Chapter 1
Knox
“Knox, did you hear me?” my fire captain yells. If the volume of her voice hadn’t made me turn my head, her tone certainly would have.
“Uh, no. Sorry, Steph. What’d you say?” I ask, pulling off my boots. We’ve just finished getting the truck cleaned up after our third call of the night. Thankfully, it was a medical assistance call this time and not a fire, because I’m a little out of it.
Clearly.
“Isaid,take your tired ass home. I’m pulling you from the schedule for the next six weeks. You need to take some time off.”
“Six weeks?” I say indignantly. “I’m fine.”
That’s a lie, and we both know it.
Stephanie places a hand on my forearm. “You’re not fine, Knox. You’re here too much, and you never sleep. You’re growing increasingly distracted and you’re going to get yourself, or one of my other guys, killed. So, as much as I love having you here, I’m kicking you out for mandatory R&R. Effective immediately.”
“Did I just get fired from a volunteer position?” I ask, trying to crack a joke. Steph doesn’t even give me a pity grin.
“Go home, Knox.”
Home.
It used to be a place I loved more than anything. Hell, I built it myself, board by board and brick by brick. It’s exactly the way Karen wanted it, and it still wasn’t enough to make her stay.
I grab my shit out of my locker, say goodbye to the squad, and head for my truck. It’s not even six p.m. yet, so I text Jake, Hudson, and Phoenix, asking if anyone’s available to hang out.Because fuck going home to an empty house again.
Their responses don’t shock me, and Hudson doesn’t even text back at all.
Jake
Can’t tonight. Taking Dyl out on a date.
Phoenix
Walker and I are heading out of town for the weekend.
Knoxy, GO GET LAID.
Jake
He doesn’t do one-night stands, Phoe. That’s not his style.
Phoenix
Well maybe that’s his problem. His style sucks.
He needs to change it up.
Remember how to let loose.
Have a little fun and spontaneity.
It’slike they’ve completely forgotten I’m on this text stream with them.
Jake
I don’t think it’s that easy to change who you are as a person.
