by Toni Shiloh
“No. Mama didn’t like him, and when she caught us kissing—a very innocent one, might I add—she sat me down and told me why boys like him were trouble.”
Strange relief filtered through him. “What reason did she give?”
“Said he was too much into his looks and didn’t know they’d fade.”
He laughed. “That premature balding at twenty-five proved her point.”
“Hey, he’s still hanging on to that rim of hair, hoping for a comeback.”
Their laughter melded as he guided them around the dance floor. A comment she’d made filtered through the haze of the moment.
“Wait. Who was your first crush if it wasn’t Jimmie?” Any why couldn’t he seem to remember her old boyfriends?
Trinity met his gaze. She held it a moment then looked away. “You.”
He stilled, becoming a roadblock to the couple right behind them. Fortunately, the two merely spared them a glance and kept moving. Omar cleared his throat and resumed dancing. “Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice held an odd quality, one even he couldn’t quite pinpoint.
She shrugged. “You really liked Christine. I didn’t want you to think I was jealous or trying to keep you from happiness.”
“Were you jealous?”
A rueful look crossed her face. “Extremely jealous.”
His mind filtered through everything he knew about Trinity. How long they’d been friends. How she looked when she was irritated. Angry. Sad. Happy. None of his memories held jealousy in the noggin bank.
“How did I not notice?”
“Maybe you weren’t meant to. Think about it. Y’all married, had two beautiful girls and a wonderful life.” She looked down before continuing. “Maybe that wasn’t our time.”
Were they meant to have one? “I can see your point, but...”
“But what?” She tensed in his arms.
“Well, the summer after sophomore year and before we started out as juniors...”
“The one when Christine moved to town?”
He nodded. “If you remember, she moved here the end of July.” He gulped, wondering if he should share what was on his mind. What had been in the past.
“Go on.”
“You went away for a week after school ended and came back in June.”
“Right. We went to South Padre Island.”
“I don’t know why, but when you came back, I noticed you were different. All of a sudden my best friend made my palms sweat and my voice crack.”
“You liked me?” Her mouth dropped open in shock.
Omar nodded, eyeing her warily. He didn’t want to cause problems between them, but since she shared about her crush it only seemed fair for him to do so as well. No secrets.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You treated me the same. Teased me about my voice changing. Raced me down to the creek and hogged your tire swing. Nothing you did made me believe you’d be okay if I changed the dynamic between us.”
“I...” She bit her lip. “I had no idea. I had such a crush on you that whole summer. When school started and Christine became a permanent fixture, I moved on. I had no choice because I didn’t want to be pining over you the entire year. Especially since we were friends.”
“I get that. I didn’t want to ruin our friendship, which is why I kept quiet.”
Silence descended between them.
Omar both wanted and didn’t want to know what Trinity was thinking. Instead, he continued to move her around the dance floor as his mind spun. Later, when he was home, he’d think about this newfound information and wonder what to do with it. For now, he’d pretend like nothing earth-shattering had just happened.
Chapter Sixteen
Trinity’s heart pounded as she pulled into the fire station’s parking lot. Today was their one-month anniversary, if one counted that sort of thing. But after the revelation that Omar had had a crush on her, knowing she’d had one at the same time...well, it all just made the anniversary more prevalent in her mind.
Not to mention she hadn’t visited Omar at work as much as she would have premarriage. She’d only been to the firehouse once—for the family day. Somehow, putting on a wedding ring had prevented her from doing something she’d done dozens of times before: joining him for lunch on his shift. Seeing the ring on her finger had made the task appear too wifely, so she’d labeled visits a task to avoid.
But last night, as she’d stared up at the ceiling trying to reconcile all the emotions going through her mind, the need to do something nice nudged her conscience. She’d been so conscious of sticking to the perspective of friend not wife that she’d distanced herself and lessened her interactions with Omar. Even trying to get the job at the bookstore. All just to spend less time with him? How had she forgotten he was her friend first, foremost and always?
Yesterday’s night out had reminded her of that. Well, before he’d dropped the crush bomb, anyway. But she was intent on crossing the bridge to normalcy. She was so tired of feeling awkward about their marriage of convenience. She wanted them back. Their uncomplicated friendship that had been as easy as breathing.
So, with the girls’ help, Trinity made brownies with and without nuts, since she remembered one of the new firefighters had a nut allergy, though she couldn’t recall who. And because of the captain’s health consciousness and her own dieting restrictions, she’d also brought a quinoa salad.
“You girls ready?”
“Yes,” they chorused.
Trinity settled them into the stroller and put the cooler tote over the left handle. Traveling with kids seemed to require a lot of time and extra baggage. Every time she was out and passed another mom, she couldn’t help but give a head nod in solidarity. They’d packed the kids for an excursion and were battle ready.
Her pulse pounded as she pushed the stroller through the open bay. It seemed unusually quiet. She was pretty sure the guys had lunch at one and it was now half past noon. Had they been called to an emergency?
