A/N: Double update ♡

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I wasn't used to this.

Not the late-night FaceTimes, not the good morning texts, not the way my name sounded when Madelyn said it like it was something precious.

I wasn't used to someone remembering my coffee order without asking, or slipping their hand into mine absentmindedly like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And I sure as hell wasn't used to smiling at my phone like a lovesick idiot while waiting for my smoothie in the firehouse kitchen. "I'm assuming that's Madelyn blowing your phone up?"

I didn't even look up. "Shut up, Caleb."

He laughed as he grabbed a granola bar off the counter, peeling it open like he had all the time in the world to annoy me. "You've been grinning at that screen for like three minutes straight. It's honestly embarrassing."

I rolled my eyes, finally looking up. "It's not embarrassing."

Caleb gave me a look. "It is, but it's also kinda cute. You're like a teenage girl with her first crush."

I groaned, tossing a dish towel at his face, but he dodged it easily, laughing as he took a bite of his granola bar. "Let me see what she said."

I yanked my phone closer. "No."

Caleb smirked. "Why? It's not like she's sexting you."

"She could be," I shot back, just to see the expression on his face. Caleb immediately made a disgusted noise. "Man, come on. I just ate." I grinned, finally unlocking my phone and pulling up the message.

Baby Madz 😍:

It was simple. Normal. Nothing dramatic. But I still felt my heart do a weird little flip in my chest.

Caleb studied my face, chewing slowly as he peered over my shoulder. "You gonna go?" I hesitated for half a second too long. That was all he needed.

He tossed his granola wrapper onto the counter and crossed his arms. "You're still holding back."

I exhaled sharply, leaning forward on my elbows. "I'm not holding back."

Caleb just raised an eyebrow. I sighed. "Okay, fine. Maybe a little."

He didn't say anything, just kept staring at me like he was waiting for me to be honest with myself. I ran a hand through my hair. "Look, I like her. A lot. But that's the problem."

"How is that the problem?"

"Because I know myself," I said. "I don't do relationships. I don't do the whole 'let's talk about our feelings' thing. And Madelyn is... she's different. She's real. She actually gives a shit. And if I fuck this up—"

"You will fuck it up if you keep being a dumbass," Caleb interrupted. "She's not asking for some big emotional speech, Y/n. She just wants to know you're in this. She's already all in."

I looked down at my phone, rereading her text like it held the answer to something I was too scared to admit.

Caleb sighed, nudging my arm. "Just go see her. And stop overthinking plus, you two may have a little fun while you're at it." Caleb smirked, clearly trying to annoy me.

My phone buzzed again.

Baby Madz 😍:
Or if you're too tired, I can come to you, whatever works, I just miss you :(

And just like that, every excuse I had in my head disappeared. I stood up, grabbing my keys.

Caleb smirked. "Told you." I flipped him off on my way out the door. My shift was over and we were just waiting for the next team to roll in before we could leave.

I knew I had to stop at home, drop my things off, and make it over as fast as I could.

. . .

I barely had time to knock before the door swung open, and suddenly, I was being dragged inside. Madelyn barely let me get a word out before wrapping herself around me, arms tight around my waist, her face smushed against my chest.

"Hey—?"

"You took forever," she whined, her voice muffled against my hoodie.

I chuckled, resting my hands on her hips. "Madz, I only live twenty minutes away."

"Exactly," she huffed, pulling back just enough to look up at me, her bottom lip slightly jutted out in a pout. "Twenty whole minutes of suffering."

I grinned. "You're dramatic as hell."

"And you love it."

Before I could respond, she grabbed my face in both hands, pulling me down into a kiss. I hummed, smiling against her lips, my fingers squeezing at her waist as she deepened it, pressing herself fully against me like she wanted to crawl under my skin.

When she finally pulled back, she gave me a look. "You do love it."

I exhaled a laugh, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "A little."

She grinned, looking way too smug. "A little?"

I smirked. "Don't push it."

