I slide the garlic pepper down the kitchen island, and he catches it like someone on aFood Networkcompetition. It’s been a lackluster day at the firehouse. We’ve only had one call, and that was one of the town’s frequent fliers who activates 911 whenever one of her animals escapes her coup. Or if she needs to reach something on the top shelf of her kitchen cabinets. Thus the boys try to entertain themselves withTop GunandThe Bourne Supremacyreruns.
“When’s dinner?” Trevor asks, rubbing his belly as he eyes the flank steaks Jason is preparing. It’s a wonder we aren’t all overweight around here. These guys really know how to cook. My mind instantly returns to my favorite chef, and I frown. If I’d ever let her cook dinner for me, there would’ve been no walking away.
“Should be ready in fifteen minutes,” Jason says with his back to us.
Trevor reaches into the fridge for a bottle of vitamin water before standing beside me. “Take a walk with me?” His question surprises me.
“Me?”
“Yeah,” he answers quietly, looking to verify Jason’s attention is firmly on the food he’s preparing.
I slide off of my seat and follow him outside. “What gives? You’re making me nervous. Everything okay with Addison?”
Trevor is one of the newer members of our station. As luck had it, he caught the eye of one of the prettiest gals in town. Sweet too. I don’t mind saying I was more than a little jealous he was able to land her. We all were. What’s worse, he fought the attraction tooth and nail, not wanting to commit to anyone after a bad breakup. I’d give anything to settle down with a firecracker like Addie. Have someone to come home to when the twenty-four hour shifts are over. Eventually, he came to his senses, and they’ve been together ever since.Lucky bastard.
“Addie’s great. Everything okay with your mom?”
“Yeah. Well, as okay as it’s ever going to be. She’s getting worse day by day. But there are days she’s lucid enough to remember who I am.”
“I’m sorry, man. That sucks.” He motions to the picnic table, and we both take a seat.
“My brother Harrison is a saint. I owe him for stepping up so I can stay here. But I need to do better about giving him some breaks when I have my stretches of time off every three weeks.”
“Is that where you were last weekend?”
Hell. Last weekend sucked. Mom was fine, but I was a wreck. I’d committed to watching her on Saturday and Sunday so Harry could have a breather and enjoy his beach house. Since the new nurse he hired stays overnight Monday through Friday, we decided to go out for drinks to shoot the shit Friday night.
Then I saw her.
I knew it was a possibility. But I wasn’t mentally prepared to see men hitting on her. And god, she looked so pretty. She was wearing the same outfit from our date. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. It was pathetic.
I’d already had more than a few drinks before she arrived. So it didn’t take many more to start the bad decisions flowing. First, I called the bar attempting to page her like some possessive A-hole. I don’t know what I was thinking beyond hoping it would pull her away from her admirer long enough that he’d set his sights on someone else. Then when the douchecanoe wouldn’t take the hint, I almost face-planted on the floor trying to climb over the table to get to her. Thankfully, since Harry was there, cooler heads prevailed.
“You haven’t seemed like yourself since you got back.” Trevor interrupts my mental smackdown. “Is it your mom or something else?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yeah. You’re one of the most easygoing guys I’ve met. It’s not like you to be so broody.”
“Broody?” I give him a glare.
“Okay, that’s an Addisonism. But it fits.”
Broody? Have I beenthatbad? “I don’t know, man. Going back home makes you think. I’m twenty-eight. I want to settle down and have kids. But I left Candy Cane Key for a reason. There’s just too many bad memories to want to return there and make it my home. I love it here. But… well, things haven’t turned out the way I planned.”
“I get it. I count my lucky stars I found Addie. I know I don’t deserve her. But I intend to do everything in my power to keep her happy enough she can’t see straight. I’m not giving her a reason to discover there’s anyone better.”
My head drops into my hands, wishing things could be different. Because I was happy when I was with Ellie.Like, really fucking happy.And I’m pretty sure she was too.
Trevor rests his hand on my shoulder. “You met a girl there, didn’t ya?”
“Yeah.”
“I knew it,” he bellows.
“Keep it down, will you? The last thing I need is all of C shift teaming up on me with their advice. You’re the only one with a successful relationship. I’m not taking any direction from those losers.”
Trevor chuckles. “Well, Dr. Laurence is at your service.”
