Page 30 of Playing With Fire
“I’m scared,” Cass admitted, the words slipping out before she could stop them. “I’m scared this won’t work. That we’ll screw it up. That I’ll screw it up.”
Evelyn’s hand came up to cup Cass’s face, her thumb brushing lightly over her cheek. “Me too,” she said quietly. “But I think…I think it’s worth the risk.”
Cass stared at her for a long moment, letting those words sink in. Worth the risk. She thought about all the things she had already risked for this, for them. Her pride, her anger, her fear.And now, standing here with Evelyn, she realized she would do it all again if it meant holding on to this, on to her.
Without thinking, Cass pulled Evelyn into another kiss, this one filled with all the emotion she couldn’t put into words. It was a kiss of gratitude, of forgiveness, of hope. Evelyn responded in kind, her arms wrapping around Cass’s neck, holding on like she never wanted to let go.
When they finally broke apart, both of them breathing heavily, Cass rested her hands on Evelyn’s shoulders, her forehead pressed against hers. She let out a soft, breathless laugh, her lips curving into a small smile.
“Guess we’re really doing this, huh?” she said, her voice light but filled with meaning.
Evelyn smiled back, her eyes shining with something that looked an awful lot like happiness. “Yeah,” she said. “I guess we are.”
For the first time in weeks, Cass felt something other than anger or frustration or despair. She felt hope. It wasn’t perfect, and it wouldn’t be easy, but as she held Evelyn close, she knew one thing for certain—they were worth fighting for.
Cass leaned back against the edge of her desk, crossing her arms as she looked at Evelyn. The tension between them had finally broken, replaced by a fragile calm. Evelyn stood nearby, smoothing down her shirt with a nervous energy that was out of place for her usually composed demeanor. For a moment, they just looked at each other, as if testing the waters of this new, uncharted territory they’d stepped into.
“So,” Cass began, breaking the silence. She let the word hang in the air, unsure of how to follow it up. What was the protocol for addressing…whatever this was?
Evelyn quirked an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “So,” she echoed, her voice soft but tinged with amusement. “Are we going to talk about what happens now or just keep staring at each other like this?”
Cass huffed a laugh, running a hand through her hair. “Yeah, I guess we should, you know, figure out how to not completely screw this up.”
Evelyn’s smile widened slightly, and she stepped closer, leaning one hip against the desk beside Cass. “I think step one is acknowledging we’ve already screwed it up a little,” she said, her tone light but honest. “Not exactly a textbook example of professionalism.”
Cass tilted her head, feigning deep thought. “You mean arguing in front of half the department, nearly tackling each other in the middle of budget meetings, and, well, the other stuff wasn’t professional?” She smirked when Evelyn rolled her eyes.
“I’m serious, Cass,” Evelyn said, though her smile remained. “This is…complicated. We have to be careful.”
“I know,” Cass admitted, her smirk fading into something softer. She looked down at her hands, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her desk. “It’s not like I don’t think about it. Every time I walk into this firehouse, I’m reminded that these people—my team—they depend on me. On us. I can’t let them down.”
Evelyn’s expression softened, and she placed a hand on Cass’s arm. “And you won’t,” she said firmly. “You’ve been fighting for them since the day we met. Honestly, you’ve reminded me why I wanted this job in the first place. It’s not just numbers or policies. It’s people.”
Cass looked up, her eyes meeting Evelyn’s. There was no hesitation there, no hidden agenda, just sincerity. She let outa slow breath. “Okay,” she said. “So, what’s step two? After admitting we’re already in over our heads.”
Evelyn tilted her head, pretending to think. “Step two is boundaries,” she said. “We need to figure out how to separate work and…whatever this is.”
Cass raised an eyebrow. “Boundaries, huh? Does that mean no more yelling at each other in meetings?”
“Preferably,” Evelyn said dryly. “Though I won’t promise I won’t still push your buttons from time to time.”
Cass chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“And you’re stubborn,” Evelyn countered, her smile teasing. “Guess we’ll call it even.”
They shared a laugh, the kind that came easily now that the tension between them had eased. It felt strange but good, like stepping into a room filled with sunlight after being in the dark for too long. Cass reached out, taking Evelyn’s hand in hers.
“Look,” Cass said, her voice softening. “I know this isn’t going to be easy. We’re both used to doing things our way, and this is new for both of us. But I’m willing to try if you are.”
Evelyn squeezed her hand, her gaze steady. “I am. I know it won’t be perfect, but I’m not willing to walk away from this. From you.”
Cass felt a warmth spread through her chest at Evelyn’s words, a mix of relief and something deeper. “Alright,” she said, her lips curving into a small smile. “But just so you know, if you try to sneak any more budget cuts past me, we’re going to have a problem.”
Evelyn laughed, a sound that was light and genuine. “Noted. I’ll make sure to give you a full breakdown in advance.”
“You’d better,” Cass teased, though her tone was affectionate. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a mock-serious whisper. “And no more kissing me in the middle of arguments.”
Evelyn arched an eyebrow, her smile turning sly. “I don’t recall you complaining at the time.”