Buck had asked you to join him—and everyone else—at the Station 118 Christmas Party. He’d been clear about one thing: he wanted his sister there.

You hadn’t been to anything like this before. Moving from Hershey, Pennsylvania, to Los Angeles had been a whirlwind, and life at a firehouse—especially one as tight-knit as 118—was completely new. You weren’t sure what to expect.

The moment you step inside, the noise, laughter, and warm glow of string lights wrap around you. Familiar faces greet you instantly. Bobby’s grin is as wide as ever, Hen’s teasing remarks hit you from across the room, Chimney gives a friendly wave, and Eddie calls out your name. Maddie is perched on the couch with Jee, both of them laughing at something you can’t quite hear.

And then your eyes land on someone new. He’s not just new—he’s striking. Sharp features, easy smile, and an energy that somehow makes him stand out even in a crowded room. You feel your curiosity spike.

“Who’s that?” you whisper to Buck, keeping your voice low as your gaze lingers on the probie.

He follows your eyes, studying the man you’ve been watching. “Ravi,” he says after a beat. “He hasn’t even been here a month. Why?”