Carver did not come closer and only turned paler. “No. No kids and stuff.”
“Oh, I figured since you’re older than I am that you would—”
“I like to draw. I did that one,” Kevin announced and pointed to where Soto’s retirement present, the caricature of the whole team, hung on the opposite wall.
“Oh. You’re very talented. Other than drawing, tell me something about yourself. Your parents said they were hoping you’d find someone. Anything on the horizon to banish Unbirthdays?” Williams missed the obvious safe topic and picked the touchier subject from yesterday.
Considering Kevin’s horizon included every woman in Cuyahoga County, he opted not to volunteer any information. “Nope, can’t say I do. How about you, sir?”
“I’m a widower.” William’s answer was clipped.
No one could think of anything else to say. It would be difficult to story-top his sentence without Theo present for a grieving spouse arm-wrestling match. Williams examined the paper on his desk again. “Significant other. Anyone?”
“Everyone here is essentially single by choice,” Vanessa said, specifically referring to the team members present. “Our regular hours and outside hobbies keep us busy enough. It’s difficult to find anyone who wants to date someone long-term who could die in a fire at any time.”
“Yeah, I agree with that one,” Aiden said. It was testament to team loyalty that no one mentioned Luna or Theo. The captain had to suspected Luna and Elias’s relationship based on how the in-service went, but the team wasn’t going to share it.
“What about pets?” Williams tried again gamely. Did he have a list of suggested topics written on his notes?
Erin attempted filling the space. “My neighbor has a dog.”
“I have a plant, which I haven’t killed yet,” Vanessa said. “I water it once a day.”
“Captain, why don’t you tell us something about yourself??” Kevin said as the conversation continued to crash and burn. “Surely you must do something other than live here at the firehouse… and go home all by yourself.”
“I like coffee,” Williams said.
“How revealing,” Vanessa mumbled.
They stood there for a couple more minutes, unable to come up with anything else to say. Williams could not have picked worse topics. Erin wanted to give him a credit for effort, but it was terrible execution.
She hunted for a safe topic and took her first sip of her second cup of coffee.
Gross. Dark-roast black coffee.
“Is there sugar, cream, anything?” Her morning chief-coffee had improved with a splash of cream and some sugar.
“Oh… I usually take mine black.” Williams was crestfallen like he hadn’t considered any other options. “We can go to the Cafe if you need to.”
“Yeah, Erin likes it creamy white.” Erin jabbed her heel into Kevin’s toes, and he quickly corrected, “Her coffee, I mean.”
Vanessa was willing to lend a hand before Kevin’s suggestive comments led Williams to ask Erin more questions. “I can kick a fifty-yard field goal. I did it in exhibition at the NFL Combine,” she offered.
“You were a nationally ranked soccer player.” Williams was visibly relieved to find any topic they could actually talk about.
“Yes, I made it to the U-23 team and World Cup practice squad before I worked pageants full time,” Vanessa said, and Erin was grateful for her interference.
“Yes… beauty contests.” Williams said the term with distaste.
Erin wanted to roll her eyes. The captain was digging himself a big hole now since Vanessa disliked the implication that she was only worthwhile because of her looks. Vanessa shut her mouth and tried to drink the coffee instead.
The silence lengthened until Williams recognized he’d lost his audience.
“Why don’t I review some training protocols with my officers? The rest of you can get back to cleaning.”
Carver, Erin, and Kevin fled immediately. Erin stopped Carver outside the office. “Why don’t you take some alone time? Kevin and I straighten up the conference room.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m shirking.”
