“You’re exactly who Williams thinks you are. I thought you had a heart. I was wrong.” She tossed a set of arson reports on the floor and found a draft of Baker’s magazine profile. She ripped it down the center and crumpled it up. “I cannot believe how colossally stupid I was.”
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
“What can I do? Report you to HR and screw over every woman in CCFD because the Chief dipped his wick in the company ink? Claim you harassed me during mutual encounters that I initiated? Leave an asshole like Cordova in charge of keeping my people safe?”
“It’s your right.” His tone, the dark evil Jedi he was, practically dared her.
“My right? Thanks. At least I know who you really are.” She threw the paper down and fumbled for her jacket. One hand on the door, she snapped apart her key ring, bending his key out of shape.
The evil Sith Lord Fire Chief who had been Noah once didn’t change his expression.
Nor did it change when she tossed the mangled key on the floor. “Merry Christmas, Chief. Enjoy it. You deserve to be alone, again.”
God, she hoped her words hurt.
Somehow, she made it to her Jeep and blindly started driving. After four blocks, she stopped and punched her steering wheel. How had she been so stupid!
There was a gaping hole in her chest. Her whole life, she’d filled that emptiness with her friends. Her mother was gone, her father had always been unavailable, but she’d managed to make do. She’d let Noah in, and he’d torn her apart.
With no other options, she sent a text to Theo.
Erin: Can I come by? Feeling lonely.
Theo: Sure. I left you one Oreo. U okay.
Erin: Yeah—sad about the lady w/baby today.
Theo: It sucked. Come on over.
It was as good of an excuse as any if she was going to be sullen and quiet again today.
Chapter 42
CCFD only benefited from Noah’s failed romance. He volunteered to take the holiday night call for the following six days. After pocketing the broken key, Noah camped out in his office and buried himself in work. The idea of returning to his house was nauseating, so he slept on his office couch. His left hook was improving, because every time he was tempted to text or contact Erin, he went back to the gym to box.
Things were better this way. She would be fine. He would be fine. The heavy bag had new dents, though.
Abby was not as easy to avoid, especially after he sent her a ‘Merry Christmas, got called into work’ text. She called continuously, and by day three, he gave up and put her on video call. It was after eleven, and he’d locked the door to the office.
“What happened to you!” She was shocked. “Are you growing a beard?”
Noah scraped a hand over his chin. He hadn’t shaved since Christmas Eve, so he had a solid start. “I’m the Chief. I can grow a beard if I want.”
“I thought I was going to meet your ‘friend’ on a Christmas video call.”
“She worked instead.”
“I see. You broke up,” Abby supplied.
“She gave me my key back.” Noah didn’t bother to lie and held up the key.
“I didn’t know you could do that to a key.”
“You can,” he said shortly. “It’s over. You don’t have to meet her. I’m fine.”
“Right. So can we talk about the fact your ex-girlfriend is a firefighter?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Noah was glad his door was closed.
