Page 27 of Striking the Match (Redwood Bay Fire #3)

“If you still want to try this,” he says, looking deep into my eyes with such sincerity it snatches my breath away, “I will be with you every step of the way. I’ll prepare you and protect you any way I know how.

And not just you, but your friends and family, too.

It takes effort, but I promise you that with just a little consideration every day I live a pretty normal life.

” He pauses and purses his lips, seemingly deliberating something for a second.

“But it’s been a lonely life for a while now.

Outside of my immediate family, it feels like nobody knows me at all, even if they think they do.

I want you to know me, Teddy. I want to know you, too, in every way possible.

I’ll do whatever I can to help you with this transition because I believe you are absolutely worth fighting for.

If…if you’re reconsidering in the cold light of day, though, I will understand. ”

I try and swallow the lump in my throat and blink back the wetness collecting in the corner of my eyes. But when I can’t hold back my smile any longer, a hiccup escapes and a couple of tears roll down my cheeks.

“Nobody has ever made me feel as seen as you do, Cassius,” I tell him thickly, not caring that my emotions are getting the better of me.

I think I want him to see what I’m really feeling, anyhow.

“Being with you makes me feel like I’m finally in the right place in this world, not forgotten or overlooked for once.

I’m scared it could change my life in ways I can’t even anticipate right now.

But I’m more scared of walking away from one of the best things that’s ever happened to me just because I’m a bit afraid.

” I laugh and wipe my eyes as he beams at me.

“Which is a lot of goddamned words to say I’m not reconsidering.

In fact, having thought about it even more, I’m definitely, absolutely sure I want to try, um, whatever we want to call this. ”

“Yeah?” he asks excitedly with raised eyebrows. “I want to call you my boyfriend. How does that sound?”

I don’t care about the toothbrush situation.

There’s nothing that can stop me from launching myself at his face and kissing his mouth senseless.

Seeing as he reciprocates with just as much gusto, clinging to me the way I’m clinging to him, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess he feels the same way.

“That sounds amazing,” I mumble against his lips. “So long as I can call you my boyfriend, too.”

“I’ve never been anyone’s boyfriend before,” he says with a grin, slowing down and pressing sweet kisses against my cheek and temple. “I bet I’m a great one.”

I laugh, loving his playful arrogance when he’s happy.

The fact that I get to know things like that about him now is mind blowing.

I promise myself never to take that for granted, and not just because there are millions of people around the world who’d love to know things like that.

But because one person—the one special person I want to give my heart to—is trusting me enough to show me intimate details that no one else gets to see.

We trade a few more kisses and content gazes into each other’s eyes, but eventually there’s no holding reality off for any longer.

“Urgh, nature calls, I’m afraid,” I inform him with a groan.

He chuckles and releases me. “Yeah, tell me about it. Shall we?”

I help him to stand and carefully limp to a nearby tree. Then I run off to find my own to relieve myself behind before hurrying back to rescue him.

“How’s your ankle?” I ask as I sit him back down where we slept. From how little weight he was able to put on it just now, I think I know the answer, but his grimace confirms it.

“I just need fresh ice, stronger painkillers, a compression sock, and to properly elevate it for a day or two,” he says with the confidence of a man that’s dealt with a lot of injuries during his life. “But I don’t know how fast I’m going to be going with you to the highway.”

“Yeah,” I agree reluctantly, chewing my lip for a minute.

“Okay, here’s what I think we should do.

Let’s pack up here, then very slowly start making our way until we can see the road or we find a distinctive landmark where I can set you up.

If I’m going to make a run for help, I have to be able to find you again. ”

My heart squeezes painfully at the idea of abandoning him, accidentally or not. He’s promised to protect me from the media, so it’s absolutely my job to protect him from coming to any further harm.

I don’t admit it out loud as I don’t want to worry him unnecessarily, but with this continued rain, I’m more than a little worried about the possibility of another landslide or flooding from the falls.

The drought all summer has left the ground so unstable that it’s going to take a long time for it to settle down again.

But it seems he feels the same need for urgency just as I do. “Okay,” he says with a nod. “Let’s do this.”

