Six
Kingston
I open the door of the party supply place for a mom and her daughter with a huge bunch of pink and silver balloons. Inside the store is a line of twenty people waiting for one lonely sales associate who looks like a high schooler.
Scanning the aisle signs, I search for balloons. I’m sure I can flirt my way to the front of the line if all I have is a bag of blue balloons.
“Bailey,” a guy calls as I walk by one aisle.
I step back, assuming it’s a guy from the station.
Unfortunately, it’s not a guy from the station.
“Owen,” I say.
“Don’t sound too excited.” He puts his arm around the girl he’s with.
He’s delusional to think I want everything of his. I only wanted one thing of his, my entire life.
“I just got off shift.”
“You’re a firefighter?” the girl asks, her eyes f
