced who they were and what their special skills included.

Since I was in charge of this part of the evening, I’d taught them all how to walk the runway and how to stand and pose. This paid off. The reaction from the crowd was overwhelming and we got much higher bids than previous years.

I tried not to think about how this would probably mean I was in charge of this event from now on.

One by one, the guys were “sold” amid much laughing and good fun. “Remember, ladies and gentlemen — our firemen are yours for the evening but anything you do with them must be legal and able to be viewed in a public place!”

“Awww,” some of the Junior League ladies said. They sat on the front row and made eyes at me all night. Thank god I was the host and not up for auction.

“I think that’s our last fireman,” I said. “I want to thank you all for your attendance and participation. All proceeds of the night go to support the fire station and community fire safety education.”

Just then I heard a shout from the crowd. “Wait!” someone said. “We have a question! Pass him the microphone!”

“Stand up!” someone else said.

Oscar stood up in the crowd, and waited for the microphone. His eyes met mine, and the current between us locked us together again. My lips parted and I waited for what he had to say.

A hush descended on the room.

He took the microphone and a deep breath and looked straight into my eyes.

You could have heard a pin drop.

“How much for the em-cee,” Oscar said.

A stir rose up from the audience. My god, this was public. I felt everyone’s eyes on me, in a new way, and felt vulnerable. But I also felt…important. Not, the center of attention, but actually important to someone.

Oscar wasn’t done. “How much for the em-cee — for the rest of our lives?”

Cheers and voices rose from the crowd. They were getting more of a show than they’d bargained.

My jaw dropped, and I looked back and forth to my fellow firemen. My brothers. Finn held two thumbs up and grinned at me.

I looked back at Oscar. “I’m not sure I’m someone you want.”

“Awww,” the crowd said.

Oscar frowned and moved through the row, making his way toward me. He spoke into the microphone, for the whole world to hear. “Don’t tell me what I want. You think you are nobody. You’re delusional. How many here think Rhett Hayes is somebody special?”

Now my cheeks blazed. At first the room was silent, and then the applause began. It resonated louder and louder, and some people cheered. “He saved my baby!” someone yelled.

As the noise died down, and Oscar motioned for them to let him talk again, he said, “I know they love you at the fire station, and that you belong to the town,” Oscar said. He gestured toward the audience, who murmured approval.

He brought the microphone closer to his mouth and a little louder said, “But maybe you can belong to me too? And I can belong to you. Will you come home?”

“Awww!” the crowd said again.

Oscar’s question hung in the air. Home. He meant his house? He widened his eyes and nodded at me. We were doing this in front of a lot of people! He wasn’t kidding around.

My heart pounded. Fuck it. I was going for it. All in. Like bungee jumping, except no guarantee of a cord. I dropped my wall and let it all out. In front of everyone. “Oscar, you’re it for me,” I said into my microphone. I cleared my throat to keep control of my voice and kept going. “I didn’t believe love was for me. I didn’t believe I could do it or that anyone would want the real me.”

“So will you come home?” Oscar said, smiling at his repetition.

I held up my finger so I could finish speaking before I lost my thought. “But then I met you. If you will give me a chance, which I think you will based on your willingness to stand up here with a microphone,” I indicated the crowd who laughed with me. “I want to try again — this time for real.”

Oscar’s eyes shone with tears. Finally he lifted his microphone to his lips. “So I can make a bid?”

I blinked, for just a moment. A bid? Oh yeah, the auction. I nodded, unsure where he was going.

“I bid my whole heart, the whole thing,” Oscar said. “Nothing held back, nothing reserved, everything open. No secrets, no ambiguity. Before this entire town!” He held his arm out and waved it over the crowd.

“Woo hoo!” someone called out, and before long, the whole room roared with cheers and applause.

Finn stood and waved his arms up, bringing the crowd’s energy with him. “Going once!” he yelled.

“Going twice!” the crowd yelled along.

Oscar stood before me, his beautiful smile shining at me. I must be awesome if someone this awesome wants me. I looked over to the side where my guys sat. Tiger sat with them. He barked and wagged his tail. Even my dog thinks I’m okay, and he’s a good judge of character.

Maybe I can think I’m okay too.

And just like that, the weight I carried my entire life lifted from me and flew away. All I had to do was decide I was okay. If it came back, I could look around and be reminded of who loved me and who I’d become.

Free at last, I held my arms out and gathered Oscar close to me. My forehead pressed against his, our smiles so wide, my face hurt.

“Sold!” the crowd shouted.

And I kissed him, in front of everyone. This wasn’t a fling anymore. It never was — not really. Our hearts always knew it. It just took a while for our stubborn heads to catch on.

Oscar pulled back and spoke into his microphone again. “You never answered my question.”

“What question?” I stood there, dumb, trying to remember what he referred to.

“Will. You. Come. Home?” Oscar said again, this time laughing as a tear ran down his smiling face. He wiped it away and looked at me expectantly.

“I’ve realized that home is wherever you are,” I said. God, I was cheesy. Is this what love did to people?

“Say yes already!” someone yelled.

“But I think the station needs me right now?” I looked over to the chief who shook his head and waved my concern away.

“Nope,” he shouted. Everyone laughed.

“It’s settled then. Yes, I will come home.”

“Get out of here!” Finn yelled.

I looked at the chief again, Right now? He waved me away again. “Go! Go! Go!” the audience chanted. “Go home! Go home! Go home!”

I whistled for Tiger. Finn dropped the lead and he ran to my side, his leash dragging behind. I picked up the lead, took Oscar by the hand and led them both out of the room, down the hall, and outside into the cool night.

We were going home.