Page 45 of Wild Fire

“You need this, Nate,” she says, flashing her warm honey eyes at me. “We need this.” She hooks her arm in mine, and flashes her gaze up at me, pouting like a little kid, and I wish I could say no, but…

She’s right, I do need a night out. I haven’t been out since that night I went to Shadows & Sin, not because I didn’t want to go back, but because I just haven’t had time between my shifts at the funhouse and working on getting things in order for construction to start next week.

I’ve met Lacey’s co-workers once or twice, and they seem pretty nice, I guess, but I still feel like the fourth wheel because I don’t know them that well, and I feel like I don’t have much to talk about with them. Nor do I have any weird emergency stories to share, which is what they all want to talk about it seems.

I could maybe call AJ—at least that’s what I keep reminding myself, but I can’t seem to find a good enough excuse to call him. I know it’s dumb, but I feel like I need some sort of excuse to talk to the guy so he doesn’t think I’m a total basket case. Which, he probably already does, because slipping in his bathroom and painting his walls with my cum probably cemented that, let’s be honest, and then I freaked out on him when he wouldn’t answer me and slammed him up against his truck and—

No, no. Don’t go down that road, Nate. You know what happens.

Maybe Lacey’s right. Maybe I do need to get out and let loose a little. Reed’s Bar isn’t a sex club. It’s a local Irish pub where all the first responders like to go for happy hour.

Totally different vibe, and probably way more my speed. At least that’s what I tell myself as Lacey pouts again, and I let out a low sigh, knowing it’s probably best to admit defeat.

I sigh in relentless defeat. “Fine.”

Lacey squeals and throws her arms around me, nearly crushing me.

“We’re going to have so much fun!” she says, and I can’t deny the way my stomach turns with anxiety.

“Your turn,” Lacey says as she takes a sip of her wine. “Come on, Nate! You got this!” Rachel, one of the other paramedics and Lacey’s “work wife”, hollers from behind me. I take a deep breath and do my best to aim at the corner pocket, but as usual, I miss. Lacey moans in defeat as Rachel curses, and her husband, Charlie, cheers victoriously.

“We are unstoppable, baby!” he says as Lacey pats my back.

“It’s okay, better luck next time?”

“Not likely,” I grumble, as I set the pool stick down and grab the beer I’ve been nursing all evening. The bar is in full swing, and it’s pretty packed for a Thursday night.

“You guys ready for another round?” Charlie asks as he starts to rack up the balls for another game.

“Actually, I think Nate has this round,” Rachel chimes in. Shit, I guess it is my turn.

I nod in understanding and make sure I get everyone’s order correct before I drain my beer and head to the bar. I hadn’t planned on staying this long, but Lacey is having fun, and I guess I sort of am, too. Even if I am losing every game of pool.

When I get to the bar, I order our round and check out my surroundings while I wait.

That’s when I see him. At the end of the bar, sitting next to a guy who looks just as, if not bigger than he is, with dark hair.

AJ raises his beer to his lips as the guy beside him leans into his space. It’s obvious they know each other, and while it’s none of my fucking business, I can’t help but watch him.

With as busy as this place is, he probably doesn’t see me.

I could change that. Easily.

All it would take is for me to walk over there. Which should be easy, given the circumstances. But for some reason, I can’t.

Thankfully, the bartender drops the round off, and I don’t hesitate to pay and head back over to the corner Lacey and her co-workers have sequestered to drop off everyone’s drinks.

It’s nearing seven when everyone is heading out, but I can’t find it in me to leave without talking to AJ.

“You sure you’re ok?” Lacey asks.

Rachel leans on her shoulder.

“I’m fine, just… enjoying the music,” I say, nodding to the live band in the corner that’s been playing for the last hour.

“Besides, I can’t get any closer to home,” I joke because it’s true. Reed’s is literally one block from the apartment, which is why Lacey and her co-workers like to hang out there, being as it’s walking distance for them since the hospital and their apartments are close by.

“Okay,” she says carefully. “Well, if you change your mind…”