Page 9 of Jagged Burn (Kidds Beach Fire Department #2)

Brothers And Blessing

Stefan Grey

I’ve fought wildfires that moved slower than my thoughts right now.

All the way home from the grocery store, Anna’s words keep looping in my head. “I’ve loved you since I was fourteen.”

Christ. She dropped that bomb like it was nothing, like she didn’t just rip open a wound I’ve been stitching shut for years.

She did it in front of half the damn town too, everyone heard her words.

She meant what she said, and it flayed me open to know she really didn’t care what other people thought.

The past flashes in my mind on a rapid loop.

Every laugh she gave me back then, every smart-ass comment, every time she looked at me like I was more than Matt’s best friend, it all makes sense now.

And it’s terrifying. Because I’ve wanted her too.

Always. And that makes me the worst kind of bastard.

I grip the steering wheel harder, keeping my eyes fixed on the road.

Anna hums along with the radio, relaxed like she didn’t just shatter every wall I have ever built between us.

She doesn’t notice my hands shaking, doesn’t see the sweat dampening the back of my neck.

Or maybe she does, and she’s just giving me space to drown.

When we pull into my driveway, Matt’s truck is already there and my stomach drops.

“Fucking perfect,” I mutter under my breath.

Anna straightens, frowning. “What’s he doing here?”

“Probably here to rip me a new one.”

“For what?”

I shoot her a look. She knows. Gossip spreads through this damn town faster than wildfire and we probably hadn’t even finished shopping before he knew about the entire scene.

Her lips twitch. “Relax. He won’t kill you.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re not about to get strangled by your best friend because his little sister just...” I clamp my mouth shut before I spill the rest.

Too late. Her grin widens, sharp and knowing. “Because his little sister what, Stefan?”

I groan. “Forget it.”

She’s still laughing when we step out of the truck, but the sound dies the second Matt stomps off my porch.

“Grey.” His voice is a warning, and my spine stiffens automatically. Old habits. Matt Alexander might be my best friend, but when he uses that tone, I feel like I’m seventeen again and about to get caught sneaking out after curfew.

“Matt,” I say carefully.

His eyes cut to Anna. Bruises still visible on her cheek, stubborn tilt to her chin. He exhales sharply, relief softening his features for half a second before he focuses back on me. “We need to talk.”

Here it comes.

Anna plants her hands on her hips. “Don’t you dare, Matt. I swear, if you start with the overprotective big brother act...”

“Anna, go inside,” he demands flatly.

“No.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and I see her stubbornness flare. “This concerns me too.”

The two of them glare at each other, but I step between them before it escalates. “Anna, just give us a minute, okay?”

She huffs, mutters something about cavemen, but stomps into the house anyway. The second the door closes, Matt’s fist connects with my shoulder. Hard.

“Shit, man,” I grunt, rubbing the spot. “You’ve still got a mean right hook.”

“Good. Maybe it knocked some sense into you.” His eyes blaze. “You’ve been dancing around her for years, Grey. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

“I never...”

“Save it. Do you think I didn’t see the way you looked at her? The way she lit up around you? I kept my mouth shut because I figured you had the decency to keep it in check. But now?” He gestures toward the house. “She’s not hiding it anymore. So, tell me straight, are you serious about her?”

The question hits like a punch to the gut.

Am I serious about her? God, I’d burn the whole damn world down for her. But saying it out loud? To Matt? That’s different. That makes it real.

“I...” I swallow hard. “She deserves better.”

Matt’s fist slams into my other shoulder just as hard as the first time. “Wrong answer.”

“Jesus, Matt! Stop fucking hitting me!”

“I’m trying to knock some damn sense into you. Do you think she doesn’t know what she wants? You think you get to decide what’s better for her?” He steps closer, voice low and fierce. “That bastard Sam made her feel like she had no choice. Don’t you dare do the same thing by pushing her away.”

The words cut deep, and I am stunned into silence. What the hell is he saying right now?

Matt sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Look, man. I get it. You’ve been through hell. You’ve got scars. So what? Anna doesn’t care. She never has. She’s stronger than you give her credit for. And she’s been in love with you since she was a kid.”

My chest aches at hearing it from him. “She told me.”

“Good.” His eyes soften. “Then don’t screw this up. You have my blessing. Hell, you’ve always had it. I was just waiting for you two idiots to figure it out.”

For a second, I can’t breathe. Matt Alexander, the ultimate protective older brother, pain in my ass since middle school, the one guy whose opinion could wreck me, just handed me the thing I’ve been too afraid to hope for. His blessing.

And I don’t know what to do with it. Because part of me wants to run inside, grab Anna, and never let go. While the other part still whispers that I’ll ruin her. That scars like mine don’t just sit on the surface. They go bone deep.

Matt claps a hand on my shoulder, less like a punch this time and more like an anchor. “Don’t overthink it, Grey. Just love her. That’s all she needs.”

He moves to his truck as I remain rooted to the damn spot and when he drives away, I stand in the driveway for a long time, staring at the door. Anna’s inside, probably pacing, probably cursing both of us for talking about her like she’s not capable of holding her own.

And God, I love that about her. But loving her doesn’t erase the fear.

I shove my hands into my pockets, muttering to myself as I finally head inside. “Don’t screw this up, Grey. Don’t screw her up.”

Because if I lose her, if I let myself believe and then she changes her mind, I don’t know if I’ll survive it this time.