Page 11 of Calling a Cease-Fire

A growl rumbled in Zack’s chest. “Maybe I should drive you home. You’re drunk.”

I pinned him with a stare that hopefully translated to “get lost.” Or maybe “fuck you.” Because of course he had to go and open his mouth. “You’re more fun when you don’t talk.”

Miles chuckled. “That was the consensus growing up too.”

I glanced between the two of them and took another sip of my drink. “You two grew up together?”

“Yup.” Miles raised a brow at Zack. “And it seems not much has changed. We’re still interested in the same girl.”

Zack shook his head. “She’s one of us. Just looking out.”

Miles looked at Zack skeptically and then down at me with admiration. “Firefighter or EMT?”

“Dispatch.” Zack and I said simultaneously.

“Ah.” The admiration was still there as Miles nodded. “Gotcha.”

I half expected him to be disappointed. In my experience, people didn’t find my job to be nearly as impressive as other first responders. Which always pissed me off, because we were just as important, if not more, in my opinion.

“You want to come say hi and meet the rest of the crew?” Zack offered.

I pouted, wanting Miles to say no and go back to flirting with me.

“Sure,” he said instead.

But neither of them moved until Zack finally stepped away and turned, heading back toward the table. Miles placed his hand on my back, and once I was sure my legs would cooperate, we followed Zack to the table with our drinks. I took my stool, and thankfully Miles pulled up another one, sitting it between Zack and me.

“Good to see you again, Adam.” Miles tipped his chin in a nod.

Adam returned the nod and then introduced Lyla, Logan, and Izzy.

Zack patted Miles on the shoulder. “This is Miles, he’s with the county’s search and rescue team.”

“Oh. Is this who you just did the ice rescue training with?” Lyla asked Adam.

Adam nodded. “Yeah, and we went to school with Miles too.” He leaned back in his chair, a shit-eating grin appearing on his face as he pointed back and forth between Zack and Miles. “These two actually beat the crap out of each other over Savannah Williams junior year of high school.”

Lyla’s eyes widened. “Seriously? I can’t imagine Zack in a fight.”

Hmm. This just got interesting. I knew I picked up on something between Zack and Savannah at the volleyball game. There was history there. I wrapped my lips around my straw, studying Zack’s reaction to this line of conversation.

Miles shrugged, taking a swig of his beer. “In his defense, he didn’t start it.”

“Water under the bridge now.” Zack brought his own beer to his lips, taking a drink.

“Yeah, but I’m not making that mistake twice.”

Zack coughed, choking on his beer, and exchanged a look with Miles I couldn’t read. The shit-eating grin Adam shot Zack had me all sorts of curious.

“How did the new suits work?” Miles asked, changing the subject and glancing around at the guys.

“Perfect,” Zack answered. “I had to get in the water to search for the boy. No issue with my clothes getting wet underneath, or the cold penetrating much at all.”

My stomach revolted. Jesus. Did these men not understand I wanted to forget today, not be reminded of it at every turn?

I downed the rest of my drink and turned to Miles with my sexiest smile. “Do you want to get out of here?”

His eyes widened slightly, but I could see the rejection coming.