Thin Lines by Rachel Bowen

Author:Rachel Bowen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Firefighter Romance, Contemporary Adult Romance, Romance set in New York City, Forbidden Romance, Secret Romance, Forbidden love romance, Star-crossed lovers romance
Publisher: Rachel Bowen
Published: 2023-04-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20:

GRABBING A SLICE TO go and walking the boardwalk at Coney Island with Geo was a summer staple. The amusement lights, salt air, and buzzing of dozens of conversations was quintessential summer for me. We made a point to do it at least once a month. Typically, I’d play wingman to him and some tourist, but tonight’s conversation strayed towards my love life instead.

“So, you both wore Tunnels to Towers tees. Half the city has them. It’s as much a sign as it is when we end up wearing the same FDNY shirt when we meet up off-duty,” Geo said, motioning between us to make his point. We both wore identical tees from our station.

“It’s not the shirt, but the conversation we had because of it.”

“About your dead family members? Very romantic,” he teased, folding his slice before biting into it.

“She gets it, Geo. She has family who are first responders, and she understands the toll that can take.” As much as we ribbed on the NYPD, they were fellow first responders.

“You could be projecting that on her. Not everyone who loses someone is prepared to risk the pain of possibly losing someone else they care about in a similar way.”

“Projecting? Did you get that from Doctor Phil?” I asked, ripping open one of the pepper flake packages and sprinkling it on my pizza.

“The station counselor’s name is Warren,” Geo said. “And he’s a lot better than some TV doctor. Maybe you should talk to him about your ‘non-relationship’ with Cavanaugh.”

“It’s more of a secret relationship.” I didn’t deny the relationship part. We spent too much time together, not to mention all our texts and phone conversations, for me to deny it. I was just hesitant to tell my friends and family about her, albeit a little less hesitant every day.

“I’m not sure that’s any better.”

“Besides, the counseling services are for those who need to work through PTSD.” I wasn’t against counseling. I’d used it the first time I lost a civilian in a rescue, the first time we had a firefighter down, and several other times over the years.

“This has the potential to cause it,” he said. “No offense, but secrets have a way of getting out and I can see how it’ll all go to Hell in a handbasket when it does.”

“Are you trying to say I should stop seeing her, or that I should tell my family?”

Shoving the last bite into his mouth, he chewed slowly. When he finished, he wiped his hands on his shorts then leaned his arms against the railing separating the boardwalk from the beach.

“You’re the one who’s talking about how she gets you and the job, as if that changes who she is and who you are.”

“Thank you for that astute observation.”

“If you really think what you have has potential, then you need to fess up to the fam. You can’t keep seeing her on the sly and progress things.”

He was right. Our relationship would go nowhere if I kept hiding her from everyone important in my life.

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