“There’s a possibility, but since Rescue Four needs lieutenants, I’m hoping they’ll promote within.”
“Since Gary...” Carter’s gaze dropped to the floor. A solemn feeling hovered in the air. Gary was Rescue Four’s other lieutenant who died while doing the job we all love so much. Carter was injured while trying to save him. He died in Carter’s arms.
“He would’ve wanted the job filled. And I know he’d be honored to have you take his place,” Carter finally spoke.
I kept my gaze lowered, as a weight settled in my chest. We didn’t do a lot of sappy emotions here, so when we did, it hit you in your chest.
“Now, let’s see what you got for these questions.” Carter broke up the moment, snatching the stack of notecards from my hands.
Leaping up, I reached to snatch the notecards from his hands. Carter pulled back. “I’m just trying to help, man. Relax.” He looked at me as if I was ridiculous. “All right, let’s see, okay…You’ve just reported for your shift at the station, and while stowing your gear, you hear a noise in the bathroom. You go to check it out and see Firefighter B slumped over in a stall, the stench of alc?” He broke off, realizing the remaining part of the question.
“Just give me.” I reached for the cards, and he moved again.
“No. No, it’s fine. You should know the answer to this question anyway. You smell the stench of alcohol, what do you do. A …” He rattled off the answer options before stopping to look at me, expectantly. “You’ve already lived it, and you made the right call. What do you do?”
“Carter?”
“Harvard, answer the question. What do you do?”
“Report it to an officer.”
He flipped the card for the answer. “Correct. See, that wasn’t so bad. Okay, next question.”
I blew out a breath, arms folded across my chest as he flipped to the next card.
“Well, what’s this here?I’m so proud of you,”he read from the card in a mock girly voice. “Awww, isn’t that the cutest thing,” he sing-songed. “With the little hearts around it for emphasis,” he continued taunting me and turned the card, holding it up for me to see.
That’s when I lunged for him to grab the stack. “Shut the fuck up!” I yelled over his roaring laughter.
“Does she cut the crust off your sandwiches, too?” he gibed.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” I growled as we wrestled.
“Better men than you have tried.” His laughter sounded like taunting cackles in my ear.
A deep clearing of the throat followed by, “Gentlemen,” broke up our ruckus.
From the floor, both of our eyes first went to the shiny black boots directly in front of us, up the legs, torso, and eventually the stern face of Captain Waverly.
“Entertaining yourselves in between calls?”
I peered over at Carter, shoving his shoulder as we both stood up. I snatched the stack of notecards from him when he was unaware.
“Sorry, Cap.”
“I was just trying to help Harvard study.” Mirth still filled Carter’s voice.
“I see. Might be helpful to do that with a little less wrestling.”
“Noted,” Carter nodded his head and responded.
“I need to speak with you.” Captain’s eyes were planted on Carter.
“Sure thing, Cap.”
Captain turned and walked away in the direction of his office. Carter started behind him, giving me a look over his shoulder.
“I hope you’re getting fired,” I tossed at him.