We didn’t have much stuff, so it only takes me a few minutes to pack everything away and make sure we’re ready before we hobble out into the inclement weather.

The campfire was down to embers anyway, so I stomp it out with ease.

A wildfire is unlikely under the current circumstances, but I’m still not taking any chances.

At least this is California, so as it’s daytime once more, the temperature has risen again. It’s unpleasant being warm and damp, but it’s way better than freezing our asses off. I prop Cassius up with his arm slung over my shoulders, and I keep my compass at hand to make sure we stay headed south.

It’s a struggle, but we slowly move away from the disaster area and find a path again.

I don’t recognize it, but the level ground makes it a lot easier for Cassius to walk.

Still, he’s already flagging, sweat pouring down his body with the effort of hopping along, and I know I’m not going to be able to push him much farther.

When I see the first big tree that will offer decent shelter, I make the decision to set him up there.

“Now we’re on a trail, I’ll be able to retrace my steps much easier,” I explain as we ease our way over to the spot and out of the rain once more. “Will you be all right?”

He smiles despite his obvious discomfort. “I’ll be fine, baby. I promise.”

“Someone might even walk this way, you never know. Do you have some water left?” We’ve had to ration it but at least with the rain we haven’t been as dehydrated as we could have been.

He stops before I can sit him down and kisses my mouth. “I do have some water left, yes. I mean it, I’ll be okay. You should probably get going…” His gaze shifts over my shoulder and he frowns. “Do you see that?”

I turn and look in the same direction as he is, squinting through the rain. I’m about to ask him what I’m supposed to be seeing, when a flash of color in the sky catches my attention.

“No way,” I say, not allowing myself to feel hopeful until I know for sure. “That looks like?—”

“A helicopter!” Cassius cries.

In an instant, I let him go, make sure he’s steady enough on his feet, then rip my backpack from my shoulders.

I don’t have a flare, although after this incident, I’m tempted to pack one for the future.

What I do have are a couple of orange hi-vis reflective strips that I usually clip onto my bag or clothes if I’m running in the dark.

They also have LEDs inside that I can set to flash, which I do now with fumbling fingers.

“WE’RE HERE!” I bellow at the top of my lungs, stepping out from under the tree to wave the lights like I’m guiding a plane in for landing. I know whoever’s in that helicopter absolutely can’t hear me, but it makes me feel better all the same. “HEY!”

I continue waving my arms in the rain, hoping the fact I’m wearing a blue hoodie might help me stand out against the foliage as well as the LEDs and reflective strips.

I know we’re not exactly stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert, but if there’s a chance we could be rescued right here and now, I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen.

Anything so I don’t have to leave Cassius all alone.

“I think they see you!” he cries happily from behind me, and I have to agree. It seems like the blip in the sky is getting bigger, making me want to sag in relief. I don’t stop waving my arms until I know for sure.

Once I can confidently make out the distinctive red tail and white front of the air operations chopper, I finally let my arms drop and stagger backward into Cassius. He wraps me in his arms and kisses my cheek.

“It’s going to be okay,” I assure him.

“I never doubted you for a moment, baby.”

Recklessness takes over me, and I twist in his arms to kiss his mouth, regardless of whether the crew in the helicopter can see us or not. We break apart after only a few seconds, flushed and smiling at each other before reluctantly moving so I’m simply propping him up on his good leg once more.

“If this was our second date,” I shout as the helicopter pilot carefully swings around to land, “I’m almost scared to think what the third date will be.”

“Swimming with sharks,” Cassius says without missing a beat. “No cage, of course.”

“Oh, of course,” I reply with a grin, turning off the LEDs now they’re no longer needed and slipping the reflective strips into my hoodie pouch. I wonder absently if it’s still going to smell like him after I’ve put it through such hell.

I guess after I wash it, I’ll just have to make sure I cuddle him a lot more in it.

Because apparently, I’m going to get to do that.

The helicopter is settled, and the blades are slowing down. “Are you ready for this?” Cassius asks me, his tone more serious. “There are bound to be questions.”

“Yeah,” I say with a sigh. “At least this will be one of the San Clemente crews, or maybe even LA. We don’t have a heli…”