He'd started jogging on the way back just to get his blood flowing, but once he was within sight of his rental, he felt the cold in his bones.
He wasn't used to the weather in Center City yet and the last thing he needed was to get sick on the day he started work.
Pulling on the sweatshirt that his sister had given him as a gag gift and pulled on over his head as he kicked off his sneakers. A moment later he was in bed, under the covers, glad he hadn't turned on the AC before he left the rental.
Otherwise, his teeth might be chattering at the moment.
A few seconds later as his limbs started to warm up, he remembered that he still had his cell phone in his back pocket.
Kaleo groaned and shifted around under the covers to pull out his cellphone.
He set it on the nightstand beside the bed and plugged it into the charger before yanking his hands back under the covers.
He had an appointment to meet with the Apartment Manager, Mister Crenshaw, as soon as he'd finished his first shift at the firehouse.
It was a bit of a time crunch as he couldn't expect the man to hold the apartment indefinitely, but he knew that between thatmoment and the end of his first shift there was a chance that anything could happen.
Still, he grinned as he fought off the cold, he had a good feeling about the apartment.
He had an even better feeling about Lexie.
Sometimes it took him a little while to fall asleep, but finally warm, wrapped up in the blankets, he was out in what felt like seconds.
His life in Center City was coming together.
SIX
(coincideswith Chapter Fourteen of "Take Me As I Am" Walker & Kennedy's book)
KALEO
When Kaleo got off the bus, it was easy enough to find the firehouse. It stood out from the other buildings around it and occupied the corner of the block.
The tall rolling doors dividing the access to the apparatus floor were bright red and reminded him of some of the firehouse doors back home. The construction was newer than the firehouse he'd worked in back home in Hawaii. It was an impressive sight and he took a minute to stand there and just look at it.
Smiling, he shook his head.
"Here I am."
"Hey!"
Someone called to Kaleo and he turned to see who it was. There was a truck on the other side of the hedge in front of him was a big white RAM 3500 that had been customized for construction. It was a really nice truck.
The driver's window rolled up as he opened the door.
"Are you the new guy?"
Kaleo lifted his chin. "That's me."
The other firefighter tipped his head toward the station. "Come on with me, I'll show you around."
Kaleo walked down the sidewalk and around the hedge. He held out his hand. "Kaleo Kenney."
The other man gave him a good strong shake. "Gibson Braun. The guys just call me Braun."
Kaleo nodded. "I can see why."
Braun laughed at that. "I wish I could say there was a cool reason for it. But Gibson is a little old fashioned for some and odd for others. It's just easier, I guess."
