Blakely stood and wiped off her hands and her pants. “I guess that’s my cue to leave.”
“Wait,” Jump said, knowing that asking this question was stupid, but that wasn’t going to stop him. “Where will you stay?”
She looked at the apartment building and shrugged. “I guess I’m homeless. I don’t know where I’ll stay.”
“Listen, why don’t you stay with me at my friend’s place? He has an extra bedroom and will be gone for a few weeks, maybe a month. It will give you time to figure a few things out.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Me staying at your place didn’t go so well the first time, are you sure you want me around?”
“Come on. It can’t be worse than this.”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Those are famous last words.”
“Dammit, Jump. Did you burn the place down?” T asked as he moved closer.
“No, I didn’t do that. This is Blakely. She’s staying with me for a while.”
The guys smiled and shook Blakely’s hand, telling her it was nice to meet her. They were all nice to Blakely, but he could tell they didn’t know why he was having Blakely stay with him. Heck, he didn’t know why he was having her stay with him, but it seemed like the right thing to do.
“Let’s get you to the hospital,” T said.
“The commander texted us, telling us to take you to the hospital.”
“Great. I’m fine, but sure, I’ll go.”
“Damn straight you’ll go,” T said.
They moved away from the ambulance, and he saw there were other ambulances with EMTs helping people. This fire was a clusterfuck. So many people had their lives turned upside down.
He didn’t know anyone else in his apartment community. He hadn’t been here long, and he wasn’t the type of guy who hung out with his neighbors. He did feel bad for them. Their lives would be disrupted. He was lucky because he had a place to go.His stuff would be replaced, and in a year, it would be like none of this happened.
He glanced over and saw Blakely. She was a surprise. There was just something about her he couldn’t put his fingers on. She hadn’t mentioned to his friends that the fire had probably been set by someone she knew. But she did keep up a running set of comments.
T was driving, and Blakely critiqued his turns. When they stopped at a light, T caught his gaze in the mirror and rolled his eyes.
“You’re a lot,” T said.
“I’m not a lot. Trust me, I’m just right. But I can drive better than you.”
“Do you critique everything?” T asked.
Blakely sat back. “Only when I’m nervous.”
Jump turned in his seat. “What are you nervous about?”
She spread her arms wide. “What is there not to be nervous about after what happened?”
T glanced over his shoulder. “What is she talking about?”
Jump blew out a breath. “Do you want to tell him, or do you want me?”
Blakely moaned from the back seat. T pulled into the hospital lot and cut the engine then turned to face him.
“Someone has to tell me something,” T said.
“A guy who has been looking for me showed up at my place. He broke in. That’s how I met your buddy, Jump. Which, what’s up with that name? Who names their kid Jump?”
“A monster,” T said.
