His mother would have given him a very loud talking to if he brought a gringa home—especially if she had the vocabulary of a sailor. That was why he kept his liaisons brief with the numerous MetroGen nurses who were happy to ride a firefighter home after their day shift ended.
He was on a third cigarette, a second beer, and chatting up his first nurse of the evening when he heard more trouble.
“You damn lesi dyke!” Conley shouted at McClunis.
“Then I definitely ate out more pussy than you ever will.” McClunis dumped a pitcher of beer on his head.
The rest of the firefighters, including the other newbie, crowded around the scene. The only person who appeared slightly upset was Carl Walsh, but as an unranked member, he was in no position to stand up for McClunis.
Mateo set down his cigarette and walked over, hoping he could deescalate before the scene degraded into a brawl.
Conley flipped the table and took a few menacing steps toward McClunis, who backed up... and found her escape blocked by other firefighter bodies.
Fabulous, Throckies was the closest bar to Firehouse 15, and getting his team banished would crush his love life and piss him off.
Before Mateo got there to break things up, someone else from one of the back corners shoved their way through the wall of people.
“I think that’s enough,” the blonde woman said. She was wearing a skimpy white tank top, heels, and a short blue skirt. Two solidly built guys backed her up on either side.
Despite the unnatural shade of her hair, Mateo recognized her easily.
A pity Conley did not. “You stay out of this, bitch.”
“You hear that, boys? He called me aperra. I am very upset.”
Conley paused since he had not expected her response.
She fluffed her fake blonde hair, a full head taller than McClunis, and stuck out her six times more curves. “What shall I do?”
Mateo squeezed his way through the bodies to confront his firefighter. “This is Officer Isadora Reyes from the Second Precinct.”
“Who wants a nice, friendly drink with us? All friendly like.” Reyes actually smiled, while McClunis had been unable to form the same with her lips earlier.
Mateo crossed his arms over his chest. “We would love a drink.”
“I’ll buy drinks for everyone, including our boys in blue,” McClunis volunteered.
“Apologize to both ladies,” one of the police officers said, “before Reyes drills two holes in your ass.”
“Two rounds of drinks,” McClunis upped the ante.
Unsurprisingly, the entire bar cheered, and the two other police officers escorted McClunis to buy the beer.
“Thanks,” Mateo said to Isadora as the crowd dispersed. “I was getting there.”
“Yeah, sure you were.”
“I was. She’s new to the firehouse, and she’s gonna have to get a thick skin. She is our first woman.”
“Yes, I know. Women. Such bitches, “Isadora said, stone-faced. A few nurses joined the firefighters now the fight was over, which would sweeten tempers.
“Will I get bitched at if I buy you a drink for your trouble?” Mateo beckoned her to the bar. His previous nurse had attached herself to one of the firefighters from B-shift.
“Tequila.”
He waved for the bartender and checked back on his team. McClunis and the officers carried six pitchers of beer back to the tables. One of the police officers pulled out a chair for McClunis and was sitting closer than was necessary. She didn’t appear to notice and was talking animatedly to Carl and a few other guys from B-shift, who had opted to sit nearby at their table. “Do I need to worry about this?”
“That another fight’s going to break out or he’s gonna see if the carpet matches the drapes?” Isadora asked.
