The hose nearly slips from my grip, but I tighten my right arm around it, rolling as the pressure of it knocks me around now that I’m not braced and ready for it. The damn thing is like wrestling a snake trying to slither back and forth to get away.
Water arcs through the air as I struggle to close the nozzle and shut off the supply. Shouting erupts around me as I roll again with the line, dropping my weight on top of it, finally getting the thing closed.
“What the fuck, Dalton!” Brody thunders from right behind me.
I definitely fucked up.
There’s no time to think about it, though. There’s still a jobto do, and I jump to my feet, opening the water supply back up. If Brody was grumpy before, he’s livid now. He barks commands at me. Most of the fire is already out, and within five minutes we knock out the rest. I didn’t dare look behind me in that time, but when I finally turn the water off and look at Brody, then at Nate and Liam, I cringe.
All three of them are dripping wet.
Brody doesn’t need to say a word. His glowering eyes tell me everything I need to know. If looks could kill, I’d be dead where I stand. It’s intense enough that I look away, but Liam doesn’t look happy, either. That could be because he seems to have gotten the worst of it, wearing his uniform and none of his bunker gear while he manned the engine. His Santa Rosé Fire t-shirt clings to him.
“Let’s get this cleaned up and finished,” Nate calls out. “Keep it going, boys.” His eyes land on me. “We’ll talk about it after.”
Nerves shoot through me, but I nod and start the task assigned as Luke sidles up to me. “Look on the bright side… you definitely know how to make ‘em wet.”
Fuck me. These assholes are never going to let me live this down.
“Nate, I’m telling you, it’s the same guy,” Brody says after we’ve cleaned up and are back in service at the station.
The fire had been deliberately set, that much was clear before we’d finished making sure all the hot spots were out. The lock to the storage shed had been cut and was on the ground, and based on the burn patterns, accelerant had been used inside the structure.
“You don’t have proof of it,” Nate counters, arms folded overhis chest, leaning back against the front of the rig.
Brody’s arms lift in exasperation. “The burn pattern along the tree line is the same.”
“But it looked like it started in the shed.”
“A clear escalation,” Brody grounds out, his jaw clenching.
Nate’s arms drop. “I’m not saying you’re wrong, but we have to let the fire investigator come in and do their thing. I’ll talk to Tina, mention it.”
“She’ll see it,” Brody mutters, head shaking as he stares out the bay door.
Rather than respond to him, Nate focuses on me. “Good work out there.”
“Minus the shower I didn’t quite need,” Liam adds.
The lieutenant is great at ignoring the extra quips from everyone. “You worked the hose really well.”
“Nothin’ like being able to work a hose,” I say, going for some self-deprecating humor to make them all laugh.
Like two twelve-year-olds, Liam and Luke both chuckle. Even Nate lets a smile crack through. I run a hand along my jawline, giving a shrug. Sure, I may have handled it okay, but I still fucked up, and I can’t help the way my dad’s voice infiltrates my thoughts.
Ready to admit defeat?
You’re no good at the fire thing.
“Yo,” Luke claps me on the shoulder. “We all do stupid stuff. We all have our moments. Don’t worry about it.”
“And don’t worry about the big guy, he’ll get over being sprayed in the face,” Liam smirks.
“Not helpful, Liam,” Nate mutters.
Damn it. I didn’t know I’d gotten him in the face. No wonder he was so pissed. It couldn’t have been a direct hit because that would have hurt like a bitch, but a facial is never pleasant.
Unless it’s asked for.