She gasped, grabbing my hoodie strings and yanking me back down into another kiss. This one was hotter, a little messier, her fingers threading into my hair as my hands slid down to grab at her thighs.

For a moment, I considered just picking her up and heading straight to the bedroom. But then her stomach grumbled.

I froze, mid-kiss. Madelyn did too. Then, slowly, I pulled back, barely holding in a smirk. "Was that...?"

"Shut up," she muttered, turning red. I grinned. "That was your stomach, wasn't it?"

She groaned, burying her face in my chest. "Maybe."

I laughed, tilting her chin up so she had to look at me. "We should probably eat then, huh?"

She pouted. "I wanted to make out first."

I chuckled, leaning down to peck her lips again. "We'll circle back."

She huffed but grabbed my hand anyway, tugging me to the couch. The coffee table was already covered in sushi containers, and the TV was paused on some random movie.

We sat down, her tucking herself into my side, swinging her legs over mine like it was muscle memory.

She picked up her chopsticks and held up a piece of sushi, wiggling it in front of my face. "Open."

I raised an eyebrow. "Feeding me now?"

"Shhh. Just let me have this."

I rolled my eyes but let her pop the sushi into my mouth. She grinned, watching me chew like she was waiting for my reaction. I swallowed. "You poisoned this, didn't you?"

She gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Wow. And to think I was just being sweet."

"You're always sweet," I teased, leaning in to steal another kiss.

She sighed against my lips. "See? I knew you liked me."

I pulled back just enough to smirk. "You're alright, I guess."

She smacked my arm. "Oh my god, shut up."

I just laughed, grabbing another piece of sushi as she curled further into me.

After a few minutes of eating, she rested her head against my shoulder, lightly tracing circles on my forearm.

Her voice was quieter when she spoke again. "You know you don't have to overthink this, right?"

I stilled for a second, glancing down at her. "What do you mean?"

She lifted her head slightly, looking up at me. "I mean, you don't have to walk on eggshells with me. You don't have to be afraid to just... let this happen."

I swallowed, suddenly feeling too seen. "I'm not afraid."

She gave me a look. I sighed, running a hand down my face. "Okay. Maybe I am a little."

She shifted, sitting up fully, her fingers skimming over my jaw.

"I want this, Y/n. I want you. And you don't have to figure everything out right away. Just... lean into it. I'm with you. Every step of the way."

Something tightened in my chest. I exhaled, running my fingers through her hair. "I really, really like you, Mads."

She smiled softly. "I really, really like you too." Then she grinned. "So you're a simp for me, huh?"

I groaned, flopping onto my back against the couch. "Why did I say anything?"

She giggled, crawling over me. "It's okay, baby. You're my simp."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop smiling. Madelyn grinned, pressing a soft kiss to my jaw, then another to my cheek. I sighed, wrapping my arms around her, pulling her fully on top of me.

She giggled as I shifted, adjusting her so she was straddling me. "Comfy?"

She nodded, resting her chin on my chest. "Mmhm. You're comfy."

I smirked, smoothing my hands up and down her back. "So I win by default, huh?"

She tilted her head. "Win what?"

"Favorite firefighter," I teased.

Madelyn rolled her eyes. "I like Caleb too, you know."

I mock-gasped. "Betrayal."

She laughed, shaking her head. "You're such an idiot."

"But I'm your idiot."

She smiled, soft and genuine. "You are."

For a while, we just laid there, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the collar of my hoodie, my hands lazily tracing patterns on her back.

It was easy.

It was safe.

And maybe, just maybe... it didn't have to be scary.

. . .

𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I had never been so stressed over a birthday in my entire life. Not even my own. Not even for my best friends. But for Y/n? Yeah. I was losing my mind.

"Alright," I muttered, pacing my living room for the millionth time. "Let's go over this again."

Lili was sitting cross-legged on the couch, flipping through her color-coded notebook like this was some military operation.

