He shoots an accusing glance at my thigh where I’m rubbing the sore skin through my trousers, then he yanks his jacket off the back of his chair, punches his arms into it, then zips it to his chin. His eyes roam the room with distrust, and I’m left wondering what he thinks is crawling or flying about ready to get him.
Before I can ask, we hear the bell downstairs.
It’s not “The Bell,” it’s the other one that signals a call has been put through to us.
Zack is downstairs in the control room, manning the phone. We tense, waiting to hear if we’re needed. Amy crosses her fingers. Not for the call-out, but in hope it’s a false alarm. We’re watching a series ofMarried at First Sightshe hasn’t seen, and the adverts have teased drama at the dinner table.
Out of the four of us, I’m probably the only one who wants the call-out. It’ll stop my inappropriate thoughts if I focus my energy on something else. I don’t want to end up getting aroused in here, but my brain wants to relive the last few days. The sooner this night is over, the sooner it’ll be Friday.Freddie Day.
Our bell rings, and Darren and I spring to our feet. Martin’s mouth drops open, and he yanks out his earbuds, which continue to hiss until he silences them with his phone. Amy is the least enthusiastic, gesturing wildly to the TV as the adverts end and the cliffhanger at the table is about to be resolved, no doubt with a lot of shouting and drinks being flung.
Darren switches off the plug.
The four of us rush downstairs and stand alert as Zack relays the information.
There’s a fire at Hunter Healthcare Manufactory.
My blood runs cold.
Freddie works there.
I push back the fear that creeps up fast. Freddie does work there, yes, but there’s no night shift—he’s not in the building, he’s safe somewhere. I need to calm down. My heart ignores my internal coach and picks up pace, and with it the rest of my organs begin a mutiny. My gut squirms, there’s an awful dread expanding in my stomach, and my legs—shit—they’re weak as I cross the concrete.
It’s a blur getting into the cab of the fire engine, and I yank out my phone despite Amy’s tut, and message Liam.
Fire at Hunter Healthcare.
His response is immediate.
Freddie finishes at 7.
And I knew that, but I was hoping once Liam told me the same thing I told myself, it would sink in and take the nagging feeling in my stomach with it, but rather than reassurance, my gut twists with a knot.
I turn my attention to Freddie.
Are you safe?
No reply.
It’s midnight, so there’s every chance he’s asleep and hasn’t seen my message. I stare at the screen as I’m bumped and thrown around in the cab while we race across town. Amy’s hand settles on my thigh.
She’s switched from judgmental to concerned.
“My friend works at Hunter Healthcare,” I tell her.
Describing Freddie as a friend leaves a sour taste in my mouth. He’s more, so much more to meandLiam, but it’s the easiest way to explain us right now.
The three of us are best friends, that hasn’t changed, but we’ve begun something new, or I hope we have. Liam still believes Freddie might bolt at any moment.
Amy nods with understanding. “Remember what Zack said?”
I shake my head. I don’t remember. It’s very unlike me to forget. But as soon as I heard it was a fire at Freddie’s work we were heading to, my mind blanked.
Fire and Freddie should only be linked when I’m thinking of him in a sexual manner. How hot he is, how I’m burning up to be inside him, et cetera. This kind of fire, the dangerous kind . . . I don’t want Freddie anywhere near it.
“Zack said it’s a no-occupancy fire. The staff have all left for the night.” Amy squeezes my leg but I can’t get the muscles to relax. “Your friend is fine.”
I nod and shoot her a smile. She catches it as we whizz past a streetlight, and at the next one, I see her returning beam.
