Page 21 of End Of Never

“Okay, so they can’t read my mind, but I’m supposed to read theirs?” We all chuckle.

He leans back in his chair, “Exactly.” Uh-huh, because that’s sooo easy.

After dinner, we clean up and get everything together for the nighttime routine. Hayden gets to stay home tonight, and I have a shift at the fire station.

“Good night, Mr. Wilder. See you tomorrow, you boys behave.” They both wave and start Fight Club once more.

At work tonight, the chief went over the fire season. May through November is busy, wildfires get crazy, and it’s our job to make sure they never make it to Mount Marian, our home. Cody, my partner, and I just had two calls tonight. One call was an old lady who got drunk and naked, then handcuffed us to the bed, so that she could seduce us. She is a regular. The first time she called in, the crew made me go first with no warning that she would be nude, and my reaction was calm and collected, because I am a professional and all that, but when we left, the laughs didn’t end. The second call was to an older man who thought an intruder was in his home. Turns out he forgot he had a dog; dementia is no joke. It’s like the brain dies before the body, the mind shifts, and everything becomes tangled and mixed up. It’s heartbreaking to witness, and I assume it’s harder to live with it. His daughter came rushing in, frantic at the sight of the lights outside her dad’s house. She was laughing, but I know it’s hard when your parent has a debilitating disease, one they have no control over. I get it, you have to laugh, or you cry, so we all laughed here, after telling her some steps she should take for not only her safety but her father's as well. By the end of the night, I was ready to go home. Worn out from the long day, both physically and mentally drained.

I have been in my new house for two weeks now; it’s in a nice part of town, on a cul-de-sac, it’s quiet, and exactly what I was looking for. The house is quaint; it’s a split-level home. It looks like something right out of a Better Homes & Gardens magazine, with tan siding and landscaping done by someone with more time than I do. Upstairs is open-concept; the large, rarely used family room, then into the kitchen, painted bright yellow by whoever lived here before me. The wooden screen deck off the kitchen is nice; fairy lights hang from the ceiling. I find myself out there most nights, decompressing, giving my worries and fears to the stars. My bedroom is down the hallway, past the bathroom, at the very end. Downstairs, there is another family room, currently a workout room, with a small kitchen nook in the corner, two bedrooms, and another bathroom. A big house for one guy, but it was in the perfect location. Hayden stays here some nights when he isn’t caring for his dad or working. He comes here for extracurricular activities, like bringing all his lady friends here for sex.

As soon as I step inside, Zeus comes flying around the corner, barking and jumping up my leg. “Hey boy, how are ya?” Bending down, I give him some love. Grabbing a glass of water, I watch Zeus do donuts as quickly as he can before he drops his ass on my living room carpet and begins to scoot. What the fuck is he doing? “Zeus, quit rubbing your ass on my carpet.” Only, he doesn’t stop.

After making a late dinner and taking a shower, I monitor Zeus, and he does. Not. Stop. Something is clearly wrong. “What’s wrong, buddy?” He is scooting around, whining like he is very uncomfortable. Picking up my phone, I call my dad.

“Hey, do you know anyone who does emergency vet appointments? Something's going on with Zeus.” He gives me a number to call. “Thanks, Dad.” I hang up and type the number into my phone.

The line rings for a bit before someone answers, “Hello.” Her voice is soft and groggy.

“Hi, is this the emergency vet line?” I sit on the couch, listening to the women shuffle.

“This is my personal line; the clinic has an emergency number as well, and both get routed to me either way. I’m happy to help.” Zeus watches me while he scratches and scoots on his bum.

“That would be great. Something is seriously wrong with my dog; I think he needs to be seen right away. Can I bring him to you?” She lets out a soft chuckle, and I panic. “Are you really a vet? Because my dog is rubbing his bum all over my clean carpet, and it’s bleeding now. So if you're not the real vet, please don’t waste my time.” Feeling even more annoyed, now that the woman on the phone is laughing.

