“Here we go.” I smile, getting into the front of the ambulance.
The first call is for someone who has been having chest pain all night.
The calls come in nonstop after that, and when we finally get back to the station six hours later, I’m starving. I’m taking a bite of my sandwich when Theo calls.
“Hey, baby,” he says softly, and I don’t want to smile, but something about his voice just automatically brings one to the surface. “Where are you?”
“Having lunch,” I say while chewing, since I don’t know when the next call will come.
“I’m outside. Can you come out?”
I get up and head down the stairs. A couple of the guys are outside and give me cheeky smiles as I make my way over to Theo, who is leaning against his truck. He’s wearing steel-toe boots, and his jeans and shirt look dusty and dirty, but it’s doing something for me all the same.
“Hey,” I say when I get close to him.
“Are you allowed to kiss at work?” He pushes off from the truck.
“Um, not sure,” I reply, happy to just stand in front of him. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m out getting lunch for Caleb.” He glances over at the guys. “He wants us to go out with them tomorrow night. You think you’ll be up for it?”
“Unless I’m on a call, I’ll be done at three. As long as I have a nap before, I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, I’m going to go so I can get done by three. We can nap together.” He winks at me, and I know full well I’m blushing. “See you at three.” I watch him walk around the truck, and he stops. “This is the last time I leave you without giving you a kiss. You’ve been warned.”
I roll my eyes. “Bye.”
“That’s the look of a man in love,” Hudson says, chuckling as I pass him on my way back inside. “Didn’t even notice us glaring at him.” I stop walking when he continues. “Had eyes only for you.”
“Good job, Collins,” one of the other guys tacks on. “Heard he’s a good guy.”
“I’m glad I got your seal of approval.” I shake my head and go finish my lunch with a smile on my face.
I’m changing out of my uniform when the phone rings. It’s an unknown caller, but I answer anyway.
“Is this Collins Henderson?” a woman asks me.
“This is she,” I reply, putting my uniform in my bag to take home.
“This is Lisa with Montgavin Power. I’m calling about your house at 246 Bishop Street.”
“Yes?” I swing the bag over my shoulder and give Roman a wave as I head out.
“I’m calling to let you know that work will be done tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“We have to rewire the whole service since someone cut into the wires.” I stop mid-step. “We will be making an investigation into it,” she adds, but all I can hear is a buzzing in my ear.
“Someone cut the wires? I thought maybe it was just a fuse or something.”
“Yes, the technician went there today, and it was cut clean through. If we do find out it was you, Ms. Henderson, there will be charges to your account for the work that was done.” I close my eyes as she tells me the steps that are going to happen. “It should be done by tomorrow night.”
“I didn’t cut my own wires,” I defend myself. “I was making dinner when it happened. I have a witness who was there with me.” I wait for her to say something, but I’m pretty sure she hears this all the time, and nothing I’m going to say will change her mind. “Let me know if you need anything else from me.”
“Will do,” she says and disconnects the phone.
I push the door open and spot Theo standing exactly where he was the last time.
