Page 12 of Better Together

Alexis had been so busy she’d missed the last couple of organizational meetings. Maggie had asked her to bring twelve five-dollar bills, and she’d figured they were for making change when selling the treats. She now understood.

Susan Henning, their newest resident and her client, pushed forward and threw a fifty-dollar bill into the mix. Everyone high-fived her and Alexis started to relax. She’d never got into the strip club scene and had only been to one for a bachelorette party. It wasn’t like she didn’t enjoy looking at the men, she just didn’t know how to act around a crowd of screaming, hormonal women.

Maggie bumped hips with her and whistled loudly over the crowd. “Nice!”

The men posing for February and March were the oldest members of the crew. They were well toned for their age even though their hair was mostly white, but Maggie was right; they were nice-looking for men old enough to be their fathers.

Mr. April came out carrying a black Labrador puppy. The puppy awarded the shirtless firefighter kisses, and the spectators went wild. Lily announced that April was pet-adoption month, and the little guy was available for adoption.

Mr. May wore a turnout jacket but was shirtless underneath. Alexis had seen the young guy around town but had never met him. If she remembered right, he had graduated high school last year.

Lily introduced June, and Alexis tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Zeke swaggered out wearing red suspenders over a tight long-sleeved T-shirt that hid his bandage but still showed off his sculpted muscles, carrying a coil of hose around one of his massive shoulders. He tipped his helmet to the crowd and winked at her. She glanced at Elsie and Emma, who clapped and cheered him on with respect. Elsie gave her a thumbs-up. Although she could see her breath in the cool autumn air, she began to overheat. Zeke walked a bit stiffly because of his bruising, but his injuries didn’t make his poses for the camera any less mesmerizing. She imagined him tangled up in the bedsheets next to her, his strong thighs on display and her head resting on his tight abs. If she had a hundred-dollar bill, she’d have slipped it into his waistband.

“Mr. July is the newest member of DCF’s fire department. Give a round of applause for Mitch Collins,” Lily announced. The dance music kicked up a notch and everyone stayed standing. The rumble of an engine made heads turn as Mitch rode up on a motorcycle. Holy hell. His beautifully inked biceps and six-pack were on display. The sight of him in only yellow pants and black boots made Alexis’s mouth go dry. Mitch had been Chloe’s pick for a blind date. She’d given him Alexis’s number, and he had called her last night to set up a date. They’d agreed to have dinner.

After the confusing confrontation in Zeke’s bedroom, she wasn’t sure where she and Zeke stood in their relationship. Just when she thought Zeke was interested in being more than friends, he had pulled back. Sure, he’d flirted, but that was what Zeke did best. Maybe going out with Mitch was what she needed to get her head back on straight and forget about anything happening between her and Zeke. They were friends. That was it. And there wasn’t any harm in having a little fun, especially with a guy who looked like Mitch.

Maggie nudged her. “You had better call me tomorrow and tell me all about your date.”

Zeke stood next to the water truck, watching Alexis. Their eyes met and she smiled. He nodded, then disappeared into the firehall, heading for the locker room to change.

Mitch, the new guy, entered the locker room, laughing with the other guys.

“Enjoy your date tomorrow, Mitch,” someone yelled.

Mitch sat down beside Zeke. “Thanks, man!” he yelled back.

“Anyone I know, Collins?” Zeke asked.

“Yeah, Alexis Welby. You work with her, right?”

“Yeah. I work with her.”

“Any advice?”

“Nope. Catch ya later.” Zeke threw his gear in his locker, slammed it shut, and snuck out the back. He had to get back to the jobsite. He’d spend the rest of the day taking his frustrations out by pulling wire at the church.

* * *

When Zeke arrived at the church, he was the only one there. He started to drill holes and place electrical boxes in the newly framed bathroom.

“Hey, Zeke,” Tommy greeted him, strapping on a tool belt.

Zeke stepped off the ladder. “You want to help run wire? I can show you and then I can continue on to the rest of the rooms.”

“Yeah, for sure.”

He had to hand it to Alexis for hiring Tommy; the kid worked hard and caught on quick. Most teenagers had their noses in their phones, but not Tommy. He hadn’t seen him reach for his phone yet. After setting Tommy up with running the correct wire, Zeke started on the living room.

After a while, Tommy joined him in the living room. “Bathroom’s done,” he said. He stopped in his tracks and turned bright red when Sloane Bishop, whose father owned the local hardware store, walked through the door.

Zeke looked back and forth between Sloane and Tommy.

“Hey, Sloane. What do you have for us?” Zeke asked.

Sloane held up a paper bag. “Dad said Alexis needed some supplies and asked if I’d drop them off. Light switches, outlets, and covers.” She stopped in front of Tommy. “Hi, Tommy.”

Zeke glanced at the teen, who grumbled something incoherent.