Taking a pic of the coffee and bag, I fired it off in a text and then typed out a message.
Me:You’re crazy but thank you.
I felt like time stood still as I waited for a reply that never came. Before I knew it my free time had passed and the next client was at my door. Pushing aside the disappointment of not getting a response, I concentrated on the young woman in front of me. She’d been through so much and deserved nothing but my undivided attention.
After finishing out my day, I still hadn’t gotten a reply from my text. I’d put myself out there and the vulnerability I was feeling was eating at me something awful. But the man was at work, just as I was, and I couldn’t expect him to drop everything to send a silly text to me. I wouldn’t have done that if I was in the middle of a session.
I still doubted myself and my actions though, after doing something unheard of for me.
Grabbing my purse, I turned off all the lights and locked up my office. I’d already checked in with the kids who were home safe and sound. It was a relief after the last two years of them being in different schools that they were both at the same high school now, and even with the move they were able to stay there.
Lennon and Breland had only come to me a couple of years before, but we’d made great strides, the three of us. It was sad to say we bonded over our sorrow, fears, and horrid childhoods but it had brought us closer rather quickly. I knewthe second they stepped foot in my home they were mine and we’d made it official within six months of their arrival.
I strode down the hall toward the elevator, a pang of sadness hitting at the thought of how many older kids got left in the state system never to find a loving, permanent home. If only I could take them all in. While I knew every kid didn’t have it so bad in foster care, I was strikingly aware that bad was an understatement when it came to others.
Like me.
Just as the elevator arrived, I thought I heard a door close at the other end of the hall. My head swiveled in that direction, but nobody was there. Two other offices besides mine were on the second floor, but I’d sworn everyone was already gone since it was my late evening of the week.
Physically shaking my body to clear the creepy feeling that had washed through it, I scurried onto the elevator and frantically pushed the button to close the door. I jumped out of my skin when my phone’s ringtone pierced through the small space.
Get a grip.
Rummaging through my purse, I pulled my cell out as the doors opened on the first level and I stepped out into the main lobby. As I made my way toward the exit, my gaze shifted to the screen that lit up with the caller’s name.
Huntley.
That creepy feeling I had vanished and my belly fluttered with butterflies. I brought the phone to my ear, accepting the call, and stepped out into the cool night air.
“Hello.”
His smooth, deep voice I was getting used to, came through the line. “Hey, Warrior.”
Two little words and the butterflies took flight.
Chapter Six
HUNTLEY
I jumpedinto action as the alarm sounded.
Shortly after I talked to River and had set up a special delivery to her work, we headed off to a grueling three alarm fire at an apartment complex.
I’d been shocked when she called me and I found myself not wanting the conversation to end. Sometimes I had to keep asking her questions to get her to talk, but I didn’t mind, I was just happy to hear her voice.
And I found it endearing when she’d say something silly and I could hear the nerves in her voice.
I felt a bit like a teenage boy who just found out the girl he’d been crushing on might like him back. It was silly though, her texting or calling didn’t mean anything like that.
It hadn’t been easy to shove my thoughts of her aside but that was what my profession required. I had to be on my game or not only myself, but fellow firefighters and others involved could pay the price. And there were times when I was focused and things still didn’t turn out the way I hoped.
Things could change on a dime.
One minute I’d been on cloud nine from my call withRiver and the next I was battling a fire where a small boy was in bad shape and was on his way to the hospital. Someone getting hurt always sat heavy on my heart. It also brought back memories of the night at River’s when her house was set on fire causing harm to her and her niece, Stormi. Lucky for the boy, he was going to be okay just like the girls had been.
Once back at the station, the others and I began to take care of the truck, our gear etc. When we finished, I finally headed toward the showers to clean up and remove the head-to-toe soot covering me.
I felt marginally better after I was cleaned up, but I was starving. It just so happens it was my night to cook. Grabbing my cell, I headed toward the kitchen. Glancing down at the screen as I walked, I saw I had a text.
