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I wince internally because dah I know Flynn probably didn't mean it that way

"I'ht"

"That's good I'uy, right?"

"Yeah, it's weird I like have a stepfather now And can you believe they have a Berner? I mean, what are the chances of that?"

Laughing, Flynn says, "I know I about died when I saw their dog Crazy"

We both chuckle a little and then lapse into an aard silence This is killing me this friendly banter Which is completely ironic, since this is hoould normally interact ere just friends

But now it seeht it would It makes me realize that what I could have had with Flynn would have been so much better

Flynn just stares at

"Are you going to come back ho tone of begging, which okay I' my pride here

Flynn glances aith guilt in his eyes, and then looks back toto stay at Tiive you sos out"

"Oh," I say, my voice low and dejected "Okay"

I wait and he doesn't say anything more My heart is heavy but I put a set back to work I just wanted to drop by and thank you for what you did with ood man, Flynn"

His smile is warm but it doesn't reach all the way to me It's polite, with so I'll catch you around"

He turns away from me and theinto a world of hurt that's going on indejectedly from the station

The rasp, and I tried my damnedest not to let it happen

Except I didn't lay everything out on the table

Spinning around, I see Flynn just about to walk through a door in the back

"Flynn!" I yell out to him

He turns but doesn't h opens, and a few fire over to the truck we had been standing near I watch for a moment as they open up a few compartments to place items inside

He looks at oing to make this easy on me

I take a deep breath and decide to jump in with both feet "Do you still love me?"

The two firefighters standing there look up at lance over to Flynn and I follow their gaze He starts walking toward me, and I'm mesmerized by a lazy smile that slides into place

"You know I do," he says, having to talk loud so I can hear him

The two firefighters now turn coainst it, absolutely content to forgo their duties and watch this drama play out

Sing hard, and lettingto meet him halfway When I stop just before him, he looks down at me with his beautiful eyes, and I say, "Good Because it see"

Flynn's eyes flash hot and I see joy filter in His dimple pops out before the smile even fully takes over his face

"You love me?" he asks in wonder

"I do You're my hero, Flynn Caldwell Not because you pulled me out of a fire, but because you pushed me into love It's for that reason I love you"

His hand reaches out and tucks a stray lock behindat me "And when did you come to this realization?"

"Oh, only about two hours after you walked out of my life The pain was unbearable I'm sorry I hurt you I'm sorry I let you down"

"You never let me down, Rowan You just took a while to learn not to fear love"

"I don't fear it now," I tell him boldly

He gazes at , deep look of devotion "I love you, Rowan Always"

"Kiss her," one of the firefighters yells out to us

We both look over at hi When we turn back to each other, the hu hot replaces it Flynn pullsmy face with both hands I love how he holds me this way and I close my eyes as his lips touch mine

It's soft at first, a gentle touch to remind me of all the care in the world he has for me But then he deepens it andcatcalls, but then it all dissolves into silence so I only hear the beating of our hearts

We kiss and kiss and kiss, not wanting to let each other go

Even when the speakers jolt to life, e several loud tones and then a buzzer, we continue to kiss We ignore the pager that goes off on his hip, and he kisses me deeper