Page 92 of Chasing Hope

My eyes widen so far I’m worried I’ve forgotten how to blink.

“Small world,” is all I manage to whisper.

“You’ve done what Tristan and I have been dying to do for years.”

The man next to her pats his chest with a flourish. “Tristan, by the way, and this is Angel, but don’t let the name foolyou, she’s far from it,” he says with an eye roll. “Can never be told what to do. Even ignores you when you call her name sometimes.”

“I’m not that horrid,” Angel protests, slapping his chest.

“No, you just have a little devil inside you that likes to come out every now and then.”

Smirking my way, Angel whispers, “Which, by the way, that devil came out for Carter.”

“I’d introduce myself but apparently I’m famous,” I say. “Is Kalani okay now?”

Angel waves me off. “Oh yeah, she’s peachy. Has a new boyfriend that adores the ground she walks on. Took her a while, though.” She looks at me then. “We’re going to be best friends, I just feel it.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Well, considering Carter fucked my last best friend, I’m in need of a new one.”

Tristan gasps as Angel’s eyes heat with fury. “No,” they say in shocked unison.

I nod, with a slight scoff I accidentally let slip. “Oh yes, caught them in my bed.”

“What a dog,” Tristan says with such disdain that a smile springs free on my lips.

“Are you guys training as well?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation away from my horrid ex-boyfriend.

“No, we’ve been here for over two years. Well,I’vebeen here two years. Tristan here is a certified senior,” Angel teases.

“Seven years is not old!”

An older woman enters the room and everyone falls quiet, but not Angel. She leans forward conspiratorially. “Nowthatis our senior gal. She’s been here for over thirty-five years. She’s the one who’s going to train you. Give her the upmost respect and you’ll be good.”

Tristan also whispers, “She’s big on empathy, won’t have anyone in the academy who acts coldly. There’s a level of detachment needed but she wants humans, not robots.”

“Thanks for the tip,” I whisper back right as the woman in question raises her brow in our direction.

“Don’t force me to teach you lot again. I survived it once, I don’t need to do it another time.”

Angel gives the woman such a sickly-sweet smile I know instantly Tristan was right—she gets up to trouble. You can’t nail a face like that to get you out of situations without having to master it somehow.

“Sorry, Nina,” she says, taking Tristan’s hand. “We’ll be on our merry way. Good luck, recruits!”

With a last wink over her shoulder at me, I bite the inside of my cheek trying not to laugh as I step closer to my peers.

The navy work shirt Nina wears compliments her deep ebony skin, the braids in her hair entwined with both black and gray strands also suiting her features. I’m assuming she’s over fifty considering Angel said she’s been here for over thirty-five years, but she doesn’t look a day over forty.

“Quite a choice of friends,” she murmurs, but not harshly. It’s a tease, a loving one at that.

I offer a small smile. “In my defense, the choice was made for me.”

Nina laughs at that. “That doesn’t surprise me. Those two are a whirlwind.” Clapping her hands, all niceties and friendliness are put away as professionalism slips over her. It has my back straightening. “Recruits, are you ready to help save lives?”

“Yes,” the room calls out in unison.

“Here’s to a new beginning. Welcome to the Denver 911 dispatch operation. We’re excited to have you here.”

My first day may have taken an unexpected turn with Angel and Tristan already knowing me, but my heart rests easy knowing I’ve already made some work friends…or that I’m on my way to developing some. At least I didn’t have to bend over backwards to get them to respect me and view me as an equal colleague like I did at my prior job.