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“Ryan,” Sarah Jo said, getting to her feet, not touching her soup

“No, don’t get up on my account I came to make a toast To my little sister and my former best friend,” he said “I hope you two assholes are happy together”

“Ryan, stop it!” Sarah Jo said “Why did you come here? Just to be mean? Upset everyone? You won’t be happy until you’ve made everyone as miserable as you are, Ryan I feel sorry for you And I want you to leave”

I could hardly see straight The entire room turned red for round until he learned to keep his damn mouth shut Blood throbbed in ht at et a hold of Ryan by the aret hi a little behind us

“Look, you’re like a brother toNow, I’ you one o apologize to Sarah Jo for being an unforgivable asshole, or you can get the hell out,” I said through gritted teeth

Before he could answer, er buzzed

There was a fire over in Pendleton, and they needed backup I wasn’t on call, but it was a big one and they needed all the help they could get I threw a look at Sarah Jo, conflict and desperation

“I know you have to go,” she said, holding ent

“Want o home?”

“No I got this You be careful I can’t live withoutthe emotion behind her words

I caught her in o I just had to steal one more minute with Sarah Jo first

25

Sarah Jo

I didn’t care that Ryan ruined the dinner At least I didn’t care very oodbye as he went off to fight a fire As ency call The emotional fallout, the needless dra, was just pointless I watched hied out of his jacket and loosened his tie I would not have been surprised at that moment to see him shed his button-down to reveal a superhero costume and take off to rescue the helpless and needy He was a hero to ed for hi hi hiht But I had to let hio This ho Luke ho he’d always been A protector, a guardian I bit my lip and turned to the co his any better, but I couldn’t worry about hiht then I had parents to deal with

“Look, I appreciate y’all being here tonight I need to set soe This was Luke’s atteht for us Because we’ve been in love for a while now, and ere hiding it because we didn’t want to upset anybody”

I stood at the head of the table like I was the waiter explaining ere out of the evening’s special My hands were folded and e to asseht for us both

“Mr and Mrs Maddox, you’ve always been kind tohere with friends a few ht your son back into my life I reckon I’ve always had a crush on hi and protective, the high school star athlete who stays close to hohts fires to save people, helps his parents out, loves his mama There’s never been a better man as far as I’h to knohat it ht me back to this town, and here was thisfor ave hiht We love you, all of you, and ant your blessing on us to be together, but if you can’t see your way clear to give it… well, pardon my French, but that’s too damn bad Because I love that man who just walked out of here to risk his life for co knot and inside I’ht Because Ihere, we’ll have to finish up another tiht,” I said