Those get my stomach rolling.
But this?
“Bro, you owe me new fucking boots,” I snap and yank my bag from the back of our bus with too muchumf. It swings back and smacks me in the knee, making it buckle.
“That’s what you get for being a dick.”
“Noah-all didn’t know it all tonight, nowdid ya?” I yell the last part to his back, his retreating middle finger grating on my nerves.
I miss station four, goddammit.
Grumbling, I go through my after-shift checks, counting bottles and supplies and marking up all the shit we used tonight.
I’m not supposed to do all of this. The meds and shit are normally done by the certified paramedic on shift, but Hatley fucked off somewhere the second we parked. And to be honest? I’m nervous to leave him alone with the shit.
He never did talk about the night he relapsed. I still have no idea what he took, what he did, or where Lemon went. How he ended up at that house, alone and OD’ing.
I’m just glad I fucking found him when I did.
Blowing out a breath, I replace the stock in the bus and replenish the extras in my bag. I must’ve miscounted because there’s an extra vial still in my hand. It makes my palm itch, and my throat go dry.
God, I’m so fucking … tired.
“Ten, Cap wants to see you.”
I jolt at the slap on my shoulder and jerk around to find Hartley’s tired eyes staring back at me.
My stomach rolls with uncertainty and I lick my lips. “Why?”
Hat shrugs and picks up where I left off without even asking.
“Probably that scholarship thing you applied for. Unless you been fucking up when you’re not in my bus?”
I snort. “I’m always a fuck up, bro.”
“Well at least you know Station 4 is an option.” He’s snickering distractedly, double checking the clipboard I left on the fender, and fucking humming.
Glad to see he’s at one hundred.
Puffing up my cheeks, I cross the clean concrete floor with my hands in my pockets and a black cloud hovering over me.
I just wanna go home. Check on Emmett. Take a fucking nap for the next twelve days.
God, a fucking bender sounds so good right now.
My fingers tingle when I step into Cap’s office.
The man is domineering, already standing behind his desk when I walk in and flop into the chair across from him.
“Sure. Have a seat, Ten.”
I snicker and pat the chair arms. “What’s the damage, Cap?”
Chapter 29
Tristen
And here I amagain, stumbling into the house alone, while my best friend fucks off into the day like he didn’t just fall off the wagon.