“Mrs. Young, fancy seeing you here.” Rider sauntered over, hands in pockets and a half smirk, half smile on his face.
“Hey, Rider. Where is everyone?”
“We just got out of a meeting.”
“And you were the first to hightail it out of there, huh?”
“Oh, well, you know.” He shrugged, lips twitching. His blue eyes shined with amusement.
She stifled a chuckle. Rider seemed to flirt the line between good guy and troublemaker.
“Did you come here to see me?”
“Please,” she snorted. “We’re here to see Omar.”
“Oh, I see how it is. No time to joke around with me now that you’re married.”
“You know it.” She shook her head at his antics. “But hey,” she tapped him on the arm, “call Jalissa. She’s always game for jokes.” Not that Trinity would ever stop joking around with Rider. She just wanted to hear what he’d say about Jalissa.
He rubbed his chin. “Maybe.”
Movement shifted behind Rider, and Trinity saw the other firefighters idling about the bay. She spotted Omar and waved. A smile lit his face. Was that for her? Her heart dove for her toes as her breath caught in her throat.
Why was her heart doing flips as if it wanted to swoon at the sight of her husband? Was it last night’s conversation that brought this change? The fun they’d had every time they were in each other’s company? Maybe she needed to have another talk with her heart and the dangers of letting it roam free.
Lord, I don’t know how healthy it is for all these feelings to flood my system at once. I’m slightly light-headed and wary.
“Hey, there.” Omar squeezed her elbow in greeting.
“Hi,” she breathed.
“This is a pleasant surprise.” He bent down in front of the stroller. “How are my girls doing?”
“Good.” Twin giggles reached her ears.
Of course! He’d been grinning at Faith and Joy, not her. She bit her lip to hide her disappointment, then shook her head inwardly. She shouldn’t feel sad; they were just friends.
Omar stood once more. “What brings you by?”
“I brought brownies and quinoa for lunch contributions.” She tapped the cooler and offered a smile, her pulse still thumping a little too fast despite the talk she’d given herself.
His eyes widened and a hint of a smile ghosted his lips. “Did you?”
She nodded.
“Captain will love that.”
Rider peered down at the contents. “Food?”
“Brownies,” she replied.
“Sweet.” Rider removed the cooler from the stroller handle.
“One has nuts and one doesn’t. I went ahead and labeled the containers.”
“Smart. Otherwise Bradley will blow up like a puffer fish.” Rider puffed out his cheeks in imitation.
Omar grimaced. “Hey, want to go to the bunks?” He pointed behind him. “Day shift cleared out so it should be empty, and we can relax before lunch. Besides, most of the guys should be doing their daily assignments already.”
“What’s yours?”
“I’ll be cleaning the trucks with a couple of the guys after lunch.”
“Can we see truck, Daddy?”
“Sure, baby.” He unbuckled Faith and then she stood patiently as he unbuckled Joy.
Omar walked them around the truck, pointing out different apparatuses. Trinity’s heart flipped in her chest as she watched Omar in his element. Not just with being a firefighter, but the care and love he showed the girls.
Wasn’t there some belief that you could trust a man who treated the women in his life right? If so, then maybe she didn’t have to carry the worry that he would hurt her like Jason had.
Lord God, I want to run from these feelings. I don’t know what to think about them. And I certainly can’t trust myself. After all, I was engaged to a man who had no problem leaving me for something better. Please show me how to guard my heart without messing up our friendship.
She wished her problems could just disappear, but believing in Christ didn’t mean her life would be trouble free. She just didn’t know if she could count this season of her life as all joy. She certainly hadn’t been able to with Jason. Now that she was out of that darkness, she could see the blessing of escaping a man who would run at the first sight of greener pastures.
Now she was married to a man who rushed into trouble, hoping to aid anyone who needed help, to pull them from harm’s way with no worry of his own safety. Even though Omar was nothing like Jason and her heart was beginning to light up with one glance from him, Trinity couldn’t bring herself to trust her heart with him. She couldn’t survive another rejection, especially since her vows tied them together for life.
I’m scared. I don’t want to go all in and then have my heart smashed to smithereens. She remembered that deep ache Jason’s betrayal had left. How horrified she’d been, knowing she’d have to tell the people waiting in the church that there would be no wedding. But she was already married to Omar and divorce was not an option. Please help me.
“Trinity?”
She blinked and met Omar’s gaze. His brow wrinkled. Had he called her more than once? “I’m sorry. I was praying.”
“Everything okay?”
Not yet, but... “It will be.”
He stepped forward. “Do we need to go somewhere and talk? Sans kids?”
“No.” She chuckled and squeezed his arm. “I’m good.”
“Okay.” His eyes darted back and forth, searching hers.
She prayed he could see she was fine. Although she still kind of felt off-kilter, there was no doubt that God heard her prayers. She had no idea how He’d answer them, but He would. It was a promise she would cling to in moments of uncertainty and upheaval. Somehow, some way, God would work everything out for good.
I truly believe that, Lord. Sometimes my brain just needs to hear it more than once.
