EdenThe silence after Devante leaves is loud as hell in my ears. I'm not sure I've ever heard a ringing so annoying. Going over to the coffee table, I grab the remote and quickly turn on some Netflix, not even caring what it is I'm watching. Anything to fill the huge hole him being gone has left in his space. There's a part of me that wants to be nosey and see if I can find out anything about the notoriously close-to-the-vest EMT I met on the third day I'd been in Laurel Springs. Immediately I'd been struck by the smile on his face and the warmth in his eyes. He'd been walking into The CafŽ and I'd been walking out. We bumped into one another and I felt a connection I've never felt with another human being.My phone rings, disrupting my thoughts. When I see my mom's name flashing across the screen, I quickly pick it up and answer. "Hey!""I'm so glad to hear your voice," she says quickly. "How are you feeling? I can't believe you wouldn't let me come down there and help you.

EdenThere's a sadness in the air as I pack up my stuff. Being at Devante's felt more like home than anything I've had since I moved to Laurel Springs. It was nice not to be alone all the time, and wondering what everyone else is doing while I'm by myself. It almost was if I had a partner. Which I've missed more than I care to admit. Being a strong, independent woman is hard. Not having someone to share your days and nights with, knowing that you are one hundred percent responsible for everything that happens to you. It's a lot to deal with. Even though I'd told anyone who would listen before I left Chicago, I was fine all by myself. It's not been the case."I'm gonna miss you being here when I get home from work," he admits, standing in the doorway with his hands shoved into his jeans pockets."I'm gonna miss being here when you get home from work. It was nice having someone around.""Yeah," he agrees. "It sucks being by yourself all the time. Eating your meals in front

Devante"You want me to take this one?" Cutter asks as we sit in the ambulance, responding to our next call. "I know you don't do well with puke."I shiver at the mention of it. "You don't mind?""It's not like I love it, but after being your partner for a while, I also know you're a sympathetic puker, and I just wanna get this over with.""I don't choose to be a sympathetic puker," I remind him. "So just let me handle it when we get there, and you can drive us to the hospital.""Thank you.""That's what friends are for," he says before he punches his horn. "Get the fuck outta the way, can't you hear the sirens and see the lights?"He's so angry behind the wheel of our rig. I don't know how he ever got picked to be the driver."What are your plans after shift?" It's like we're not flying down the road at seventy-five miles an hour, which we in fact, are."Since we get off right about the time Eden goes in to open, I'm gonna head over there and give her a hand. This

DevanteCutter and I are sitting in the ambulance eating a snack at our first break when we hear a call come through."Fifty-four-twenty-five." They call out our ambulance number for the day. "Laurel Springs Police is requesting response for a two-year-old who fell down the stairs of their home.""Responding," Cutter immediately throws his beef stick in the cupholder and gets the ambo up to speed. Anytime there's a child involved both of us are on high alert. Already I'm running over scenarios in my head, trying to figure out what we may be walking into. There's always a chance this isn't a simple slip and fall, potentially something even more sinister; it could be abuse. When we walk into a situation like this, we have to be prepared for anything.As we pull up, I see Ransom's SUV. He's kneeling down beside what appears to be a child. Looks like the stairs the child fell down were outside and not inside."You go ahead and start response. I'll grab the go bag." He punches

EdenThe grass is wet with early morning dew as I leave Devante's apartment. If given the chance, I would have gladly spent today wrapped up in his arms, but someone has to open A Whole Latte Love. If the next few weeks go as well as the last couple have gone, I'll be able to hire some help and I pray it's an opener. Both opening and closing is starting to get to me. The lack of sleep and the desire to spend more time with the new friends I've made is definitely beginning to play into my motivations.Because I'm extra, I leave a cute little note on the window of his car, and then hop into mine, ready to make the ten-minute drive to the shop.Knowing it's going to be a long day, I search for some music that's going to get me through it. Landing on FLY, I grin as I hear the opening music, and then proceed to rap along to the lyrics."It was a clear black night, a clear white moonÉ"Pulling into the alley, I'm not nearly as tired after having a car concert with myself. Parkin