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“You’re funny,” I playfully mocked Sean, rewarded with his laughter. “I’m not telling.”
“Shit.” Sean covered his mouth. “Jesse, get a lottery ticket.”
I glanced at Jesse, his smile wide as Sean’s. “Wow. I mean…I knew you two were serious…but honestly, I didn’t think anyone could tie down Lizzie.”
“Some friends you are, talking about Lizzie like this,” I taunted, shaking my head while I reached for my coffee cup. “I think she’d prefer if I kept our life private.”
“You have a life.” Sean held his chest. “You are in love.” It took five more minutes of those two giving me shit before they calmed down and we could talk about something else. Sean told us about the foundation his dad started, letting Sean participate with developing a program for cancer survivors. It kicked me right in the chest, and I ate it up like a hopeless romantic. He was sponsoring housing for families in treatment. This guy was a saint, and I didn’t know how to keep up.
“Sean,” I interrupted their exchange about the foundation, considering his generosity, “I meant to thank you for the plaque you and Avery gave me at Lizzie’s. It’s beautiful, and—”
“Don’t mention it.” He smiled. “It was just something small to remind you how important you are and how important what you do is.”
We were getting ready for the bill when my phone rang, the fire station number flashing across my screen. It was one of those perfect summer mornings, warm and stagnant, and I was uneasy looking at my phone. Well, the missed texts from Lizzie were something else, but the fire station sent my stomach into a knot.
“Hello?” I hesitantly answered, a final swig of coffee floating between my cheeks, unsure of what demands awaited me. I was pleased when the Chief answered, his voice calm.
“Rossi,” he began, “Nina called in, two recruits have the flu, and we need you to cover third shift starting at one.”
“That’s more than third shift, Chief,” I rebuked. “I’m not even on call today…” And I really want to have one of those perfect do-nothing days with Lizzie after brunch. And pack up my house, because the most beautiful woman in the damn world told me to move in with her.
“Come in.” Click.
“Everything okay?” Sean inquired when I aggressively shoved my phone back into my pocket, cursing under my breath.
“No,” I answered. “I have to cover a shift in,” I looked at my watch, “two hours.”
***
Bonding with Sean and Jesse over brunch was food for the soul, and Lizzie understood I needed to work. She’d sent me three selfies that promised an antidote to getting called in, which absolutely made adjusting into my shift difficult…to say the least.
Medical bags were reorganized, twice, and I’d cleaned the bunks. The fridge was stocked, and a rookie was prepping dinner while most everyone lounged around, watching the news or football highlights.
I lifted weights for an hour, killing time, and was headed into the shower when the Chief stepped in my path.
“You feeling a little naked without my dog in your arms, Chief?” I teased, trying to squeeze by him.
“I’m excited to meet who’s taken my place.” He stuck his nose up, feigning hurt. “But I just got a call from one of the Reserve’s officers. There’s been a mistake in their timeline.”
My heart sank. “What?” I felt my eyes begin to throb, bouncing back and forth while trying to read the Chief’s mind.
“You’re not called, Rossi. Not yet, at least. They rescinded their schedule.” I gasped for air, inhaling what I could before balancing my left palm against the wall. “You okay, kid?”
No. Yes. No. Would Lizzie still want to move in together? Lizzie. “Yes.”
He patted my back, grumbling something about dinner on his way past me, but I stood like a fool in the hallway. I was dripping with sweat from working out, my shirt dangling from the waistband of my pants. I rolled my gaze downward, my eyes tracing the lines of the calla lily that drove Lizzie nuts. I couldn’t wait to tell her. I just needed to breathe first. It was like life slugged me right in the stomach, taking air from my lungs and leaving my gasping for something, and now the world was handing me a chance to exhale.
I ran to my locker, excited as hell to text Lizzie and tell her the news. I snapped a photo of myself, a mess and shirtless, knowing she’d appreciate it, and began typing a message to go along with it.
Me: I need a shower. When I get home—
“Noah?”
My thumbs froze. I waited, my back to the woman repeating my name, making sure I wasn’t delusional from working out on a belly full of caffeine and the euphoric high of what the Chief just told me.
“Turn around,” she demanded. Her voice alone was enough to piss me off. My muscles stiffened, still feeling like the wind was knocked out of me, and I was hot, burning up with the hate and disgust I’d buried and burned after Muffin and I lit my sheets ablaze months ago.
“You shouldn’t be back here, Callie,” I muttered, shoving my phone into my locker and pulling a white t-shirt over my head.
