Page 12 of Until We Come Home

“Glad to hear it,” I say, silently praying this split becomes permanent so she can finally move past him.

Buzz. Buzz.

Mia gestures toward my jeans. "You going to get that? Someone's trying hard to reach you."

"Nah, I'm at a party," I say, crouching back down to adjust the cedar logs in the pit. "Besides, I'm talking with you. It'd be rude."

"Oh, look at Mr. Etiquette. Since when do you care about phone manners?" She gestures with her beer. "Just check it, Mateo. I don't mind."

"It's just Barnes," I tell her.

“Seattle Barnes? The captain you worked under last summer?”

“Yeah. He wants me back out there for another three-month contract. Fire danger’s spiking early this year and they need experienced hands on the line. I’ve been debating saying yes since I hate to let him down, but I’m scheduled to head back to Boston on Monday.”

Mia's eyes go wide. "Wait. You'd be based in Seattle all summer? If you took it?"

"Except when we get dispatched to the east of the state. Go where the fire is. But yeah, home base would be the city."

“This is ridiculously serendipitous!” She hops up off the driftwood. “I’ve spent the whole week agonizing over a choice, fully intending to make you talk me out of it tonight. You remember how I was planning to bounce back and forth between LA and Seattle for Lark’s project?”

I’ve been hearing about this video production since last winter. Lark is married to one of the Midnight brothers, Jack, the Formula One driver, but she’s a huge indie artist in her own right. Her latest album is a visual one, with a custom video and choreography for each track.

Mia’s heading up all the Pacific Northwest pieces while another dancer covers the Mexico shoots. She’s been buzzing about it for months, all the different dances they’ll be shooting up here.

“Yep,” I say, snapping a dry branch over my knee. “Fly up for a few days of filming, head back home to LA, pick up whatever random gigs come along, and then jet back out for the next phase.”

“Exactly,” she says, her eyes shining like she’s about to burst with news. “Only earlier this week, Meridian over in Seattle got in touch.”

“Meridian?” I arch an eyebrow at her. “The dance company? Isn’t that where your friend...”

“Jada.”

“Right, Jada. Doesn’t she perform with them?”

“Yes!” Mia says. “And Jada told them that I’d be in town for Lark’s project anyway, and they offered me a spot as guest faculty for their summer intensive. Three mornings a week, teaching contemporary to the youth company.”

“Wow, Mia, that’s huge,” I say, forgetting the fire entirely.

“I know,” she says, bouncing a little on her heels. “I’d get to choreograph an original piece for the kids to perform at their big September benefit, and they want me to build something for myself too. A solo, or maybe a duet alongside Jada, depending on how my schedule shakes out.”

“They’d be insanely lucky to get you.” I knock my bottle against hers.

And I mean it. Mia makes a living as a commercial dancer and she’s worked some seriously high-profile tours. I knew next to nothing about the dance industry until I met her, and now I’ve absorbed enough of the contemporary and ballet stuff that I feel like I could write a thesis on it. She’s so passionate that it’s infectious. Anyone would be lucky to learn from her.

“Well, they certainly seemed eager,” she says, warming to the subject. “But the end-of-summer benefit is where the universe gets downright eerie.”

“What’s the cause?” I ask, taking a sip of my beer while a faint memory stirs. “I feel like I’ve heard about that event before.”

“It should, considering it’s right up your alley.” She tugs on my sleeve in excitement. “They host it every year in partnership with a wildland relief fund—I can’t remember the exact name. It supports families impacted by fires across the Pacific Northwest, plus local animal rescues taking in displaced pets after a burn.”

“Oh yeah,” I say, the memory clicking into place. “You brought that up last year when Jada was in the lineup.”

“Yep! When I caught up with her about taking the offer this week, she gave me the full scoop. Jada says a ton of local first responders show up every single year—firefighters, EMTs, search and rescue crews, the whole lot. I’d bet money your station will end up involved somehow. I mean, tell me that isn’t a sign?”

“The timing’s a little strange,” I admit. “But we’re in the middle of fire season, and I’ve taken contracts under Barnes for years. Him reaching out isn’t exactly an alignment of the stars. I’d be more surprised if he hadn’t checked my availability. Besides, doesn’t that foundation put on the same event every September?”

“Ugh, you wouldn’t recognize a sign from the universe if it hit you in the face!” She bumps her elbow against my arm. “I was hesitant at first because it’s a big commitment, and what if I hate being stuck in one city all summer when I could be out on tour? But now...”