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Looking up, I glanced around the table. Nodding, I said, “Right, sorry. Um…I’ll take two cards.” Pulling out two cards, I put them down on the table and slid them to the center of the table as I picked up the other two cards.
Smiling when I saw the queen of hearts, I shook my head.
Sharp took one look at me and threw his cards in the middle of the table. “Aw, hell no. I know that smile, I’m out.” Soon, everyone was out except for the captain and me.
“You ready to show what you think you’ve got, son?” Captain Ryan said with a smirk on his face.
“Bring it,” I said with a grin.
Captain Ryan laid down his cards and everyone yelled out. Taking a look at them, I said, “Damn, three of a kind and a pair. Cap’s got a full house.”
Cap was pulling the pile of chips toward him when I said, “But…I believe my girl is with me tonight.” Spreading my cards, I laid out a royal flush. “The queen of hearts was all I needed and damn, Cap, you dealt it straight to me.”
Rolling his eyes, Cap got up and pushed his chair back. “Ward, I want to talk to you in my office. Now.”
Everyone laughed as I scooped up my chips and started high-fiving everyone. Sharp walked up to me and shook his head. “Damn, you know you pissed off the cap when he loses at poker and wants to talk to you in his office.”
Laughing, I nodded. “Right?” Placing my winnings in my hat, I took off toward the captain’s office.
Knocking, I pushed the door open. “Cap, you wanted to see me?”
Glancing up, he nodded for me to sit down. Setting the hat full of my winnings in the chair next to me, I sat down and smiled as I waited for him to start speaking.
Leaning back in his chair, he stared at me for a few minutes. “So, how did those counseling sessions go?”
Oh fuck.
Shrugging my shoulders, I said, “Sir, I never went to them.”
Shaking his head, he pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at me. “You have a reason why you never went?”
“I didn’t think it was necessary.” As he raised his eyebrow, I threw in, “Sir.”
Clearing his throat, he let out a breath and began talking. “Preston, we’ve all lost people. You lost people before you lost Harmony’s son. You don’t find it strange that you couldn’t save her son’s life, you became involved in her life, and now you’re practically living with her?”
Moving about in my seat, I cleared my throat. “Sir, who told you I was living with her?”
“Your uncle John.”
Rolling my eyes, I let out a frustrated sigh. “Sir, I’m not really sure what this has to do with me not going to those sessions.”
Leaning forward, he said, “I’ve seen it happen, Preston. Firefighter can’t save the life of a loved one, or the victim is burned badly because you couldn’t get them out in time. What happens? The guilt eats you alive and you find yourself pulled toward that person out of guilt.”
Standing up, I pointed down at him. “I do not love Harmony because I feel guilty about her son. Do I wish she had never lost him—hell yes, I do. Do not sit there and tell me how I feel, Cap. My feelings for Harmony are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”
Sitting back in his chair, Cap nodded. “If she asked you today to walk away from this job, would you?”
Without even having to think, I answered, “Yes.”
Raising his eyebrows, he asked, “Really? Like that, you would walk away?”
“I love her and I’ll do whatever I have to do to make her happy.”
There was a knock on the door and Captain Ryan looked around me. “One second!” he shouted as he looked back at me. “You’re like a son to me, Preston. Your daddy brought you to this station from the time you were little. I watched you grow up with my own eyes. I just want you to be happy.”
Dropping my eyes, I nodded. “She makes me happy, Cap.”
Standing, he reached across his desk and shook my hand. “Good enough for me, Preston. Now get out of here and go win some more.”
Smiling, I grabbed my hat and headed out. Stopping at my bunk, I pulled out my phone and found Harmony’s name.
Me: Hey, baby. How is your day going?
Harmony: Good! I painted the hallway a silver-blue-gray kind of color.
Me: I can’t wait to see it. I love you, Harmony.
Harmony: Is everything okay?
Smiling, I ran my finger over her name. I would lay down my life for that woman. There was nothing that I wouldn’t do to make her happy.
Me: I miss holding you in my arms.
Harmony: Me, too. I couldn’t sleep last night with you gone. Are we still getting a Christmas tree tonight?
