Page 12 of Yours Truly, Fall

He opens the blinds, flooding the room with an overcast hue from outside. “Quieter.” He laughs with more depth this time. “Captain’s been filling everyone in on your progress.”

“I haven’t seen him.”

“He’s stopped by a few times, talked to the nurses when you were sleeping. You’re on everyone’s mind.” When he reaches the side of the bed, he asks, “How are you doing?”

“Been better, but not too bad considering.”

“Yeah.” His eyes drop to my shoulder. “What’s the real damage?” Guilt riddles his tone. This could have been him, or something worse could have happened. Tuck’s good at his job, but he’s frozen before in the heat of the moment. I won’t regret being the one if it spares my firefighting family. Technically, no one forced me to take the shift, so I’m not going to lay blame on him, especially when it’s already gnawing at his insides.

“Unfortunately for you, I’m told I’ll be good as new. Personally, I’m aiming for better than new.” Smirking, I add, “I’ll be at the top of my game sooner than you have time to miss me.” Why bother moaning about my injuries when they’ll go away, eventually? “As for the time being, I’m bored as shit lying here twenty-four hours a day with nothing but highlights from games I’ve missed playing on the TV.”

“You haven’t missed any games worth watching.” Moving to sit down on the small couch against the wall, he says, “I wanted to say I’m sor⁠—”

“Don’t.” I stare at him despite his head dropping into his hands in defeat. “It was better for me than you.”

His head lifts abruptly, his eyes locked on mine. “How do you figure?”

“Did she say yes?”

A grin he can’t restrain answers before he has the opportunity. He glances toward the window before replying, “She said yes.”

I shrug, regretting the move when pain shoots through my shoulder and down my spine. “That’s all that matters.”

His grin falters, but his tone doesn’t. “You can’t say that’s all that matters when you’re lucky to be alive after fighting a fire I should have been fighting.”

“It wasn’t a fight. I was winning⁠—”

“Until it took you out.”

The devil’s tongue flicking flames out the window.

Safety just fifteen feet down on the ground.

The grip of death pulling me back to the building.

I try not to live in those memories, preferring to dwell in the lighter ones of my life. “Are we going to argue about who should be lying in this hospital bed? If we are, there won’t be an argument from my side,” I say, trying to lighten the remorse he’s feeling. “I’ll trade ya.” I don’t want to spin this into a bigger deal than it is. It only reminds me of my injuries, and then I start to feel the pain again. “Can’t believe she said yes. Does she know you’re a devout Pokémon card collector?”

Chuckling, he nods. “She knows. I’m selling a card that will pay for her wedding dress, so she’s not upset about my moneymaking pastime.”

“You’re selling a card? Must be love.”

“Yeah.” The shrug of his shoulders is casual, but I know what his cards mean to him. “I want her to have what she’s always dreamed about.” When a pause presents itself, we both take an exaggerated breath before he asks, “What about you? Once you’re freed from this place, you need to venture into dating again. It’s been, what? Eight months? A year? I don’t know how you’re surviving, but I do know that you’re not going to meet your dream girl in the Cove.”

I can’t remember how long it’s been since I went on a date. Life has been quiet on the mountain. The peace of the hills and trees keeps me sane. “Who says? Tracy fell right into your lap two years ago at the Fourth of July picnic.”

“She tripped over my boots, to be more precise, but that luck doesn’t strike twice in one small town. Take a vacation and get out of Mountain Laurel Cove to meet a girl of your own.”

“Who says luck’s not on my side?” There’s a cute redhead just across the hall. “I’m alive, and for all we know, the future missus could come knocking on my⁠—”

“Knock. Knock.” Autumn peeks in as if she were cued. “I wanted to check on you once more before the end of my shift.” She glances at my friend, who stands as if it were impolite to remain seated, while a nurse does her job and checks my vitals. “Hey, Tucker.”

“Good morning,” he replies, like shyness bit his tongue.

Panic begins to rise, causing my heart rate to spike. I knew I should have forced myself to stay awake and figure out ways to make her visit. “You’re already leaving?”

She laughs. “And here I was thinking you were tired of me always bugging you.”

I take two deep breaths. “I’d never get tired of you.”