good/right/real

Chapter 65: When You Wonder

Summary:First shift, post-talk.

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"Wait, wait, wait," Stella says as they step into the hot tub with their glasses of complimentary champagne. "He wants to go slow? How slow?"

"That's what you got from her story?" Shay asks Kidd with an incredulous expression.

"I left her alone at the apartment for the express purpose of them jumping each other!"

Sylvie rolls her eyes in fond frustration. "Trust me, I was perfectly happy with the way it turned out. Kissing Matt Casey was the absolute best way to start my actual birthday."

"Well, good for you, farmgirl," Shay says, clinking her glass against Sylvie's. "Good for both of you, honestly. You and Casey are two of the best people I know. You deserve to be happy."

"Cheers to that!" Stella decrees, taking a large gulp of her drink.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Sylvie says, more to herself than her friends. "We haven't even had a date yet—"

Stella and Leslie laugh loudly and roll their eyes.

"Are you serious?" Shay asks. "What do you think yesterday was? That was like one long super date."

"He took you to Sunset, Sylvie," Kidd reminds her. "The hottest, newest, most romantic restaurant in town. Do you think he'd do that for anyone else?"

"Believe me, I remember how romantic it was, but it wasn't an official date. I'd like to get that accomplished before I start fantasizing about anything else, please," Sylvie requests.

She's cautiously hopeful about her and Matt but she's still feeling as if it all might slip away from her at the last minute. All of her other relationships have. Her history isn't exactly the greatest.

"Okay, but when you guys are married with two babies and a dog, we reserve the right to say we told you so," Shay says with a smirk.

They finish the day with their salt room treatment and then Stella drives them home. Sylvie feels completely relaxed and ready to take on her next 24 at the firehouse. It's been a whirlwind 48 off between her day with Matt, the surprise party, and now. She meant it when she told Matt she thought she's going to enjoy being 26 and so far, so good.

Not long after they get home, her phone rings and she smiles as soon as she sees the caller ID.

Stella snorts and smirks. "I know who that is just by the swoony look on your face."

Sylvie rolls her eyes at her roommate and retreats to the privacy of her room. "Hey," she says as she answers the call.

"Hey," Matt replies. "Shay just got home so I figured you'd be home too. Good day?"

"Definitely in the top five," she tells him.

"What are the other four spots?" He asks, sounding both teasing and genuinely curious at once.

"The top spot is the day my parents brought home my little brother."

"Naturally," Matt responds.

"The second spot is the day I decided to move to Chicago."

"Best decision you've ever made, if you ask me."

Sylvie chuckles and nods, knowing Matt won't see it. "It certainly led to a life and a family I didn't know I needed. Which leads me to my number three slot. The day I walked into 51 for the first time. There was a guy there that I was convinced I'd never see again. Which I'm sure gave the-powers-that-be a good chuckle. 51 also gave me all of my closest friends and helped make Chicago feel like home."