"Well," Mark says, his voice a little rougher than usual, "you've definitely got friends here who care about you both."
"The best kind of friends," Ash adds, raising his water glass in a small toast. "The kind who bring homemade meatloaf."
We all laugh, the moment of heaviness passing, and the conversation flows back into easier territory. Rosa tells them about her school project on community helpers, which leads to a discussion about the different jobs firefighters do beyond just fighting fires.
"We help people," Rosa announces importantly. "Like when Mrs. Peterson's cat got stuck in the tree last month, and when Mr. Riley fell down and couldn't get up."
"That's right," Gunner confirms. "Sometimes we fight fires, sometimes we help with medical emergencies, and sometimes we rescue cats."
"Do you like rescuing cats?" Rosa asks.
"I like helping anyone who needs it," Gunner replies. "Cats, people, doesn't matter."
I watch him finish the last bite of his meal, making appreciative noises that have Rosa practically glowing with pride. "This was incredible," he tells her seriously. "Thank you for thinking of me."
"Mama helped too," Rosa says generously.
"She did," Gunner agrees, his eyes finding mine again. "Thank you both. This was exactly what I needed after a long day."
"What made it long?" I ask, genuinely curious about his work.
"Training mostly. We had a scenario drill this morning that involved a mock apartment fire with multiple victims. Gets the heart pumping even when you know it's not real."
"Is it scary?" Rosa asks. "Going into fires?"
Gunner considers this. "Sometimes. But we train so much that we know what to do, and we always work as a team. Mark and Ash and the rest of our crew, we all look out for each other."
"Like friends do," Rosa says with a nod.
"Exactly like friends do."
Mark and Ash have been unusually quiet during this exchange, and when I glance at them, they're both watching Gunner with expressions I can't quite read. Not teasing anymore, but something more thoughtful.
"So," Ash says eventually, "when do we get to meet the rest of Amy's cooking skills? Because if this meatloaf is any indication..."
"Don't get any ideas," I warn with a laugh. "This was a special occasion."
"What made it special?" Mark asks with a grin that suggests he already knows the answer.
Before I can figure out how to respond to that without embarrassing myself, Rosa pipes up. "Because Mama likes Gunner. She smiles different when she talks about him."
Heat floods my cheeks as both Mark and Ash burst into laughter. "Rosa?—"
"Out of the mouths of babes," Mark says, shaking his head.
Gunner reaches across the table and takes my hand, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. "I like your mama too, Rosa. She makes me smile different as well."
The admission sends warmth spiraling through me, and I squeeze his fingers. "You two are going to give me gray hair," I mutter, but I'm smiling.
"Worth it," Gunner says simply.
We're interrupted by the sudden, sharp blare of an alarm. All three men are on their feet before the sound even finishes echoing through the station.
"Structure fire at the Grandview Inn," the dispatcher's voice crackles through the speakers. "Multiple units responding. ETA four minutes."
The transformation is instantaneous and impressive. The relaxed men I was just sharing dinner with become focused professionals, moving with practiced efficiency toward their gear.
"Sorry, ladies," Gunner calls over his shoulder as he jogs toward the equipment bay. "Duty calls."
