“I did try to go in, and I’m sorry for that. I feel like an ass about it now. I just needed to see you.”
“It’s part of your charm. And speaking of charms, did you see the keychain?”
Dylan shifted me to his side and brought the keychain between us. “I love my caveman,” he read. He pulled me back in again and shuddered, and there was no question that he was crying. “Baby. I love you. I love you so fucking much.”
I’d felt a little silly making him a bead keychain with a heart for the word love, like I always had my students make forMothers Day and Fathers Day, but I was so glad I did. “I love you too,” I said through my own tears. Because how could I not cry at the feel of him crying? But I’d take these happy tears any day.
“I want to go in and apologize to everyone.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I want to.”
Dylan pulled back to look me in the eyes, and I could tell he was about to try to save me from my own good intentions, but he stopped himself. “Let’s go in then. I’d hold your hand if I didn’t have these damn crutches.”
“I’ll be right next to you.”
“Always.”
It wasn’t a question, but I agreed anyway. “Always.”
I matched Dylan’s pace as he hobbled in, and then took his hand when he leaned the crutches against the wall in the common room and whistled loudly.
The guys came, responding to his whistle like a bunch of well-trained, big-muscled puppies. Their gazes took in our clasped hands and smiling faces, and it was a beautiful sight watching their smiles bloom.
“Happy for you guys,” Ryan said as he came in to hug me.
“Wait.” Dylan eyed me and I nodded. “Juliette has something to say first.”
“Um, I just wanted to apol…say sorry. Leaving Dylan in the hospital was the hardest and dumbest thing I’ve ever done. I love him. I’ll love him no matter what. It—” I wanted to say that it was myself that I had to learn to love, but I could already feel those words twisting in my head. “It’s going to be better now,” I finished instead. “I’m going to be better.” Close enough. I knew what I meant. I was going to be better, because I was going to learn to love myself—cracks and all.
Liam hugged me first. “You’ve always been perfect,” he whispered. “You were the only one who didn’t see it.”
“Happy to have you back,” Ryan said in his usual gruff voice, but with a strong hug that contradicted his tone.
“Sorry for running out on you,” I said to Cole when he hugged me.
“If you’d told me you needed time alone, I would have hidden away with you for a while. We’ve all got your back. Don’t forget that.”
I hugged him back tighter. “Thank you,” I choked out.
Brady came in next. “Glad Dylan won’t be moping around anymore. You have no idea how much he missed you.”
I had a pretty good idea.
Ethan was last. “Sometimes we need to get away for a bit to come back stronger. You don’t need to apologize for that. Just make it worth it.”
“Stop making my woman cry,” Dylan said, pulling me away from Ethan and back into his arms. He wiped my tears with his thumbs and kissed me gently on my forehead. “Strong as fuck, baby. Ready to take me home?”
53
Dylan
Istood by Juliette’s side. Pride filled my chest as she stood tall and introduced us, her voice starting out with a slight tremble before growing loud, strong, and clear. “Firefighters are important community helpers. We are lucky to have very special firefighters here today. Please say hello to Dylan and Cole.”
A hundred little voices called out an indiscernible greeting.
“Hello, everyone,” I said. “Cole’s going to show you how we put on our equipment. He may look and sound funny with it on, but it’s still just him. So if you ever see firefighters like us, do not be afraid. We are there to help you.” I narrated Cole’s actions as he put on his turnout gear and SCBA and then crawled around the gymnasium floor, touching a few of the kids’ feet and beckoning for them to follow him, until we had a crawling conga line around the gym. “They’re crawling because smoke rises, so when there’s smoke, you want to stay down low.”