Page 22 of The Fire Captain's Unexpected Baby
Aaron
The phone feels heavy in my hand. I’m aware that the whole station can listen in on my conversation if they want to—and some of them have made no secret of the fact that theywantto.
Others have made it clear that they’re trusting me to take care with Paige. Levi is one of them, a surprise even to me.
Somehow, I managed to get her brother’s blessing for this budding relationship.
I’ve been biding my time all afternoon before I could call her. Back at the station, the rest of the guys were waiting to give me their report. We took turns, showering in shifts until the smell of smoke was gone, as much as it ever is in a firehouse.
And now, they’re finishing the dishes in the kitchen. I helped cook, they help clean up the aftermath.
The ringing seems too loud as I press the phone to my ear. I don’t remember the last time I felt this nervous over a phone call. But somehow Paige has managed to tear past all of my defenses.
“Hello?”
I take a deep breath. All of my nerves vanish at the sound of her voice, soft and melodic. The ache in my chest reminds me how much I wish she were here with me.
“Just wanted to call and check on the puppies,” I lie.
“More rambunctious than my toddler,” she laughs. Right on cue, I hear them yip in the background, followed by Noah’s squeal. “I have suddenly remembered why I don’t have a dog at home.”
“Too much commitment?” I tease.
“I’m not afraid of a little commitment,” she says softly. “I just don’t have the energy to care for another person.”
Sadness spears through me. Paige has taken care of everyone around her for who knows how long. She needs someone to take care of her for a change.
“Lucky for you, not everyone needs to be taken care of.”
“Maybe not right now.” She pauses. “Are you still at work?”
“I’m here through tomorrow afternoon. The wildfire was the start of a 36-hour shift for me. But I did get a nice break seeing you today.”
“Bet that really made my brother happy,” she laughs. “He is probably sitting right beside you right now, listening to our conversation.”
I laugh and steer the conversation away from Levi. I don’t know what to make of the shift in his attitude today. He practically pushed me away at the wildfire and into his sister’s arms. He gave me her number. And now, he is somehow keeping the other guys away while I talk to Paige.
“Tell me about your day,” I say, eager for any crumb of her day that she wants to give me.
She launches into a story about her coworkers at the hospital, followed by a cute anecdote about Noah and the puppies. I get carried away in her stories, forgetting that I’m in the bunks at the station.
Until Samson comes in and makes his own call.
“I can tell you’re not alone anymore,” Paige sighs. Do I detect a hint of sadness in her voice? “I’m glad you called.”
“Me too,” I say, letting the words hang there. “I’ll see you on Sunday.”
“Save some more puppies for me,” she laughs before hanging up.
Paige has a way of making my life seem a little brighter. Being a firefighter is the only thing I’ve ever wanted out of life. The desire came at a time when I didn’t think I would ever want anything out of life. And then my father found me in the nick of time and gave me this hope. This purpose.
He’s the only one I can trust to tell me how to handle such a new feeling. I can’t call him here at the station because I can’t admit how I think I feel while surrounded by these men who care deeply for Paige.
I text him instead, telling him I want to talk when I get off my shift. He tells me that he’ll be out where the fish are biting. As usual, he tells me to call anytime now that he’s retired.
I text back and forth with him a bit about work before I head to the weight room. Anything to take my mind off Paige for now. Our date on Sunday is too far for me to start obsessing now.
I pump weights until my muscles give out, her face never far from my mind.
