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“Thanks for your support, Rimes. I wasn’t sure you had it in you, but really appreciate you stepping up to the plate and backing me. According to the Battalion chief, this barely squeaked by for approval, and I think it’s going to do really well.”
“Sir?” Kyle said, without moving. “Begging your pardon… but what exactly are we doing?”
“We are doing a charity auction for a ‘Date with the Firemen of the First Battalion’ – and our entire team is going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder for a date…”
“We are?”
“Yep…” Chief Carpenter laughed. “Just be glad you aren’t on the other team.”
“Why is that?”
“Let’s just say, it involves a photoshoot…”
This time, it was the rest of the team that nearly did a spit-take all at once as they looked up in horror. It was one thing to have to spend time with someone you barely knew, calling it a date for the sake of charity… but photography meant evidence – and they had all seen the firefighter calendars that people ogled all the time.
Kyle couldn’t imagine any of them posing nearly nakedwith suspenders and a helmet for charity... well, maybe Austin?
He’d gouge his eyes out with a Bic pen first…
“That’s right – the other truck is making calendars and auctioning them off for some lucky lady to be in the photowiththem.”
“We got the better end of the deal,” Chase said openly, his eyes wide. “My ex would absolutely nail me to the wall and show the judge that for evidence…”
“No kidding,” Justin agreed quickly, frowning. “I don’t need any help with that foaming-at-the-mouth attorney that Lauren sicced on me…”
“Ah – so Honey and Lauren have the same lawyer?” Chase joked.
“She rides a broom in the night sky and cackles when she wins a case?”
“That’s her!”
Austin, Kyle, and Andy just looked at each other with wide eyes as Chief Carpenter shook his head, walking off with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Are your ex-wives really that bad?”
“YES,” both men said emphatically.
“I’m never getting married,” Kyle muttered openly, scooping up the last of his chili with his spoon.
“No kidding…” Austin agreed. “I don’t need the headache, the heartache, or pants-ache in my trousers. Women are bitter teases and extreme man-haters. There isn’t a girl out there that is worth the trouble or drama she causes.”
“That’s why you date around and live life for yourself,” Andy grinned. “It’s cheaper. You are generally happier. There’s no one to nag you, whine about you having one toomany beers, or complaining that you spend too much time at the station…”
“Hear, hear,” Chase muttered.
Attention: MVA – motor vehicle accident…
The announcement carried on, along with a bell ringing in the distance calling them all into motion.
Sure enough, the men were flying into their positions, throwing on their protective clothing. It was almost comical to watch, because shoes were being kicked off onto the floor and flying around them, as they started dressing.
“Grab your bunker gear and packs…”
Kyle ran, grabbed his bunker gear, and threw it down on the ground, kicking off his shoes quickly and leaving them where they lay as he stepped into his boots. He grabbed his pants, hiking them up over his trousers he was wearing, and donned his weighted jacket before making sure everything was fastened appropriately.
Checking his tank and the lights on his mask, he heard Chase start yelling for the ‘round up’…
“Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” Chase hollered, waving his hand quickly in the air in a circle.
