Page 25 of Embers of You (Amity #1)

Jameson

I wanted dinner to go smooth, and I thought maybe my dad and I could get along for my mom’s sake. Sutton is with us and fits in so well with my mom. Then, of course my dad couldn’t hold back his comment even though this dinner was his idea.

The only thing that kept me stable was Sutton’s hand on my leg. Knowing she was right there with me. Luckily, Ma was able to draw the awkward tension away from the territory it ventured into.

The rest of dinner goes well, my dad stays mostly silent as he usually does. I subtly pull Sutton a little closer to me, and whisper a soft, “thank you,” into her ear.

Despite my parent’s protest, I pay for dinner, and refuse to let either of them argue with me about it. Sutton too, but she continues to insist it’s not a date. Of course it’s not, I would never bring my parents on a first date. Or second, whichever this would count for us.

On the drive back to Sutton’s house, I notice Ma dozing off in the backseat, her head resting on my dad’s shoulder.

Music plays softly throughout the cab while no one speaks.

Sutton is looking out the passenger window with her head resting on her hand.

I almost think she’s fallen asleep, until I park outside of her house and she sits up, looking over at me, her mouth pulled up in the smallest smile.

“Thank you,” she says quietly.

“I’ll walk you to your door.” I’m already climbing out and walking over to help her out.

I walk her the short distance to her front door, and when we get there she turns to face me.

I stand so she’s hidden from view of my parents because I swear my mom has some sort of sixth sense.

Even if she fell asleep, she’s probably awake now and staring at us, just to make sure she doesn’t miss the chance to give me a hard time.

“Thank you for coming with me,” I tell her sincerely.

“It was…fun.” I hear her hesitation and chuckle.

“You don’t have to lie, it was awkward and that’s okay.”

She shakes her head. “No, not awkward. Your mom is amazing, your dad seems…nice.”

“He and I have our issues; it’s really okay.”

“I know what that’s like. Thanks for tonight.”

I reach down to lightly graze her fingers with mine, not quite holding her hand, I use my free one to cup her face, running my thumb along her bottom lip. “I want you to know that I want to kiss you so badly right now. But I’m not going to when I know my mom is watching us like a hawk.”

Sutton chuckles. “Good, because this isn’t a date and friends wouldn’t kiss each other.”

“Right,” I agree with a wink, knowing we’ve done more than that. “Goodnight Sutton.”

“Goodnight, Jameson,” she whispers.

Unable to help myself, I press a chaste kiss to her forehead, before letting her go and walking backwards toward my truck. I make sure she’s inside before I climb in.

“I like her,” Ma’s sleepy voice says from behind me.

“Me too.”

Unsurprisingly, my dad doesn’t say anything which is fine by me. I just turn up the music to fill the air while I drive us home.

My next shift at the fire station is uneventful as far as calls go.

We play some basketball and I keep my eye out looking for Sutton’s Jeep to pull up to the building next door.

I don’t see her, and I’m tempted to text her, but refrain.

Just barely. Especially on the second day when I’m only a couple of hours from getting off.

“Yo, we got a call from your girlfriend,” Parker tells me as I’m lying on my cot unable to sleep.

I shoot up quickly, immediately panicking that Sutton is hurt. I’m rushing downstairs toward the truck that everyone else is already in.

“Damn, I’ve never seen you this excited to see Margaret.” Jo chuckles.

“What?”

“Your girlfriend, Margaret, the woman who only calls in while you’re on shift,” Dave speaks like I should’ve immediately known who they were talking about.

“I’m getting you all back, just remember this,” I threaten as we drive the short distance to the call I already know is a false alarm.

Margaret is a woman in her sixties who’s lived in the same house for as long as I can remember, and after her husband died fifteen years ago she started making false calls for attention.

My attention, more specifically. I’m not sure if she did this while I was gone, but somehow she’s learned I’m back and is starting them up again.

“Careful, Parker, I think you might end up being her new favorite,” I tell him.

He doesn’t say anything snarky back for once, and I glance over to where he’s sitting, noticing him just staring outside. I furrow my brow; it’s odd for him and I wonder if something’s wrong.

We get to the destination and immediately a woman runs out in a long flowing robe, not looking the least bit distressed. In fact, the smile that takes over her face the second I step out of the truck already has my coworkers laughing behind me.

“Oh Jameson, I didn’t know you were back. I’m so happy to see you.”

“Hello, Margaret,” I greet as pleasantly as I can. “What seems to be the problem?”

“It’s Fluffy, she’s stuck.” She doesn’t sound distressed about Fluffy.

Jo approaches her and says, “And Fluffy is your…”

“My cat,” she snaps at Jo before looking at me, batting her eyelashes.

“Where is she stuck, ma’am?” I try to remain professional and respectful.

“Behind my water heater.” I think she’s gotten closer to me.

“Lead the way.” I raise my arm gesturing toward her house, and I catch the way her eyes eat up my exposed arm. I fight the shiver, and not in a good way like when Sutton checks me out. The way Margaret is looking at me makes me feel like a piece of meat in front of a lion.

She walks in front of me, and I dare a glance back at my coworkers who are all stifling their laughter and I silently lift my middle finger to them, which only makes Parker bark out a loud laugh that has Margaret sending daggers in his direction.

So much for hoping he can steal some of the attention off me, I guess.

The entire time we’re working on getting Fluffy out from behind the tall water heater, I feel Margaret’s eyes on me. There’s even a time she runs her hand up my back, and I flinch, but she doesn’t seem to care.

Jo ends up being the one to grab the cat, who’s aptly named, and hands her back to her owner.

“Thank you so much, Jameson. You saved her life.”

“Nah, my team did all the work. Glad we could help.” I nod in her direction, and we all move to leave.

Margaret stays close by, offering coffee or snacks, which I decline for everyone and manage to make it out mostly unscathed.

Back in the truck I let a whole body shiver run through me, with a dramatic noise that has everyone cackling. “Why am I the one that has to be objectified?”

“Because you’re the town favorite, pretty boy.” Dave slaps my shoulder.

I groan, driving us away and thinking about the only woman who I want the attention of.

When we get back I still don’t see her Jeep next door.

I check my phone, there’s nothing from her either.

Even though I don’t want it to affect my mood, I can’t seem to help it.

While everyone else busies themselves, I separate myself to distract my mind by working out, vowing not to think about Sutton.

I’ll give her the space she wants, and she’ll reach out when she’s ready.

I know she will.