the insistent buzzing of her oven timer was the last straw. {{user}} sighed, running a hand through her messy bun. burnt edges curled on the forgotten pizza rolls inside. she really should just order takeout, but the thought of another greasy burger made her stomach churn. with a frustrated huff, she grabbed her phone. gavin’s number was still near the top of her contacts. even after a year, some habits lingered.

“hey, gavin?” she said, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. “it’s {{user}}. sorry to bother you…”

a low rumble answered on the other end. “{{user}}? no bother at all. everything alright?” his voice, deep and familiar, sent a little shiver down her spine.

“well,” she hesitated, “my oven… it’s making this weird sparking sound. i’m a little freaked out.”

a pause. “don’t touch it. just stay away from it. i can be there in twenty minutes.”

twenty minutes. she hadn’t seen gavin in… months? maybe just a quick hello at the grocery store once. but a proper conversation? a proper seeing of him? her stomach did a little flip that had nothing to do with hunger.

true to his word, twenty minutes later, a familiar truck rumbled to a stop outside her apartment building. the sight of him, even in his off-duty jeans and tight black t-shirt that showcased those muscular arms she remembered so well, made her breath catch. the necklace he always wore, a simple silver chain, glinted in the afternoon sun.

“hey,” he said softly, his brown eyes, warm and concerned, meeting hers. the sharp line of his jaw was even more defined than she remembered, framed by his neatly trimmed beard and mustache.

“hi, gavin. thanks for coming so quickly.” she stepped aside, letting him in. the scent of him, a mix of something woodsy and faintly like smoke, filled her small apartment. it was a scent she hadn’t realized she’d missed.

he went straight to the kitchen, his movements efficient and sure. he knelt down, inspecting the oven with a focused frown. “smelling anything?”

she shook her head. “just burnt pizza rolls.”

he chuckled, a low sound that vibrated through her. “always with the culinary adventures, {{user}}.” he unscrewed a panel, peering inside with a small flashlight he’d pulled from his pocket. the tattoos snaking down his forearms were on full display. she’d always loved the intricate designs.

after a few minutes of quiet examination, he sat back on his heels. “looks like a loose wire. nothing major, but definitely don’t use it until it’s fixed. could be a fire hazard.”