Page 21 of Heat Advisory

I kept hoping it would be a slow shift so I could text back and forth with Cora and maybe even talk on the phone a little to make up for bailing on our date, but today had turned into an absolutely insane shift.

Cora had texted me shortly after I had gotten on shift, something about “just checking on me” or something like that, which I thought was sweet, but I hadn’t had time to respond since it was a shit show from the moment I walked into the station.

First, there was an accident on the highway that required our EMS crew, the fire engine, and the jaws of life. Thankfully, everyone was okay, but that had happened about ten minutes after I walked into the firehouse.

Next up, it was a false alarm at a school because some kids didn’t feel like taking their math test. That wasn’t a particularly hard call, but we got the call as we were still driving back from the accident.

After that, it was an actual fire at an abandoned warehouse. Teenagers were smoking and had thrown their leftover butts in the dry shrubs next to the building, not realizing they would spark and set the whole place on fire.

That callout had required three separate engines to assist since it was hot and dry outside, and the fire had spread quickly. It also took over three hours to put out and finalize the scene. By the time we got back to the station, I was wiped the fuck out and chose to catch a quick nap with a few of the other guys.

Later, once I finally came off shift, I pulled out my phone to see I had missed texts from my sister and Cora, as well as my cousin, Mack. Knowing Mack only ever communicated in memes, and my sister was likely texting to check in on me about the suit that I never got a chance to go get, I went to the text from Cora first. Also, I just found myself wanting to read hers first anyway because I knew it would make me smile.

Cora:

Are you okay?

That was sweet of her to worry. I wanted to think of something funny to write back, so I decided to go see what my sister wrote first while I thought of something to text Cora back with.

Morgan:

Umm…are you in town? Cause I didn’t realize we were having breakfast today. Or do you mean a different day?

What?

Oh shit.

My heart started racing as I connected the dots.

I looked at the previous message and realized I had texted Morgan about missing breakfast instead of Cora.

I quickly jumped back over to that text thread, and sure enough, I hadn’t sent Cora anything. Not a single thing.

Shit.

The “are you okay” was probably because she thought something bad happened because I stood her up. And her previous text of “just checking in” was likely to find out why I was late.

Double shit.

This was not going like I had planned.

I immediately called her as I got into my truck. This apology could not be done via text. Hell, if I’d known where she lived, I would have driven over to her place to apologize.

My heart raced as the phone began to ring. Each subsequent ring had my heart picking up the pace just a little more.

She didn’t answer, so I was forced to leave a voicemail. I felt deflated and defeated but knew this was my only chance to try to make this right.

“Hey, Cora. It’s Jay. I’m so sorry about today. I messed up. Bad. I got called into work to cover for a sick coworker, and I sent you a text explaining all of that, but I accidentally sent it to my sister. Morgan replied all confused, and then that’s when I realized I texted her instead of you. I feel terrible. Worse than I did when I realized I had to get a raincheck for our date. I’m back on a twenty-four-hour shift tomorrow but then off again for forty-eight. I would love to take you out and make up for this. I’m so sorry. I’ll make it right, I swear. Just…please call me back.”

I hung up. My thumb hovered over the screen like I could somehow magically will her name to appear.

Cora was a sweet person, so I was banking on the fact that maybe she would understand once she heard my explanation.

After years of wanting this moment to happen—finally taking her out on a date—I had screwed it up. I just had to hope that I hadn’t screwed up so badly that she wasn’t willing to give me another chance.

Just then, a new idea came to me.

I grabbed my phone and placed the call.