Page 12 of Striking the Match (Redwood Bay Fire #3)

We had to book tickets in advance for an hour-long slot so the organizers can make sure there aren’t too many people out on the walkway at any given time.

But it’s all pretty laid back and although I can see people around us, we also have plenty of space to ourselves on the track that leads up to the several stories high wooden entrance tower.

Once we get to the top, a bored employee checks our QR code on Teddy’s phone.

The fact that neither he nor anyone else seems to recognize me thus far is an unexpected bonus. It goes a long way to making me feel like the private me, the real me, is getting a chance to come out to play for once.

“I can’t believe I’ve never been up here before,” I marvel as we begin traversing the rope bridges.

They’re suspended a few dozen feet in the air, connecting wooden observations platforms on the biggest and sturdiest redwood trees.

I’m glad the bridges have netting along the sides to make us feel a little more enclosed.

Heights don’t bother me, but it’s reassuring to know my foot can’t just slip out into the empty air all the same.

“To be honest, neither have I,” Teddy says sheepishly, looking over his shoulder at me. “It’s one of those things I’ve always meant to do but never have.”

If I’m being honest, I’m delighted he’s in front of me so I can take my time drinking in his muscular frame. He might be wearing a loose-fitting T-shirt, but his shorts are clinging to his plump ass, taunting me and my dry spell.

“That’s cool we’re up here for the first time together, then,” I say genuinely, keeping the conversation way more wholesome than my filthy thoughts.

We reach the observation deck, but rather than continue onto the next bridge, Teddy indicates he wants to walk around to the other side of the circular platform.

We have a bit of privacy here as it seems like most people don’t want to stop so soon after only just getting going.

I’m happy to have him one on one, so I have no complaints as I join him in leaning my forearms against the wooden railing, looking out at the valley that leads back down to town and the ocean beyond.

Geography has never been my strong suit, but I wonder if I could theoretically see my house from here.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmur.

Teddy hums, frowning slightly as he looks out over the vista. “Can I ask you something?” he says before glancing back at me.

“Shoot,” I tell him genuinely.

Normally this would be the part when I’d groan inwardly, dreading what invasive question someone was about to spring on me. But I don’t feel that way with Teddy. Maybe that’s na?ve of me, but then he goes and proves me right.

“You could be up here with anyone. Why…”

I smile, my heart warming. “Why you?”

“Yeah,” he confirms sheepishly.

Perhaps I should give him some space in this moment. But before I can overthink it, I nudge his shoulder with mine. I’m rewarded with a bashful grin and a gorgeous blush on his cheeks.

“Why not you?” I counter gently. “You’re the first friend I’ve made since I moved back home. It seemed fitting to ask if you wanted to come explore the town with me as I get to know it again.”

“You have a lot of friends, though, right?” he says, clearly not wanting to let it drop so easily.

I nod, wanting to give him time to feel his way through this.

To be honest, I’m glad the topic has come up sooner rather than later.

“So why…what…you’re Cassius Garda!” he finally cries.

Then he whips his head around, wincing as he checks if anyone overheard him.

Luckily, there’s no one close by at present.

“I am,” I agree cheerfully. “And you’re Teddy Foster.”

He rolls his eyes. “There are about two dozen people who know who I am,” he says pointedly.

“Whereas there are probably two hundred million who have heard of you. Probably two million of those would claim that you’re their personal hero.

I’m just confused why someone as awesome as you would be interested in hanging with some kid firefighter.

I’m not even a real firefighter yet. I’m still in my probationary period. ”

He chews his lip and looks out over the forest again rather than meet my eye.

“How old are you?” I ask, realizing we should probably clear that matter up before anything else.

“Twenty-three,” he mumbles, like it’s something to be ashamed of.

Phew. Okay, so I thought maybe he was a few years older thanks to all the muscles, but that’s fine.

“So not a kid at all,” I tease him, bumping my shoulder against his once more.

“Let me save us a little time, all right? I get the freak out. It’s natural.

I’m someone you’ve probably seen a lot on TV.

And you’re thinking you shouldn’t even be breathing the same air as me, so why the hell would I want to be friends, right? ”

“You forgot the part where you’re fifteen years older and a billion dollars richer,” he mumbles, but I can see the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Good. That means I’m getting through to him.

