Ignite On Contact (Brotherhood by Fire #2) -Jaci Burton Page 0,51
Yvette were sitting. Ginger was deep in conversation with Yvette, and Kyle and Kal were talking about something having to do with some video game that was way over Carmen’s head.
“Did you all eat dinner?” Carmen asked Becks.
Becks nodded. “Jackson and I grabbed a bite near the beach after I got off work. But we’ve eaten here before. Tommy and Estella make great food. What did you think of it?”
“It was amazing. If I hadn’t stuffed myself full of chips and salsa and queso, I’d have probably licked the plate clean.”
Becks laughed. “I know what you mean. It’s both an awesome and terrible place to eat.”
Carmen nodded. “I can see the pitfalls.”
This was the most she had talked with Becks since they had their run-in during her grandfather’s fall so long ago. The guys had all come over to help, and Becks had come as well. Carmen had been stressed to the max about Grandpa and had acted like a total bitch to Becks for no reason whatsoever. She’d apologized but still felt like it hadn’t been enough. And since then, she’d been so embarrassed about how she’d acted that she’d been avoiding Becks.
“Listen, since we’re here, I want to say again how sorry I am.”
Becks frowned. “About what?”
“About how I acted that night when everyone came over to help take care of my grandfather.”
“Oh, I never even think about that, Carmen. Don’t worry. I’ve let it go. You should, too.”
Becks was much more forgiving than Carmen would be. She held grudges. Which she knew was wrong, but she couldn’t help it.
“Thanks. You’re nicer than I am.”
Becks laughed. “I doubt that. You apologized. I knew you were upset. It’s no big deal.”
“Well, thanks. I feel marginally better now.”
“Good. We should be friends, since we live next door to each other. And we’re dating brothers.”
“That’s true.” Though she still wasn’t sure about the whole dating thing. She intended to take that one step at a time.
“Rafe is a great guy,” Becks said. “I’ve known him since I was a kid.”
She’d almost forgotten that Becks was part of their homeless group.
“What was he like back then?”
Becks shifted to face her. “Just a typical kid. I remember him being quiet at first, until he got to know all of us. We arrived about the same time. He and I bonded as the new kids, hung out together a lot. We both liked to read, so he’d chill in my tent, and we’d read anything we could get our hands on. Newspapers, comics, any books that we could find.”
Carmen’s heart tugged at the education that was denied to them for so long. So many children took for granted what these kids didn’t have available to them. “I’m sure it was hard.”
“It was, but we managed. And then after he got comfortable, he was always active, running around, kicking soccer balls and playing football. It was like he had all this energy that he didn’t know what to do with.”
Carmen smiled. “I can see that, even now.”
Becks nodded. “He does like to stay busy, doesn’t he? Between his job at the firehouse and going to the gym and working with kids at the community center, I don’t know when the guy finds time to sleep.”
“Wait.” Carmen frowned. “The community center?”
“Yeah. The one for at-risk youth. He volunteers his time there just to hang out with the kids. Talks to them about his upbringing. Where he started versus where he’s at now. He wants them to know it doesn’t matter where you begin. That it’s important to have a goal, to see a future for yourself. I’ve gone there with him a few times to hang out and talk to them as well. But I really like listening to him tell his story to these kids. He’s incredibly inspiring.”
Huh. She had no idea.
She looked over at him, at the way he laughed and had a deep camaraderie with the people he worked with. It appeared that he had close ties with these people, that he considered them friends, maybe even family.
She understood that, considering his background. Being a firefighter, having that bond of brotherhood meant something deeper to him. Beyond the family he’d made with the Donovans, these were all his brothers and sisters.
She admired that. And appreciated that he thought enough of her to include her in this special circle of friends and family.
Obviously, she had a lot more to learn about Rafe Donovan.
CHAPTER 18
RAFE WAS MAKING BEDS IN THE SLEEPING QUARTERS when Kal came