Liam nodded. “The long-distance half could be momentary. If it really works out, we transfer.”

“You’ll try this?” Alyssa requested, shocked.

The three of us swung our heads within the affirmative.

“My uncle lives within the Bronx,” Mateo stated. “He has been making an attempt to get me to go to.”

“Becoming a member of the FDNY? It’s just like the big-leagues of firefighting,” Liam stated.

“It’s the identical job as it’s down right here,” I argued.

“You understand what I imply,” Liam replied. “They’re probably the most well-known. Once I inform my household again residence I’m a firefighter in Florida, they ask about alligators and tub salts. But when I used to be in New York? Meaning one thing.”

Alyssa checked out him, then Mateo, then lastly me. It was virtually like she didn’t consider us, or thought we had been pulling some type of prank. I couldn’t blame her. She’d been right here a bit over two weeks, and had solely been with me two days. Providing to maneuver to New York—even after a interval of long-distance courting—was an enormous gesture. An enormous dedication.

Alyssa is price it, I assumed firmly. There’s little question in my thoughts. I missed my probability along with her a decade in the past. I gained’t make that very same mistake now.

“No,” Alyssa breathed.

Me and the boys tensed.

“Now, simply give it some thought earlier than you reply,” I stated.

Alyssa shook her head emphatically. “It is senseless for the three of you to maneuver to New York. The easier choice is for me to maneuver right here.”

I opened my mouth to argue extra, then shut it.

“Huh?” Liam requested.

Mateo began mumbling one thing in Spanish.

“However you hate it right here,” I stated. “You spent your total childhood speaking about the way you couldn’t wait to depart. And you then made good on that promise.”

Alyssa sat in one of many chairs subsequent to Mateo on the kitchen desk. “It wasn’t Florida I used to be working from. It was my mom. Now that she’s gone, Clearwater seems like a very totally different city. The meals, the seashores, the individuals… it’s like I used to be sporting glasses with the fallacious prescription, and I lastly bought them fastened. Now I see all the pieces in a special gentle.”

“So that you don’t detest Clearwater anymore,” Liam stated slowly. “That isn’t precisely a compelling motive to maneuver right here. Particularly contemplating how a lot you like New York.”

Alyssa snorted. “Truthfully, I believe I used to be in love with the thought of New York. It’s an incredible metropolis, and there are many issues I admire about it. However there’s a number of issues I hate. My shoebox residence. The costly meals. Making an attempt to keep away from getting groped by strangers on the subway. And the winters! It’s so chilly in December and January. The skyscrapers create a wind-tunnel impact, and it’s so freaking chilly. I really feel like I can’t go away my residence with out freezing to demise. After dwelling there for a number of years, I believe I’m prepared for a change.”

“And your pictures?” I requested. “You’re established in New York.”

“And I’ve ten thousand different photographers to compete with,” she muttered. “All of whom are extraordinarily good at their job. Being a small fish in a giant pond sucks. I believe I’m able to strive being an even bigger fish in a medium pond. There’s undoubtedly numerous demand on the Flytography app.”

“Are you certain?” Liam requested. “We don’t need you to uproot your total life only for us. What if it doesn’t work out?”

Alyssa smiled. “5 minutes in the past, the three of you had been keen to uproot your lives for me.”

“Positive, however…” I trailed off. She had a degree.

“Being again right here has been good for me,” Alyssa stated, standing and caressing Liam’s cheek. “It’s given me the closure I wanted on some issues.” She walked by Mateo, leaning right down to kiss the again of his neck.

Then she turned to me. I might do something whereas these eyes are peering into me.

“And it’s given me a brand new perspective on different issues. Issues I by no means knew I had, and by no means knew I wished.”

She brushed her lips in opposition to mine, then pressed herself in opposition to my chest in a hug. I folded my arms round her routinely. Yeah, I assumed. Maintaining you in my arms is a very powerful factor.

I glanced at my teammates, who had been smiling too. And I’m glad that I belief the 2 males I’m sharing you with. As a result of this might by no means work if I didn’t already love them, too.

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