I took in a steadying breath and glanced back over my shoulder. “I saw someone.”
He cocked a brow. “You saw someone?”
“Yeah.” Based on his expression, he probably thought I was talking nonsense. But I know what I saw. “Like a figure lurking near the trees. They were wearing a dark hoodie.”
His eyes widened. “A green hoodie?”
“I couldn’t tell.” I crossed my arms, rubbing my hands up and down my upper arms. “Might’ve been.”
He stepped forward and gripped my shoulders, glancing back toward the tree line. “I’ll call Dylan and give him a heads up.”
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. “We don’t even know if the fire is arson yet.”
“Yeah, but this way Dylan can make the call if he wants to head over yet or not.”
I sighed when Adam pulled me into him, melting into his arms, feeling safe. It was only for a few seconds, and although I wasn't ready for my bubble of safety to burst, he was stepping back and fishing his phone out to call Dylan.
Was I being ridiculous? Plenty of people gathered near fires to watch. It was basic human nature to be curious. Plus, plenty of men wore dark colored hoodies. And we weren’t even sure the fire was set on purpose.
But why was he all the way over near the tree line and not near the street, the place most lookie-loos gathered?
I was likely overreacting. Wouldn’t be the first time. I was constantly being told I was too eager to push thepanic button. And although I didn’t agree with the term, I could admit I tended to worry and jump to worst-case scenarios. But it wasn’t always in every situation, and truthfully, when I did, my gut was usually right.
And right now, my gut was saying the figure I saw was the serial arsonist.
Chapter Three
LYLA
I smiledbehind the lip of my beer bottle as Izzy recounted the whole proposal to Nicole and Mia. I had heard some of this already at the birthday party on Saturday, and we’d already gotten some details through text, but since we were meeting up for dinner and drinks, it became the opportune time to fill us all in on all the details.
“I really thought the girls were making a picture with the chalk and they didn’t want me to see it until they were done.” She chuckled. “I was so surprised when I came out and they stepped aside to reveal the message just as Logan dropped to one knee.”
“That’s adorable.” Nicole lifted Izzy’s hand, looking at the ring again. “And the ring is so gorgeous.”
“He definitely has good taste in jewelry,” Mia added with a smirk.
That was probably as much as we were going to get from Mia on this topic. If her friends were happy, she was good with that. But when it came to talk of love and commitment, sometimes I thought she would crawl out of her skin. She’d had a rough childhood and not a lot of positive examples of solid relationships. Her mom was always looking for Prince Charming, but none of the guys she dated ever stuck around. I think it really did a number on Mia. At least in the way she viewed men. Sometimes I wondered if her job as a 911 dispatcher was perfect for her or if it just fed into her tendency to always think the worst of people.
We talked a bit more, learning Izzy wanted a spring wedding and a coed bachelor and bachelorette party. I wasn’t sure exactly what my role would be, but I was excited for it all.
Mia nudged my arm, gaining my attention. “Now that you’re single again… There’s some hot guy at the bar looking at you.”
I shook my head. The idea of jumping right back into dating someone was absolutely not on my radar. I was too clumsy, too curvy, too dramatic, too everything for Ted. He didn’t always say those exact things, but his subtle criticisms slowly crept into everything, definitely making me feel them. I had no interest in dealing with that crap again. Single again at twenty-seven, I had to wonder if I would ever find someone to settle down with.
“Or your hot firefighter.” Mia tipped her chin over my shoulder.
I looked behind me at the guys coming in the door. It was my day off, and I spent time with my parents on their farm, then came out with the girls. But Adam and the rest of the crew were on shift today.
“Friends with benefits is always fun.”
“Don’t start that again, Mia.” I narrowed my eyes at her.
She shrugged. “What? A little no-strings-attached sex with a friend? What’s wrong with that?”
Izzy choked on her drink as Nicole chuckled. I rolled my eyes.This wasn’t the first time Mia had brought this up, and each time I would explain we weren’t like that. We were just friends. I had tried a little subtle flirting in those weeks when he was my instructor, and there wasn’t a single inkling that he was interested. And now that we were friends and coworkers, I liked what we had. Even if he would be down for a friends with benefits situation, there was no way I would go there and risk messing up our personal and professional relationship.
I opened my mouth to respond, but snapped it shut as I sensed someone sidle up on the other side of me. Adam reached over and stole a few fries from my plate, popping them in his mouth with a smirk while Logan made his way around the high top to where Izzy sat.
