The FIRE in You

Chapter 25: Starting over

The first thing I saw when I cut the corner that joined the line of the cars heading to the driveway was a sign. Not just any sign. A fire department HQ sign. "Fuck! Simone... I think this is Ajax's office. We should leave", I said and started looking at the back but I was already blocked by other cars. "Are you sure?", she asked then started looking at the front as if she was looking for him. "I think it is. Isn't that Sam?", she asked and my heart started beating fast.

"Hello, ladies. Care to pick your caretaker for the day?", Sam asked as if he didn't know us which was weird. "Sure thing handsome, who's on the menu?", Simone asked and I swallowed hard. Sam looked at his board and his smile turned wicked. "You're in luck. You get our Captain... Dufort you're up!", he called and I wanted the ground to swallow me. Simone put the money in a cute fire truck piggy bank and waited for further instructions.

"Who's your Captain?", Simone asked with a huge smile. "You'll see. Drive to the first alley please", he said and I did. Still unable to talk. We parked the car and got out of the car. We were shown a place to sit that had a direct view of our car. "Hello again Aubrey... Simone. Here are your refreshments. Enjoy!", Sam said then disappeared before I could say anything.

Two seconds later a shirtless Ajax appeared with two little girls. They had pink buckets full of foam in one hand and a sponge in the other. They looked so energetic. It was cute. "What did Sam say the charity was for?", I asked Simone who took out a flier and started reading it. "A boarding school that caught fire and lost everything. The money collected will be used to rebuild their dorms", she said and I nodded.

"Uncle Jax! Here here!", the little girls said as they washed the car. He hasn't looked at me. Not even once. "Talk about some packs. Thats one sexy man you got there Sis", Simone said making me blush. "You mean had right?", "Noup! He's still yours if you want him", she said with mischief. "No, I'm good. I don't wanna risk another family dinner break up", "People change Sis or should I say... Brey", she said and it made me choke on my whiskey. Only one person called me that and the way she said it made me realise this whole situation was not an accident.

"Brey... can I talk to you for a second?", his voice reached my ears and he was already standing in front of me. I turned to look at his deep green eyes and I was officially lost in them.

"Good job girls, let's go get some refreshments", Simone's voice made me blink and look to my side but she was already next to our car holding the little girls' hands.

"Please...", he said and I could see how he was panting. He was nervous and so was I. I nod and he led the way inside the building. We went up the stairs and reached the first door we found that was written, Captain. He opened it and I walked in.

"You want something to drink?", he asked and I shook my head and sat on one of the chairs that were facing his table. It had a lot of files and one small photo frame with me and him in it. It was the same picture he posted on Instagram. I looked away quickly. When he was close, he flipped the photo quickly as if trying to hide it from me which made me smile.

"I love you... I love you so much and I want you back. I'm sorry for breaking up with you, it was stupid and I know that now. I allowed Maya's words to get to me and create doubts. I should have known better. I should have let the love I have for you guide me through everything. I'm willing to do anything to get you back Aubrey. Please give me another chance", he said without looking away from my eyes.

I couldn't speak. I didn't know what to say. His thumbs wiped my tears away and that's when I knew I was crying. "I'm sorry. I know I've hurt you and I promise to never do that again. I love you so much Aubrey and I can't live without you. I don't care if Maya hates me, I will find a way to make her like me in time but for now, You're the most important part of me that I want back. Please say something Brey", he said with guilt in his eyes.

"C-c-can we start over?", I said between sniffs. A smile appeared on his face and he nodded and pulled away.

"Hi, gorgeous. My name is Ajax", he said with the same confidence he had the first time we met. "Hi, I'm Aubrey but you can call me Brey. I love it when you call me Brey", I said and offered my hand. Instead of shaking it, he pulled me by the neck and kissed me. It was a very demanding kiss that gave me butterflies. "Mmmnh!", I moaned into the kiss making him pull back. "I missed you so much", he whispered with his forehead resting on mine. "I missed you too Ajax... so much", I said and kissed him again.

It was about to get super heated when there was a knock on the door. "Yeah!", "I need more sponges. Sam's girls and that Simone just made things go haywire", a voice that I didn't know said making Ajax release a breath and pull back. He opened the door and a giant walked in. When his eyes landed on me he smirked. "Aubrey, this is Spencer", he said and I smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to finally meet you", "Same here", I said and he left.

"We should go see what the haywire is about", I said and he nodded. I was about to walk out of the office when he pulled me back and kissed me again. "I missed kissing you", he said then allowed me to pass.

We found Simone and the little kids busy washing cars and to my surprise, it was men's cars. She had changed into a swimming costume and was washing the front mirror while kneeling on the bonnet. "Can I borrow your T-shirt?", I asked Ajax who agreed and went to his office to get me one. I changed into it folded the hands to my shoulders and went to join Simone and the kids.

"That was amazing! I don't remember the last time I had so much fun", Simone said as we were waiting for dinner. Yes. We ended up staying the whole day. We washed 40 cars which was equal to $4,000 since each car wash was $100. It was a fun way to do fundraising. "I know right? Thanks for today. You guys made it fun", Sam said and I could see Tracy and the other three women who were also firefighters look at us with furrowed brows.