“Pfft. Age is just a number. And I hate to break it to you, but I’m only a millionaire.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “Only a millionaire? What am I wasting my time for, then?”

I grin, already trusting that he’s about as far from a gold digger than I’m ever likely to meet.

“You’re forgetting something, too,” I inform him kindly.

He crooks an eyebrow. “Yeah? What’s that?”

I poke his chest. He blinks at me like that’s the most unbelievable thing he’s ever witnessed, which tickles me.

“You’ve forgotten that I also met you through a screen first. I saw half a dozen different videos of you rescuing my cat before you walked through that shelter door. You were already my personal hero. So that makes us a little bit more even, wouldn’t you say?”

He stares at me for several seconds before scratching his fingers through his thick blond hair. “Huh.”

I chuckle again. “Thought so. Those videos also showed me that you were brave, kind, and determined. Then we met and I found out you were sweet and funny as well. So, yeah. Does it really seem so strange I’d want to get to know you better?”

He gives me a curious look. “I feel like you’re talking about somebody else…but sure, I guess that makes sense.”

I sigh happily and gaze out through the redwoods and down the valley for a minute.

“I hope it’s okay to say that making a new friend who isn’t in the spotlight feels really great right about now.

You might think it’s crazy I’d want to spend time with somebody ‘normal.’ But I’m tired of all the fakeness celebrity culture brings.

Being a regular Joe doesn’t mean you aren’t awesome, Teddy, because I think you are.

It doesn’t mean you can’t be full of shit, either, but something tells me you’re not. ”

He shrugs. However, I sense the pride glowing from him. “What you see is what you get,” he says, peeking over at me.

This close, in the sunshine dappling through the trees, I can admire how his golden lashes fan his cheeks, and I want to tell him I think he’s beautiful as well. But I can sense we’ve made a lot of progress already, and I don’t want to freak him out by going overboard.

“I’m kind of hoping that you want to hang out with me today because I’m the goofball who adopted the cat you rescued,” I prompt. “Not because you want to leech off an NFL star.”

He nibbles his lip and considers me for a moment. Long enough for doubt to start creeping up inside me.

“If we’re being honest…I am a fan of yours. A big fan.” He blushes again, harder this time. “But if I ignore all that, it feels like I’m just meeting up with someone I met on an app or something. Which is crazy and cool and surreal, and I don’t even know what else.”

I nod, not exactly surprised that he’s a fan. I guessed as much. I like what he said after that part a lot. Except…

“Have you got an, um, app friend at the moment?” I ask clumsily. He creases his brow in confusion. I sigh, abandoning tact. “I’m trying to ascertain if you have a boyfriend, because I’m smooth like that.”

“Oh!” he cries, then rubs his neck and grins as he glances away. “Uh, no. I haven’t had a boyfriend for a couple of years now. I’ve been focusing on work.”

“Same,” I say, actually managing a teeny bit of smoothness. He doesn’t say anything to that, but his rosy cheeks tell me he understands my meaning. “However, work isn’t really an issue anymore,” I follow up.

His expression changes immediately to concern. It doesn’t rankle me the way it does with other people, though.

“I’m so fucking sorry about your shoulder,” he tells me earnestly. “It was a shock to me, so I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you.”

“Shit,” I admit with a rueful laugh. “It’s been shit.

But things are getting better now.” I move away from the railing and indicate the next bridge.

We start walking without having to say a word about it.

“I’m not really sure what to do with myself these days, but that’s why Kiki was the right cat for me to adopt.

We’re going to figure out our new life together. ”

“I love that,” Teddy says warmly. “I could, um, I mean, if you want, I could help you as well. If that’s what you want?

If you ever want to talk to someone with both their feet on the ground.

” He looks down at the drop between the swaying wooden slats we’re currently traversing. “Well…not right now, obviously.”

I throw my head back and laugh. When he says things like that, I genuinely don’t believe he’s trying to impress anyone. That’s just the way his brain works.

“I’d love that, Teddy,” I say sincerely.

He looks over his shoulder as we approach the next platform. There are other people lingering there, and I have a feeling some of them might have finally recognized me. Our little bubble is about to burst.

But only temporarily, if I have any say in the matter.

Teddy presses his lips together before replying to me. “I’d love that, too…Cassius.”

It’s like he’s testing my name out on his tongue. I hope he likes the way it tastes.

Because I adore the way it sounds.