I fall asleep easily, which is unusual for me. I’m a typical firefighter—our sleep cycles get all messed up and we wake to a pin dropping. Not tonight. I’m out within minutes of my head hitting the throw pillow on Carli’s oversized couch.
I wake before dawn to the sound of my phone alarm. I stretch and fold the blankets I used last night. The dim pre-dawn light bathes the room in blue-grey shadows.
Carli comes out from her bedroom, wearing pajamas, her hair sticking out in all directions.
“Morning,” she says softly. “Want me to make you a coffee?”
“Another time. I’d better get going. Both ranches will be rousing soon.”
“Yeah. That’s true. I have to get to the barn in a bit anyway.”
I check the time. She’s not wrong. My margin is thinner than I had planned.
She walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. “Thanks for staying.”
“I’m glad I came over.”
“Me too.”
“I’ll text you later. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
She walks me to the door.
I open it and look around even though we’re far from the main house and barns. The sun is already rising. It’s not ideal. I planned to get back to the ranch before everyone was up and moving.
Reality is a thief, invading our bubble again.
I drive in the direction of the ranch, but at the last minute, I turn toward town. It’s less than an hour before shift change. I don’t want to risk my brothers or McKenna seeing me drive in from being out all night. I drive straight to the station to start my next twenty-four-hour shift.
I don’t think through the logistics of my decision until we’re gathered around the table for our shift-change meeting.
"Nice outfit you were wearing this morning," Grey mutters low, a smirk on his face.
“What?” I ask.
I showed up in yesterday’s clothes. I’m in my station uniform now, but leave it to Grey to notice.
“It looked well-worn,” Greyson says. “Did you sleep in your clothes or something?”
Actually … “I um … Yeah. Slept in them.” I feel myself actually blush.
Greyson’s brow raises. He’s far too perceptive.
“Going for consistency?” Patrick asks with a chuckle.
“Forget to do laundry, Cap?” Dustin follows.
It’s the first time one of the guys has actually called me captain. I don’t officially start until the day after tomorrow, but leave it to Dustin to jump the gun.
“Something like that. Now let’s get to work,” I say, testing out my new role.
They can still rib me. I would miss it if they didn’t. Just not with jokes that hit so close to home.
Everyone clears out of the kitchen. The alternating crew heads home and our crew moves into the bay. I’m at a loss for a minute. David’s here for his last day today, helping me transition. After this, he’ll be at the county offices and I’ll be on my own.
“I thought we could go over the captain’s log.”