“Yes, Sir, this is really the Vet. This is Dr. Lilla Lane.” I should have known my dad would give me her number, even after our long talk about who she was. “It sounds like he might have worms. We can make an appointment and get him looked at.” I shake my head.

“I don’t think I can wait; my anxiety won't allow it. Please come look at him.” I’m begging, not for the dog, but for me. If it’s worms, he’ll be okay, but I won’t. “He’s bleeding.” She sighs on the other end of the phone.

“Okay, want me to come to you, or do you want to come to the office. House calls do cost extra.” Lilla Lane in my house, ummm, yes.

“Sure, a house call is fine. I’ll text you my address.” I send the text, and once she clarifies, she says she’s on her way and hangs up. That’s when panic sets in. Somehow, I am no longer worried about my dog and his bleeding, scooting bum; now I am concerned about me and the rate at which my heart is pounding. The house is clean, like a stage home, clean, because I’m never here, and I’m overly tidy; it’s a problem. But it’s Lilla, my Lilla, coming to my house. I grab the air freshener and fill the entire house with its fireside scent, including the downstairs bedrooms. I also put on a pot of tea and coffee because it’s early, too early. Like, I woke her up early, she was probably in her sleep shorts, or no shorts… without a bra. What the fuck is happening? Caaaaallmm down, I can’t pop a boner, not now. I take slow and controlled breaths, and immediately start thinking of the naked grandma to kill the blood flow.

At that thought, my doorbell rings, act cool. Jumping down the five stairs, I stop gathering myself before opening the door. “Hello.”

Chapter 21

Lilla

Walking up to the house, I follow the lights that illuminate the sidewalk. Within seconds of ringing the doorbell, the door opens. “Hello.” Shock waves through me like a tidal wave. As he stands there holding the door open with one hand, his shirt rises, revealing a sliver of skin along the gray waistband of his sweatpants. You’ve got to be kidding me. He steps aside, “Are you going to come in?” His smile is cocky, just as I am about to tell him off, his sweet puppy runs to the top of the stairs, whining and scooting across the top step.

“For the dog.” I brush past him, making my way upstairs, secretly taking in how clean his house is and how good it smells.

Zeus runs next to me, jumping up and down, craving my attention. Slowly, I bend down to the floor, watching Jace behind me. I follow his eyes as they scan my body. “Hey, pervert, why don’t you come tell me what’s wrong with your dog?” Zeus jumps into my lap.

“He’s been whining like crazy, and scooting his ass all over my floor, oh, and it started bleeding too.” Jace sits on the floor next to me, both legs stretched out, catching my attention, refocusing my gaze. I look over Zeus.

“You in pain, sweet boy?” I give him some love before looking at his bum, red and irritated. “Aren’t you a paramedic?” Jace shakes his head yes, “You couldn’t handle a little blood?” He looks up from Zeus, giving me a slight smirk.

“I know people, not puppies. When someone's ass bleeds, it's normally a good indication to get to the doc, even more so if it itches. And based on his shit shuffle, he’s not doing too hot.” I try my best to hold back my smile. I don’t want to give this man anything; he’s taken enough. He’s lucky I’ll do anything for an animal. I listen to Zeus’ heart, checking him over entirely.

I let Zeus go. When he runs over, bringing me his rope toy, we play tug-of-war while he stops to scoot. “When did he last eat?” Jace looks at his smart watch.

“About an hour ago, we could let him out and see if he’ll poop for ya.” I nod, he stands up, and reaches his arm down to help me up. Yeah, not gonna happen. I brush him off and get myself off the floor. He shrugs, and Zeus and I follow him to the kitchen, where Jace opens a sliding door onto a porch. Zeus takes off down the stairs, running in the large backyard.

We both stand on the porch, watching him run around, waiting for him to go. “He’s cute. Where did you get him?” Jace turns around, leaning his back against the wooden railing.

“Hayden, my friend, the guy you met, saved him in a fire.” I can feel my face light up.