Page 62 of Melting for the Firefighter
Vanessa’s face goes pale.
“You have been with her for less than a week.”
“I have wanted her for two years.”
My heart pounds so hard it hurts.
For one bright, terrifying second, the rest of the world disappears.
Then Vanessa smiles.
It is a small, cruel curve of her mouth.
“Then ask yourself why you waited until she was homeless.”
The words strike harder than they should.
She walks away before Lance can answer.
The crowd parts for her.
Zain steps into the open space and gives everyone a look that sends conversations moving again. Jordan turns on the fire engine lights for the children. Music swells from the stage.
The festival breathes back to life.
I cannot.
Lance turns toward me.
“Cora.”
“Did you mean it?”
“Every word.”
“Would you love me if the shop had never burned?”
His jaw tightens.
“It did burn.”
“That is not an answer.”
“I wanted you before.”
“You stayed away.”
“Because I knew what wanting you could do to me.”
The fear is there.
I see it beneath the hard set of his face. Lance can walk into a burning building without hesitating, but this terrifies him.
Being seen.
Being wanted.
Being left.
