He cheated i chose two firefighters novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Scar’s POV

Dear Diary,

I think I just got myself a job.

***

+Bohus

Menu

I didn’t want to rush into anything. Before I gave Milo and Jace an answer, I wanted a clearer picture of who they were when they weren’t flirting and kissing and making my brain short–circuit.

After brunch, Natalie and I sat down and actually talked–like, seriously talked–about where I was and what I was doing. Summer, Maisie, and Gavin had been amazing and had turned into real friends fast, but Natalie knew me in that way that makes lying to yourself impossible.

We ran through the list again, good and bad.

And, yeah. The good was winning.

That night I asked the boys to come over for dinner.

I went all in: Chicken Parmesan, broccoli steamed and drowned in butter, and a big house salad. I even made my own ranch and blue cheese because apparently I can’t do anything halfway.

They met Natalie properly, and the four of us fell into that easy rhythm where stories start stacking on top of each other. We fed them our college disasters; they paid us back with firefighter chaos.

Milo leaned back, eyes bright like he’d been waiting all night to tell this one. “So we get this call, right? Neighbor says she hears a cat screaming upstairs and she swears she smells smoke. We show up and it’s not a fire. It’s a guy–thirties–who managed to get his… you know… stuck in his sex doll.”

Jace made a face like he already knew where this was going, and Milo kept going anyway.

“He used some organic strawberry lube,” Milo said, grinning wider by the second. “Didn’t know it had real strawberry extract. He’s allergic. Like, violently allergic. By the time we got there, the tip was swollen like a damn lightbulb. He’d been screaming for hours. Hives everywhere.”

Natalie and I lost it.

“It gets better,” Milo said, because of course it did. “The doll had vibration settings. And a moan. feature. So every time the paramedics shifted it, the thing would-”

Natalie folded against me, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. I was crying. The whole night stayed in that lane: food, jokes, the kind of laughter that makes your stomach hurt.

*) 17:02

21.2%

<Chapter 41

+5Bonus

Menu

When it was time for them to go, Natalie disappeared down the hall to shower.

Milo and Jace didn’t head for the door right away.

They boxed me in again, only this time Jace took the front, kissing me like he’d been thinking about it all night, while Milo’s hands slid to my hips and he pressed his mouth to my ear.

“We had a hell of a night, baby,” Milo murmured, and my skin went tight with goosebumps.

Jace pulled back just enough to look at me. “We like Natalie. Milo and I are off Wednesday. Call your people. We’ll bring some of ours. Beach day–bonfire, the whole thing.”

He pivoted me like he was presenting me, and Milo stole the rest of my breath with another kiss.

“Okay,” I managed when Milo finally let me breathe.

They each kissed me once more–quick, like a promise–then left.

Natalie walked out of her room fanning herself dramatically. “Jesus fuck, Scar.”

I blinked. “Weren’t you in the shower?”

“Oh, I was,” she said. “And then I got a free fifteen–minute show. I’m going to need extra batteries. If you keep this pace up, Henry and Chris are going to be working overtime while I’m here.”

“Henry and Chris?” I asked, already laughing.

“Henry Cavill and Chris Hemsworth,” she said, dead serious. “That’s what I named my vibrators.”

I didn’t do a polite little laugh. I cackled. Full–volume.

We cleaned the kitchen together, then curled up with N–tflix and a bowl of popcorn mixed with MnMs.

Monday, Natalie and I went wandering through Hollywood like tourists with no shame.

We hit the beach, built two messy sand castles, then went shopping and bought whatever tiny

ridiculous things caught our attention. I found two keychains that made me choke with laughter. One

had a stick figure going to town on the P in “Perfect.” The other was doing the same to the M in “Me.”

Both of them screamed Milo and Jace.

I bought them. Obviously.

We ended up at a taco truck that had no business being that good. I had steak street tacos that tasted like they were designed to ruin all other tacos for me forever.

I ate six.

17.02

21.38%

<Chapter 41

9Bonus

Menu

No wonder my jeans had been starting fights with me lately. But honestly?

I didn’t care.

My phone rang. Unknown number.

My first thought was Brennan. My stomach turned so fast I felt it in my throat.

I inhaled, held it, and answered.

“Hello?”

“Is this Scarlett Joseph?”

I kept my voice even. “Depends who’s asking.”

“This is Chief Jarrett with the Hollywood Fire Department,” he said. “I’m calling about your application.

The one for the firehouse chef position.”

“Oh–yes. Sorry. I’m still getting used to being here.”

“No apology needed,” he said. “Cautious is smart. I’m looking at your résumé and I see you’ve got a

Personal Training certificate and a degree in Nutrition.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want you to come in tomorrow,” he continued. “Cook a sample lunch for the house–thirty of us. I’m calling everyone in. If the crew signs off, you’re hired.”

My heart did a little sprint.

“And,” he added, “I’d like you to put together a fitness routine for me. I’m fifty–two, six–three, two

hundred pounds, ten percent body fat. I want to see what you’d recommend.”

“Very fit, Chief,” I said, smiling so hard my face hurt. “I’d love to. What time?”

“Eleven a.m. We eat at noon.”

“Perfect. Any allergies I should plan around when I shop?”

“I know my firefighters. Not one allergy in the group.”

That alone felt like a miracle.

“Also keep your receipts,” he said. “We’ll reimburse you.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

17:02

21.57%

< Chapter 41

“Have a good day, Ms. Joseph.”

I hung up and immediately squealed.

Get 5

= Menu

17:02