DeniseGamerChick and I were gamer friends, as I liked to call it. We chatted about basic things, played video games with one another, and talked shit. Occasionally, the conversation got a little flirty and sometimes personal, but nothing ever too far.
She was probably someone on the other side of the country, anyway. I never bothered to ask, and neither did she.
DeniseGamerChick: Lol. Maybe you’re right. I did get the information I needed, though.
I frowned, wondering what that meant, but she typed another message.
DeniseGamerChick: Are you ready to play?
WFDPlayer04:Always.
DeniseGamerChick: Ken, right?
WFDPlayer04: Is there a better player?
I groaned out loud. I knew what her response would be even before it lit up my screen.
DeniseGamerChick: Only the best superhero to ever walk this earth. Ms. Chun-Li herself.
I chuckled and shook my head.
WFDPlayer04:You know, technically, she’s not a superhero. And she sure as hell isn’t walking this Earth.
DeniseGamerChick: Whatever, smart aleck. Come get this butt whooping.
Within minutes, we were engaged in a battle of my Ken to her Chun-Li. I took the first round, but Denise won the next two. That didn’t matter. We went back and forth before eventually switching to NBA 2K20. It was only when I happened to glance out the window that I noticed the sun coming up. We’d gamed for over two hours.
I hated to log off, but I had an early shift that day and needed to head out.
As I closed out of the game, I felt something turn over in my chest. The jittery, anxious energy that had plagued me when I woke up had lessened. It wasn’t gone, but it was manageable enough for me to push it to the back of my mind.
Chapter 3
Don
The laughterand banter of a few of the firefighters echoed around the garage as I made entry from the main part of the station. Equipment was strewn about, some laying by the side of the firetruck that was parked inside. The second truck remained in the driveway while two of the guys hosed and washed it down before the ending of their shift.
With a grin, I peered across the garage at the rookie who frantically searched for something I knew he’d never find.
“Rookie, did you find that hose stretcher yet?” I called with my arms folded across my chest.
The young rookie turned to me with wide eyes. “Uh, not yet,” he said, a nervous tremble in his voice. “I’m still looking.”
“Dammit.” I deepened my frown, appearing disappointed. “You better make sure we have the damn hose stretcher before our next run.” I pointed my finger at him for emphasis.
“I’m on it.”
He rushed off in the direction of one of the closets where we kept supplies.
“What’s he doing?” Carter asked, coming out to the garage behind me.
I struggled to keep the grin off my face as I told him, “He’s searching for the hose stretcher.”
Carter frowned, a look of puzzlement appearing on his face before he raised his eyebrows and smirked. “How’s it going, Rookie?” he asked over my shoulder.
“Um, it’s not in here,” the rookie replied.
“You know what?” I tapped Carter on the shoulder. “We probably left it at that last fire over on Schwertz Lane.”
