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Gripping her elbow, I lead her off to the side, away from everyone else. “For the record, we’re not messing around.”
She scoffs. “You’re something.”
With a sigh, I push my hand through my hair. “It started because I was trying to help her get on with her life after Caleb died. She was stuck. Wasn’t doing any of the things she did before he died, any of the things that used to bring her happiness. Caleb wouldn’t want her to live like that.”
“And it changed… when, big brother?”
I go on to explain how our feelings for each other deepened and expanded past friendship. “We haven’t slept together.”
She laughs.
“We haven’t. We’ve only… had heavy make-out sessions if you have to know.”
“Ew… I don’t want any details.” She pretends to choke.
God knows I don’t want to know anything about her sex life.
“Are you guys, like, together… in secret?”
I glance over her shoulder at Uncle Roy, then back at my sister. I’m not sure what his reaction would be to this whole thing. “Yes, no, not really? She wanted to take a step back. Wants to be sure if something happens between us that she’s ready. Obviously, being who I am only complicates the entire process further.”
I don’t mention Collins’s checklist to my sister. I’ve already mentioned it to Fowler, and that feels like enough people knowing Collins’s business.
“I’ll say.” Her hardened expression softens. “How are you dealing with the fact that she’s Caleb’s widow?”
My stomach curdles. But Sutton is always direct, so I expect nothing less. “Shitty, to say the least.”
Sutton nods. “Understandable. Lot to unpack there.”
“There was never anything going on before Caleb died.”
“Oh please, Ansel. We all have our own shit ways of dealing with what happened when we were younger, but yours has never been to be a douchebag and sleep with your friends’ women.”
“As long as you know that.”
“I do, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have issues. Seems like Elliott’s figured his out. You need to be sure you have too so that she doesn’t get hurt… again.”
I huff. “How do you know I’m not going to be the one who gets hurt?”
She rolls her eyes in that irritating-as-fuck way she always does. “Sure, yeah, okay, I’ll play your game. So neither of you gets hurt.”
I shake my head. “I have no desire to hurt her.”
“I know that. But are you guys really ready for the backlash that might come your way because of this?” She looks around the station. “All of these men are not going to be happy.”
“She’s worth it. At least for me. She needs to make that decision for herself, but I think she already has.” I lift my chin. “So, how’d you find out?”
She smirks, then shrugs. “I’m the observant Mercer.”
“That’s Hollis.”
She waves her hand and shakes her head.
“You can’t tell anyone, obviously.”
“I’m not an idiot, Ansel.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out. It’s a message from Collins letting me know that she won’t be coming by. I told her about the event and invited her to join everyone here, but I didn’t think she’d want to come. It’s a lot, asking the widow of a firefighter to come down to the station.
