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“Umm… I mean… Never mind.”
“No chance. Tell me.”
I dropped onto the bench and hung my head. “I convinced Krystal to just let everyone assume we were dating while she was here. We weren’t going to lie to anyone, but when the inevitable rumors started flying? We just sort of…didn’t deny it.”
I looked up at him hesitantly.
Jake shook his head. “You must be dumber than I thought, Storm.”
I rubbed my hands over my face. “I know, okay? I already said I was an idiot. I always knew she was going back. But then… I don’t know. It was nice. It was like the good ole days, and then we kissed, and I just… I wanted it to be real, you know? It got a little too real.”
Jake sat on the bench next to me. “I’m sorry, man.” We sat in silence for a beat before Jake continued. “Is there any way it was a little too real for her, too?”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just wonder if she’s as miserable as you are. She’d always planned on leaving, and then you come along and things change. Maybe she didn’t know how to change the plan. When things get messy, sometimes it’s easier just to stick with the plan than to admit you want something different.”
“Geez, Jake. That’s some real Yoda insight right there.”
“Full of wisdom, I am,” he said in his best impression of the tiny green Jedi.
“Full of something, that’s for sure.” I said.
Captain Wells poked his head out of the station. “Hey, guys,” he said.
“What’s up? It’s your day off, right?”
He came out and started inspecting the four-inch line. “Yeah. I just needed to get out of the house, you know?”
I glanced at Jake, and he shrugged. Obviously, neither of us had ever been married, but I guess it was reasonable to need some time away from your wife. “Sure, man. I can’t say I don’t come here too often. Chief started getting on me about it, actually.”
“Yeah, me too. Says the job is hard enough on a marriage without extra time away.”
Jake snorted. “He would know, dude. Marcy is what…his third wife?”
I slugged his shoulder. “Have some respect. Besides, he and Marcy are good together. I wouldn’t make fun of the man who has gotten three women to marry him when you’ve never gotten one.”
Jake muttered something under his breath, but I couldn’t catch it. “What was that?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.” He stood up and grabbed the clipboard with inspection sheets, leaving me alone on the bench.
Nate turned back. “So is your rookie going to shave that puny little mustache or what?”
I laughed. “Oh man, it’s so bad. But Matteo combs the little thin hairs and everything!” I shook my head. “I can’t decide if I hope he still has it at the auction. On one hand, it’s hilarious. On the other hand…”
“He looks like a fifteen-year-old excited he started getting facial hair?”
“Exactly,” I confirmed.
“Were we that ridiculous when we were fresh out of academy?”
I laughed. “Probably. I seem to remember a soul patch on your rookie photo.”
Captain Wells shook his head. “Really? I don’t remember that. Pretty sure that photo is gone forever.” He flashed an innocent smile.
“Mmm-hmm. Just disappeared, right?”
“Yup. My brother’s photo with that awful mullet, though? It’s completely secure in a top-secret location waiting for the day he becomes captain so I can display it at his promotion ceremony.” Nathan wiggled his eyebrows and flashed a mischievous grin.
I smiled and then asked, “You think he’ll get there?” Nate’s brother, Eli, was a bit of a black sheep, living in his brother’s shadow.
Nate didn’t seem to mind the serious turn of the conversation. That’s how it was around the station most of the time. Joking and fun was often interspersed with surprisingly deep conversations about everything under the sun.
“Yeah, I think so. He’s a good kid. Just needs to think things through, you know?”
I nodded. “Let me know if he needs anything. I know he’s not on my shift, but I’m happy to be a mentor or whatever if he’s looking.”
“Thanks, Bryce. I appreciate it. I know he’d rather have just about anybody but me. I think Captain Parker is doing a pretty solid job keeping that crew in line.” He pointed to the driver’s side, moving the conversation back to the work at hand. “You want me to run the cab check?”
