Avery was Austin and Dallas’ sister.
Mateo was their friend.
And I was leaving Whynot.Soon.
He winked at me and leaned back, straightening his back. His smile faltered slightly, his expression growing more serious. “I feel like I have things I want to say, but?—”
“Mateo, come in. Mateo.”
A radio attached to his belt interrupted us. Our eyes locked for a split second.
“Sorry,” he whispered.
“It’s okay. We…”
“We’ll talk another time, okay?”
I nodded as he picked the radio up and pressed the button on the side. “What’s up?”
“Those kids are at it again. They’re popping fireworks in the park, and someone called it in because they saw smoke.”
“Fucking, of course.” He rubbed his face as he pressed the button again to speak. “I’ll head over.”
He clipped the radio.
“Need any help?” I asked. Why I was offering, though, I had no idea. I wasn’t a firefighter. It wasn’t like I’d even know what to do except bodycheck someone.
“I’m okay,” he chuckled. “There’s a couple of teenage boys that have been doing some dumb shit. The second they see me, they’ll be out of the park in a blink. I just need to make sure nothing actually catches.”
“I’ll see you around then.”
Mateo nodded. “Don’t be a stranger. Let’s get lunch soon.”
“O-okay.”
My voice shook just a little bit. Mateo headed to his truck and I held up my camera, thinking about grabbing a picture of hisbroad back, his muscles, the waves of heroic energy falling off him in waves.
But a moment like this, I didn’t want to watch through a screen.
Even though I was a photographer, there was not a single photo that could be taken that would do that man justice.
He was just too damn hot.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mateo
I was on cloud nine for the rest of the week. Ever since Avery and I had been with each other, we’d been texting non-stop like two goofy lovestruck teenagers.
I walked through the fire station's break room to the microwave, ramen in one hand and phone in the other.
What are you up to tonight?
Dots popped up under Avery’s name.
Family dinner tonight. What, are you lonely at the station with your ramen?
Sure am . . . what if you came by? I can show you my fire pole ;)
