Page 32 of Dueling Flames
“Sup, Thorne?” Joe answered on the second ring. He sounded awake and chipper.
“Hey, you got time to talk?”
“Yeah. What’s up?”
I sighed. “It’s been a weird day and it’s only,” I looked at my watch, “10 a.m.”
“Just got home from work, huh?”
“Yeah. It wasn’t even all work stuff.”
I heard him close a door. Probably to his office. “Start from the beginning.”
“I overheard the captain talking to Lissa. Apparently, she requested a new partner.” My good leg shook, which caused the whole bed to wobble.
“That’s surprising. I thought you two got along.”
“Me too.”
“Aren’t you staying at her place while your ankle heals?”
“I was. I got the air cast off two weeks ago and the elevator is fixed, so I just went straight home today.”
“Wait, weren’t you two carpooling?”
“Well, that’s part two of the story, but I’m more concerned about why Lissa doesn’t want to work with me. We make the best team.”
“When did she make the request?”
“Uh, I don’t know. What if she thinks I won’t be able to do my job because of my ankle? What if she doesn’t want to work together because we’re dating?”
“Back up.” I could almost hear Joe sit up straight. “When did you start dating?”
“Three or four weeks ago.”
“Damnit Thorne. You know better than to date a co-worker.”
“Yeah, but she’s amazing.”
Joe sighed and probably rubbed his hand over his face. “It might be so your relationship doesn’t interfere with your work.”
“But she should have talked to me about it first.”
“Go talk to her now.”
I frowned and sunk into the mattress. “I’m still upset. I don’t want to say something I’ll regret later because of anger.”
“That’s never stopped you from yelling at me when you’re mad.”
“Shut up. You won’t let me walk away from a fight.”
“I—” Joe stopped short. “Fuck you. I hate it when you’re right.”
I laughed. “And I’m always right.”
“If you were always right, you wouldn’t be callin’ me.”
“And I hate you.” I laughed again.