Caleb was sprawled out next to her, looking way too relaxed for someone who was supposed to be helping. And Storm was sitting upside-down on the armrest, her legs hanging over the back of the couch, watching me like I was on the verge of self-destruction.

"Madelyn," Lili sighed, adjusting her glasses. "You have planned, like, the cutest birthday ever. You need to breathe."

Caleb nodded, smirking. "For real. I've seen wedding planners with less stress than you right now."

Storm giggled, kicking her feet up in the air. "Yeah, Mads, you're kinda freaking out."

I groaned, flopping onto the couch face-first into a throw pillow. "Because it has to be perfect!"

Storm gasped dramatically, grabbing Caleb's arm. "She said the P-word."

Caleb grinned. "Love's got her in a chokehold."

I groaned even louder. "I hate all of you."

Lili patted my back like I was a wounded soldier. "No, you don't. You're just in love, and it's making you insane."

I peeked out from the pillow. "It's not insanity. It's effort."

Caleb snorted. "It's insanity."

I sat up, narrowing my eyes. "Are you gonna help, or just talk shit?"

Caleb grinned. "Multitasking."

Lili rolled her eyes and handed me her notebook. "Here. Look at the plan. You have everything covered."

I sighed, flipping through the pages, ignoring Caleb's smirk as I mumbled under my breath.

"Okay... so first part of the day—Y/n thinks she's just spending time with me. Casual. Chill."

Storm gasped dramatically. "Little does she know... we are master schemers."

I grinned. "Exactly. She thinks it's just brunch and the beach. She has no idea that we—her amazing, wonderful, incredibly thoughtful girlfriend and friends— have been planning this for weeks."

Caleb smirked. "You're falling in love."

I threw a pillow at his face.

"ANYWAY," Lili cut in, ignoring Caleb's annoying-ass laugh. "You take Y/n out in the morning—brunch, beach, whatever—to distract her."

I nodded. "Right. And while I do that, you guys get everything set up."

Storm clapped her hands together. "We are gonna make it so cute."

"We better," Caleb muttered, stretching his arms. "I've never been so involved in a birthday planning committee before."

Lili smirked. "That's because you've never cared about anyone as much as you care about Y/n."

Caleb pretended to be offended. "That's not true. I care about myself and you of course, baby."

Lili, Storm, and I all said "exactly" at the same time. Caleb rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Moving on."

I tapped the notebook. "Okay. So, the surprise party starts at seven. I bring Y/n back to my place, thinking it's just us, and BOOM—everyone's here."

Lili tapped her chin. "Should we be making this a surprise? You do know she doesn't like surprises right?"

I hesitated for half a second. "...She likes me."

Caleb barked out a laugh. "That was not an answer."

I groaned. "Okay, she might murder me at first. But she'll love it eventually."

Storm giggled. "That's how I feel when I wake her up in the mornings."

Caleb grinned. "Me too."

Lili sighed, rubbing her temples. "Focus."

I exhaled. "Right. Birthday. Surprise. Plan."

Caleb smirked. "So how much money do we wanna bet that she cries?"

I gasped. "She is not gonna cry!"

Storm tilted her head. "She kinda might."

Lili hummed. "She might get a little emo."

Caleb grinned. "Yeah. And if she does, you're definitely crying too."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't cry, okay?"

Lili raised an eyebrow. "Really? Cause last week when Y/n—"

"OKAY," I cut her off, standing up. "We have a party to plan."

Storm whispered to Caleb, "She's totally gonna cry."

I ignored them, flipping to the next page in Lili's super-organized notebook.

"Alright. Decorations—Storm, you're in charge of that." Storm saluted. "Yes, ma'am."

"Food and drinks—Lili, you and I will handle that."

Lili nodded. "Already got a list."

I turned to Caleb. "You—"

"Let me guess," Caleb interrupted. "Vibes?" I groaned. "No, music."

Caleb grinned. "Same thing." I rolled my eyes but couldn't fight the smile. Because even with all the chaos and teasing, I knew—

This birthday was going to be perfect.