Page 31 of From the Embers

Denver

I guess it did

Denver

GTG. Cap is calling

Red Robin

Let me know about Saturday, I’ll text you the deets

Denver

Will do. Later

I slide my phone back into my pants pocket and take a breath.

This is dangerous territory. Failing everything I already know—with her being my best friend’s sister constantly on repeat—there is no way I’m missing out on seeing Adi, even if it is at a club. Some may say I’m a stick in the mud, but I can let loose when the time calls for it. Okay, scratch that, I’m old, tired, and grumpy, but at least I won’t be coming off a ten-hour shift.

Anyways, the only way to keep Adi safe is to make sure I’m around. That is my twisted way of thinking, and I’m sticking to it. I just don’t want to think about her dancing with other guys, and having them put their hands on her. Surely she wouldn’t invite me to come out if she was intending to hook up with someone else?

All things I do not fucking know.

Back at the firestation, Fifi from Rise and Shine Bakery has left her usual delivery of baked goods. She insists on feeding all of us twice daily because we’re some kind of goddamn heroes to her, and the community, and honestly her food is fucking amazing. The cinnamon rolls are to die for, but you can’t go wrong with anything she brings in.

Upstairs is the lounge area, along with a shared kitchen, dining room, shower rooms, lockers, and offices. The guys will play pool in the lounge area, or hang out in the TV room. There’s a large glass wall in the lounge area that overlooks the bays, so you can see all of the trucks below.

Downstairs is our workout area, along with our trucks and equipment, a storage room and work station.

We have two engines, two ladders and our rescue truck, so the area is very spacious.

I love this part of the South Loop. It’s next to Museum Campus and the historic Printers Row which brings in all the tourists who love jazz and the blues, as well as the old nineteenth-century mansions on Prairie Avenue that stood the test of time. It’s lively, hip and yet somehow has old-world integrity.

I pass some of the guys as I head to the shower room before heading home. It’s been a long day, but all in all, no two days are the same at Firehouse 99.

I just hope there’s enough distraction to keep me from not thinking about Saturday night and if I leave things well alone.

ten

Adelaide

The club is pumping and I don’t need to be asked twice to get up and dance. Ellie, my new pal from work, is really cool and said we needed a girls’ night out, since I didn’t know anyone in the city. I’ve never found it hard to make friends, but I’ve been so busy pulling double shifts and trying to sort out my apartment that there’s been little to no time to socialize.

I’ll admit, it took me a couple of drinks to get me in the mood, but after two cosmopolitans, I’m ready to boogie.

Ellie came over to help me decide what to wear. I’m embarrassed to say I do have clothes in my closet that are labelled ‘never had the guts to wear’ that Ellie beelined to, insisting I wear the current dress I’m sporting. I’ll admit, without her here, I would’ve just worn jeans and a nice top. I rarely wear dresses, but once I got it on, my confidence grew.

It’s black—sitting just above the knee—and tight, has mesh long sleeves with a deep V cut tube with black mesh under it. It’s sexy but also classic, and a little provocative.

The way the material hugged my figure when I stood in front of the mirror made me relieved that I’d spent so much on it. Delaney would be proud I know that much, I plan on sending her a pic later.

“Oh fucking jeepers!” Ellie clapped her hands when I did a little turn. “If you don’t plan on getting lucky tonight, honey, you’d better put something else on.”

The only person I want to get lucky with is Denver. He will be coming tonight, he said he’d see us there and will find us.

I confessed to Ellie, because I needed to talk to a neutral person about the whole Denver situation. Of course, her advice was to simply go for it and not worry about what other people think. Plus, she’s right; my brother knows I’m an adult, and if he has a problem with it, then that’s his issue. Besides, I want to hook up with D, nothing more. At least, that’s what I tell myself. I’ve been self-protecting a lot after Cam. I never wanted to let anybody in ever again. Looking back, it wasn’t all bad. As in, I found out exactly what it was I didn’t want. That in itself was pure gold.

I will never stick around in another relationship playing second fiddle to a man who doesn’t appreciate me. I can’t imagine Denver being that way, but then again, I don’t know anything about him and his previous relationships, all I’ve got to go on is that dreadful Hannah.