A small smile touches my lips. Emanuel isn’t the suit-wearing, clean-cut, MBA graduate, never curses guy that my ex was, but within a few words he had the ability to make me feel more cared for than my ex ever had.
“You shouldn’t have to bear all of that alone, though.”
“I don’t. I go to this group sometimes …” He tells me about a group formed by the Williamsport Fire Department that allows firefighters to meet and discuss with one another all of the depressing, horrible, trying things they see on the job day in and day out. “It’s still growing. Many of us are too proud to go to a group like this but it does help.”
I nod even though he can’t see me. “I’m glad. Regardless, I’d still like it if you would share some things with me … When you’re ready to.”
“Noted.”
My smile widens.
“Now, I have a more important question to ask you.”
“What’s that?”
“What color panties are you wearing?”
I burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing? I’m serious. What color are they?”
I shake my head. “You’re insane.”
“Hell yeah, I am. I’m going insane waiting to get off shift so I can get home to see that pretty face of yours.
I sway a little bit, feeling like I’m floating from his compliments.
“They’re black,” I say, referring to my underwear. I don’t even have to think about what color they are because all of my panties are black. I keep it simple that way.
“Not a bad color at all. What are you up to this weekend?”
“Whatever you have on the agenda for us.”
“Now you’re learning, butterfly. I’m off the entire weekend, plan on spending it with me.”
I didn’t even bother asking what he had planned. Either he didn’t have anything planned as of yet and would have to get back to me, or he did have something planned that he was just unwilling to share with me before he was ready. I’m learning to go with the flow when it comes to Emanuel, and become pleasantly surprised with whatever happens when we go out. Now, if I could just be like that in the rest of my life.
Chapter Fourteen
Emanuel
Getting the urge to call Janine, I pull out my cell phone and stare down at it. It’s after six so she should be home from work by now. Calling her in the evenings when I’m at the station has become a routine over the last few days. We just got back from a call and I was feeling anxious. Nothing had gone wrong on the call, but it often took me a little while to calm down after getting back to the station. I figured I’d give it some time before I called her.
“The hell?” I growl when I feel a force hit my shoulder, pushing me backwards a little. Lifting my gaze, I lock eyes with Don. “You got something to fucking say?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Captain told you to wait on that last call.”
I glower at him. “And I fucking waited just as I was told.”
“The problem is youhadto be told to wait. You run ahead of everyone else, thinking you’re some fucking hotshot. You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“Look, if you want to sit around on your ass and watch shit burn, that’s up to you. But I took on this job to actually save lives.”
“Fuck off!” He pushes me backwards by the chest.
I shove him as well and ball up my fist, taking a swing at him but only catching air when he ducks.
“Hey! What that hell?”
