Chapter Text
The grocery trip began unraveling almost immediately. First, Harry insisted they needed marshmallows “for emotional support.” Then May rejected three different pasta sauces with the solemnity of a judge at a culinary competition. And now Athena was standing in the cereal aisle, seriously considering whether abandoning the cart and fleeing the country was still a viable option.
“Mom,” May said, watching her closely, “you’re making your stress face.”
“I do not have a stress face.”
Harry looked up from the cart. “You absolutely do.”
Athena narrowed her eyes. “You two have gotten very brave all of a sudden.”
Before either of them could reply, Harry froze. His entire expression shifted—then lit up like fireworks. “Oh my God,” he whispered, before shouting at full volume: “CAPTAIN BOBBY!”
Athena blinked just as her son launched himself down the aisle like a heat‑seeking missile. There, near the frozen foods, stood Bobby Nash—basket in hand, expression startled, jeans and a dark Henley making him look far too good for a casual Saturday errand. Athena’s stomach did a traitorous little flip.
Harry skidded to a stop in front of him, breathless. “You remember me, right? From Hen’s birthday party last year?” Recognition softened Bobby’s face into a warm smile. “Harry.”
Harry looked moments away from ascending directly into heaven. “You do remember!”
“Of course I do.” Bobby crouched slightly. “You’re the kid who asked me ninety‑seven questions about ladder trucks.”
“It was a hundred and twelve,” Harry corrected proudly. Bobby laughed. “My mistake.”
May arrived, already entertained. “You caused permanent damage showing him those fire truck pictures.”
Bobby pointed at her. “And you’re May. You threatened bodily harm to anyone who touched Hen’s cake before photos were taken.”
May gasped. “It was art.”
“It was vanilla frosting.”
“It was beautiful vanilla frosting.”
Athena reached them just in time to hear Bobby’s low, warm laugh—the kind that made her chest tighten unexpectedly. Then he looked at her, and everything else fell away.
“Sergeant,” Bobby said softly.
Athena folded her arms, needing somewhere to put her hands. “Captain.”
May’s gaze flicked between them once, twice—then widened with delighted horror. Her mother had a crush. Athena was standing there, visibly blushing at a firefighter in the frozen foods aisle. This was officially the best day of May’s life.
Harry, oblivious, kept firing questions. “Do you still drive the big truck? Have you fought any fires this week? Do firefighters really cook at the station? Mom burns grilled cheese sometimes.”
“Harry!” Athena snapped.
Bobby bit down a grin. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
“She’s lying,” May added sweetly. “Last month she almost set off the smoke detector.”
Athena stared at her daughter in betrayal. “Why are you like this?”
“Because it’s funny.”
Bobby’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter, and Athena hated how much she liked the sound. He shifted his basket. “So what brings you three here today?”
“Apparently public humiliation,” Athena muttered.
“I think it’s going great,” Bobby said.
Their eyes met again. And stayed there. Long enough that May had to physically stop herself from laughing out loud. Oh, they were down bad already.
Harry tugged Bobby’s sleeve. “Can I see pictures of the fire engine again?”
“Harry,” Athena warned.
“What?” Bobby asked innocently. “I happen to have excellent fire engine pictures.”
Within seconds, Harry was glued to his side, Bobby’s hand resting near his shoulder with easy gentleness. Athena tried not to notice. Tried not to imagine him at their kitchen table, laughing with her kids. The thought hit so suddenly it startled her.
May caught it instantly. Her jaw dropped. “Oh my God.”
Athena pointed at her. “Don’t you dare.”
“You’re already picturing him in the house!”
“I am not!”
“You got the face!”
“I hate both my children.”
Bobby looked up, amused. “Should I be concerned?”
“Yes,” Athena said firmly.
“No,” May and Harry chorused.
Bobby grinned. “Good. I was hoping not.”
That smile—relaxed, teasing, focused entirely on her—was deeply unfair. He glanced at their cart. “That’s a lot of groceries.”
“I’m feeding teenagers,” Athena said tiredly.
“My condolences.”
“Thank you.”
“You can survive anything after raising teenagers,” he added solemnly.
Athena laughed before she could stop herself. Bobby’s expression softened instantly, like her laugh was something he wanted to keep hearing. And she noticed. Which was a problem.
“So,” Bobby said casually, though his eyes were anything but, “I was about to grab lunch after this. You three should join me.”
“Yes,” Harry said instantly.
“Absolutely,” May agreed.
Athena stared at them. “Amazing. I love how no one asked me.”
Bobby’s mouth twitched. “Would you like me to ask properly?”
She lifted a brow.
He stepped closer. Not enough to touch. Enough to make her pulse jump. “Athena,” he said, voice low, eyes steady, “would you let me buy you lunch?”
The audacity—sincere and charming all at once. May turned away to hide her grin. Harry looked confused but supportive. Athena held his gaze. One second. Two. And then she smiled.
“Fine,” she said. “But if my children embarrass me, I’m blaming you.”
Bobby’s smile turned slow, devastating. “Worth the risk.”
May made a strangled noise. Harry pumped his fist. “YES.”
At checkout, Bobby naturally reached for the heavier bags without asking. Athena noticed. Of course she noticed. And when he glanced at her again with that small, easy smile, she blushed all over.
May leaned toward Harry. “Ten bucks says they kiss before Christmas.”
Harry gasped. “You can’t bet on Mom!”
“Watch me.”