He turns to me, holding his arms out and shrugging. “Maybe. Either way your ass is in the kitchen. And hurry the hell up we’re starving.”
Waving him off, I head upstairs to put my stuff in my locker before returning downstairs to properly set up my boots, turnout gear, and mask so they’re all in the perfect order when I need to jump into them quickly if we get a call.
I go to the kitchen where I spot one of the rookies. “Hey, you’re helping with the dishes,” I say.
He frowns but doesn’t say shit. Rookies know they’re the lowest common denominator in a fire station, even next to the new guy like myself, since I do have seven years in the department.
Opening the refrigerator, I find two large packages of ground beef, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. I pull the ingredients out, placing them on the counter, and then remove the two large cans of beans from the cupboard.
“Looks like we’re making chili,” I say to the rookie.
“I don’t know how to cook chili.”
I grunt. “Fucking rookies.”
“You were a rookie once.” I turn to see Carter entering the kitchen and swiping an orange from the fruit basket at the center of the table.
“That was a long time ago.”
He snorts. “You sure you know what you’re doing over there?”
I wave him off. “I’ve got this covered.”
“Good. I’m fucking starving. Skipped breakfast this morning. Diego has a class assignment so I let Michelle sleep in while he and I headed to the library and then dropped him off at the school so he and his classmates could finish their project with the teacher. I picked up breakfast for him but forgot it for myself.” He shakes his head chuckling.
Turning my attention away from the cutting board where I’d begun chopping the onion, I stare at Carter for a moment. His expression is content as he chews on the orange he just peeled.
“How is it?”
“How’s what?”
“Being a father and husband.” Now that is a statement I didn’t see myself wondering about even a few short weeks ago.
“Well, I’m not there yet. The wedding’s not for two months, and we’re still waiting on the adoption to go through for Diego …”
“Yeah, yeah, but you’re all in. You’re committed and living together. He calls youdad. The other stuff is just a matter of time and signing some forms. What’s it like?”
Carter’s eyes narrow on me.
Shit.I return my attention to the cutting board and continue chopping before looking over at the rookie. “Don’t just stand there. Clean something.”
He jumps and turns toward the sink, beginning to fill it with water. That’s when Carter moves in on my left side.
“Is the Man of Chaos, himself, actually asking these questions?”
Sighing, I shake my head. “I knew a fucker like you would make this into a big deal. I’m just asking a question. Besides, I haven’t been calledChaosin a long time.” I toss the onion into the large stockpot that has been heated with oil, while avoiding Carter’s stare.
“I’m just fucking with you. In reality, it’s great. My father always told us that finding our other half would be one of the great joys of our lives. I didn’t believe him until I met Michelle.”
I look from the pot to Carter. He’s completely serious. I don’t say anything because there is nothing to say. I don’t know if what he’s talking about is even for a guy like me. Not with my background.
One thing I do know, is that no other woman in my life has even had me asking these types of questions. Not until Janine.
Both my and Carter’s eyes rove upward toward the ceiling as the alarm for an incoming call goes off.
“Rescue Four called to respond to a two alarm fire at an elementary school. Reports of children trapped on the roof.”
“Shit!”
