Josh tossed him one of the blue rags they used to dry the vehicles. “We got your back, man. Neither Brad or I are looking to take your spot. Now help us finish this beast. Cal is upstairs cooking dinner.”
Since he didn’t get to work the forty-eight-hour shifts yet, James was used to coming in and having to get straight into work. Being a first responder meant that they had a lot of downtime until they were called out. Some shifts were easy and they just hung out. Some were like New Year’s Eve where nothing seemed to go right and they’d worked call after call.
Dropping his backpack, James started wiping down the big red truck. Both Josh and Brad went back to what they’d been doing before James had arrived. James made sure there were no streaks or smudges and the truck gleamed. He took pride in the job.
It didn’t take long until he began to sweat. James removed his leather jacket and placed it on top of his backpack. Turning back toward the engine, James stopped as Josh stepped in front of him.
“Are you okay, man?” Josh asked.
“Yeah.” James made sure his reply sounded like a question. Why was Josh asking? Was this because of his meltdown on New Year’s Eve. He hadn’t seen Josh since that shift. James didn’t want anyone to see him as weak.
“I didn’t think about how you might take Brad’s arrival,” Josh explained. “Sorry. I should have warned you. I just really wanted to see your face when you caught sight of him.”
James bumped Josh’s shoulder. “Asshole.”
Josh laughed. “I know. But he is hot. I just about swallowed my tongue when I first met him.”
That made James feel better. “How is he so damn hot?”
“Right!” Josh grinned. “He’s a nice guy too. Really does want to get his certification in water rescue. Mostly he’ll be the paramedic on call.”
“I almost freaked out,” James admitted. “Thinking he’d take my place.”
“Sorry.” Josh threw an arm around his shoulder. “But come on. Cal and I would never allow that. You’re our person. And a damn good firefighter.”
James snorted. “I guess you’re my person too.” Honestly. Josh was a good friend. Cal was the best. Not only had Cal taken James under his wing but he was always checking on him. Hadhis back. James hadn’t needed to worry. Not that he thought that it would be the last time panic filled him thinking he’d lost his spot. Until James was one of the few full-time firefighters, something could go wrong.
“McDreamy went up to clean up for dinner. Let’s go join him. I love it when Cal cooks,” Josh said.
“McDreamy?” James repeated. “Don’t call Brad that.”
“Why not?” Josh waggled his brows. “He’s going to bring all the tourists to our yard.”
“You are ridiculous,” James accused. He pushed his friend away before going back to grab his things. He needed to stash his jacket and backpack in his locker. He hadn’t been able to eat breakfast that morning since he was still worried about Jacob. Would the professor ever talk to him again? Or would James be looking for a new place to live soon? Jacob had assured him that James could stay in the apartment as long as he wanted but that was before the professor had literally run from him.
“How’s having your apartment to yourself?” Josh asked as he started up the steps. “Lonely?”
“I haven’t had time to be lonely,” James replied. And it was true. He’d been stressing too much to miss his brother.
Josh turned after reaching the second floor. “Cal said he had breakfast with you, but just checking that you really are okay? After New Year’s Eve?”
James stepped up close. “It was hard. I’m not going to lie. I feel horrible that we couldn’t help those people.”
“They were already gone before we ever got there. We managed to get them out of the car before it went up in flames.Their families will be able to see them and recognize them before they’re put to rest. Sometimes that’s the best we can do.”
“I guess.” Didn’t make him feel any better.
“Listen to him, boy.” Cal strolled up, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel. “We need your head on straight for this shift.”
“My head is the only thing that is straight,” James teased. “And don’t call me boy. That’s…weird.”
Cal lifted a brow. “Is it? Hmm. Weird.”
James rolled his eyes. Now Cal wanted to joke around? But James couldn’t get the normal word he used to tease Cal out. Not with where his thoughts had been lately. “Okay, Gramps. What’s for dinner?”
Cuffing him in the back of his head, Cal frowned. “I don’t know if that’s better or not.”
“You did deserve it,” Josh said with a laugh.
