Page 80 of When In Doubt

Well, mostly good

FREYA

What’s wrong?

Worry lances through me. Is he hurt?

OSCAR

Just tired. Missing home.

And you

Missing you a lot

My breath hitches. I miss him so much it scares me. I’ve never wanted someone in my space like this before, to be with me in the quiet moments. I usually like my solitude too much to let anyone close, but I want him. It gnaws at me. I don’t want to need him, I don’t want to give him the power to hurt me if he walks away, but I worry that the choice is being taken out of my hands.

FREYA

I really miss you too.

OSCAR

I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. Things have been a little crazy

FREYA

Is it all going okay?

OSCAR

As okay as it can be. We’ve stopped the spread from heading toward any residential areas and we’re at something like 65% containment

FREYA

Is that good?

OSCAR

It’s not bad. Most of our job is to stop it spreading, then it should burn itself out in time.

I’ve been clearing shrubs and trees to cut in a fire line

FREYA

So you’re not actually putting it out?

OSCAR

We wouldn’t be able to if we tried. You can’t always fight these things.

Isn’t that the truth.

Chapter Twenty-Six

OSCAR

“Idon’t know how there are any fluids left in my body,” Ryan whines. I can hardly hear him over the sound of the chainsaw as I cut through the base of the tree in front of me. “I’m sweating so much I think I’m gonna get pickled in my own juices.”