Page 63 of Wild Fire

“Oh,” I say, closing out the tab on my phone because I don’t need anyone seeing the list of hard and soft limits I’ve been studying for two days. It’s huge. I had to take a break because there’s just so much to get through and I had to look a few things up because I had no clue what they were.

I didn’t realize how many things could be considered a kink. My mind is seriously boggled, but I tell myself if I want to understand AJ better, this is probably a good place to start.

“He was supposed to be here, covering for Slammy, but—”

“Slammy?”

The guy shrugs. “His little protege.”

“Oh.” My mind keeps going over the last time I saw this guy—and AJ—in the bar. They looked pretty comfortable together.

“Are you AJ’s boyfriend?” I ask.

The guy laughs a deep laugh that almost pisses me off until he shakes his head.

“Not even close.”

“Good,” I breathe, realizing at the last second I’d said that out loud.

My cheeks flush as I glance up at the guy. He’s big.

The silence between us thickens, and for a moment I think he’s not going to say anything. Maybe just leave.

“He always gets finicky around this time. Especially today.”

The guy leans forward, leaning his elbows on his knees.

“What do you mean?”

He twists his lips, looking back and forth.

“Can I trust you to keep a secret?” he asks, his gaze finding mine.

Something tells me I can trust this guy even though I don’t know him.

But AJ does. And if AJ trusts him, I probably can too.

I nod.

“He ever tell you how he came to be a firefighter?” he asks carefully.

“No.” I never asked, either, but the way this guy asks, feels like it’s really important. Like I should pay attention. So I do.

“He wasn’t that much younger than you when the fire happened. His mom was at work. He was home with his dad when the place went up in flames.”

“Shit,” I say in shock. “His dad… did he…”

The guy shakes his head. “Nope.”

My heart breaks.

“Twenty-one years ago today.”

I blink. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because in all the years I’ve known AJ, I’ve never seen him as happy as I’ve seen him on the days he sees you.”

Tears prickle the edge of my eyes.