Chapter 4
Macey
Ihad a shift on theambulance Wednesday before my first class of the day, so I was up around four in the morning and over at the firehouse by four-forty-five. My partner and Paramedic in Charge, Addy Connor, was already there, per usual, ticking off supplies on the list when I arrived. Ever the hard worker and determined soul, Addy smiled over at me as I approached, her kind expression putting me at ease at once.
“Hey, lady,” she said. “Now that the semester has started, I wouldn’t have judged you for taking some PTO, you know.”
“I know.” I handed Addy the cup of coffee I’d brought her, then took a seat next to her in the back of the ambo. “I appreciate it,” I continued. “But honestly, I need to keep my mind busy. As soon as I start taking time, nothing gets done.”
“I know that feeling all too well,” Addy said with a laugh.
“How’s Jay?” I asked, referring to Addy’s fiancé, Jay Dexter.
“He’s doing great, thanks for asking. He’s actually thinking about coming here to try out for the fire department.”
“He’d do well,” I said with a shrug. “Hansen says they’re always looking for great new recruits.” I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the wall of the ambo as a wave of exhaustion overtook me, consuming me almost entirely. I’d been feeling so fatigued recently, but I knew the start of the semester was to blame. It almost always was.
“When is your first class today?” Addy asked as we finished checking off the supplies.
“Not until noon.”
“Are you enjoying your classes?”
“Oh yeah. Histology is the coolest class I’ve ever taken,” I said.
“Really?”
“No, not really. It’s horrible. I’m ready to be done with my undergraduate and into medical school.”
Laughing, Addy handed me the clipboard to sign off on. We were just about to hop out of the back of the ambo when my uncle, Erik Hansen, captain of the fire crew, came in through the back door, holding two plates piled with eggs and bacon.
“Who’s hungry?” he asked, balancing the plates on each hand like a world-renowned chef. “I made breakfast.”
“Oooh, thanks,” Addy said, taking one of the plates and a fork from him.
“Mace?” Hansen asked, offering me the plate. I started to reach for it, then stopped when the smell assaulted my nose, making me nauseous. Bile rose in my throat, and I looked away.
“Ugh,” I said, shaking my head. “Sorry, H. I must have had something bad yesterday.”
“More for me,” Addy said with a shrug, taking the plate he offered me to dump it onto her current one as she shoveled scrambled eggs into her mouth.