Omar placed a hand at the small of her back, guiding her as he led them to the back of the bay and up the stairs where the kitchen was located. Hopefully Rider had brought her food offerings straight to the kitchen. Most likely, he stole a brownie or two before setting them out for everyone.
She wondered if he really would get along with Jalissa. The girl didn’t like nonsense and Rider seemed to skirt the line a little too much. But who knew?
“You sure are thinking hard over there.” Omar glanced at her.
“I was thinking of Rider and Jalissa.”
“In what way?”
“Just your idea that they may like each other. I can’t help but think she’d eat him alive.”
“You did say she hates firefighters.”
“But there are moments she’s so sweet.”
Omar snorted. “To you.”
She nodded. “They did dance all last night.”
He nodded grudgingly. “Still, Rider’s like the poster boy for playing games so why even go that direction? He’d just validate her beliefs.”
“True. For some reason though, I can’t shake the idea from my mind.”
“Tip your head over. Maybe it’ll work like an Etch A Sketch.”
She didn’t know why the thought plagued her anyway. She had her own troubles to worry about before jumping into someone else’s.
* * *
A buzzer sounded and red lights flashed throughout the firehouse. Everyone around the table froze. As soon as the mechanical voice gave the alert for a house fire, they sprang into action.
Omar kissed his girls on the forehead and squeezed Trinity’s shoulder. “Thanks for coming. See you at the end of shift!”
She nodded, and he hustled after his team.
He climbed into the truck, taking the position behind Rider, who was at the wheel. Omar slid on his headset as Rider sounded the siren and rolled out of the garage. His heart thumped as adrenaline coursed through him. He inhaled and exhaled, counting to ten to center himself.
Lord God, please keep the people who reported the fire safe and away from harm. I pray that You would guide us and help us put the fire out as quickly as possible with no collateral damage. Lord, please see every one of us back to the station with no injuries. Amen.
Dismay soon filled him as they pulled up to the house fire. The yellow farmhouse belonged to Mrs. Ortiz. She always made tamales for the church potluck. He hopped down from the truck, rushing around to the other side to receive his assignment from the captain. Most likely he would be on search-and-rescue with Bradley.
Captain Simms’s grim face greeted him. “Young, Bradley, search-and-rescue. No one has come out of the home, and the police haven’t confirmed if the place was empty.”
Omar nodded and looked to Bradley. “Ready?”
“On your six.”
He grabbed the Halligan and headed for the front door, prying it open. A wave of heat hit him. Omar stepped back, eyes squinting to see through the waves of fire and smoke. “Hello!”
Crackling filled his ears amid the roar of the fire. The stifling heat pushed against him with every step. He called out for Mrs. Ortiz once more but heard nothing.
“Bedroom,” Bradley called.
Omar nodded as the firefighter veered to the left to check the other part of the house. He continued forward, glancing up every few feet. As he stepped into the kitchen area, a crash sounded behind him. He whirled around, apprehension coursing through him at the scene before him. Part of the ceiling had fallen, blocking his exit.
He pressed his comms. “Ceiling caved in between living room and kitchen. Need another exit.”
“Exiting the premises with homeowner.” Bradley’s voice echoed in his comms.
“Captain?” Omar called, repeating his exit request.
“Back door in the kitchen. You see it?”
Omar scanned the area and sighed with relief. Nothing worse than being trapped in a burning building with no viable exits. “Copy.”
“Homeowner said no other occupants.”
“Copy.” He went around the dining table and headed for the door.
Time slowed as a clamor filled his ears. He looked up and ducked to roll as soon as he saw the ceiling come crashing down.
But it was too late. His body hit the floor and something heavy fell on him. He coughed, breath trapped on an inhale. Don’t panic. Remember your training. Omar shoved at the material over him, but the roof refused to budge. He was pinned and surrounded by a fire intent on devouring everything in sight.
Lord, help!
“I’m down.” His breathing grew labored. Had he hit the comms button hard enough? Did anyone hear him? He couldn’t tell if he’d injured his ribs or if the roof was keeping him from taking a full breath. Whatever the cause, pain laced each breath.
“Young, did you exit?”
“No,” he croaked. Could the captain hear him? He knew for sure he pressed the comms this time.
“Young?”
“Kitchen,” he rasped, trying to add more volume to his voice. He was running out of air. Something was wrong.
This wasn’t a simple piece of roof piled on him. He’d injured himself. Had to be a broken rib, right? A sharp pain speared him, and he wheezed. If only he could get a decent breath of air.
Lord God, don’t let me die here all alone.
How could he have gone from eating lunch with his girls to this? A picture of Trinity rose in his mind. Her beautiful brown skin. The braids she always styled in different ways. Those dimples that made him grin in response. And the feeling of home she’d created. He’d been ignoring the feelings in his heart for her, afraid to dishonor Christine and risk his own heart. Was it too late?
His eyes grew heavy and the sound of the fire raged.
Lord, please don’t take me from my girls—all my girls—right now.
