16
CALEB
“Piper Hart,”Ryan says, reading from the documents that Marco has just sent over. “Again?” He glares at me even though it was Marco who filled in the paperwork. “So, the stream has claimed its second victim.”
“Don’t ask me why she went out there. I have no idea. But she’s okay. I dropped her off at the hospital.”
Marco looks at me sourly.
“Firefighters should not be dropping victims off at the hospital.” Ryan deepens his glare. “This is something I should be telling a grad. Not a professional officer of…however many years. The same rules still apply, even if you know the victim.”
“Apologies.”
Keller keeps up the cutthroat staring. “You were never friends, were you?”
I shake my head before this situation gets even more out of hand. “No. But we are now—I can assure you.”
“This is something that the loss assessor will be able to use against both you and Piper.”
“For having a previous relationship with someone that I’m now letting stay in my house, temporarily?”
Piper’s words. Not mine.
“You’d be surprised.” Ryan slaps the documents on the couch arm and regards me. “There is still something between you two,” he states.
No warning about Piper being a criminal this time?
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“Whatever’s going on, you can’t let it interfere with work. I need you to stay professional and look out for her.”
“Look out for her? What do you mean?”
This peaks Marco’s interest as well as mine.
Ryan sighs. “The woman paid a few late mortgage payments, but she’s no criminal. I fear Mr. Taylor is taking this way out of hand and doing what insurance mongrels normally do. Piper Hart has no criminal convictions. Make sure to watch out for her.”
I narrow my eyes, curious to see where he goes with this.
“Work comes first, of course.” He resumes his normal tone. “These documents from the night shift aren’t going to sign themselves.” He waggles them midair, handing them over. “I’m going for a break, but remember”—he points a warning finger at me—“no taking people to the hospital.”
“You only did that because you love her,” Marco teases as soon as Ryan leaves the room.
I flash him daggers. “I’m not having this conversation again with you.”
“Suit yourself.”
I survive the rest of the shift by drinking strong Americanos and staying clear of Marco. The last thing I need is him bringing up the incident from earlier.
I would’ve dropped everything for Piper, regardless of whether I was in the middle of a job or not. But that’s the big issue I’m having at the moment. I’m risking my job here to save her. And I’d take being fired over losing her.
But I need this job to keep mine and Ellie’s lives afloat. Introducing more people into your life is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s like seeing a car crash ahead and continuing to drive straight toward the wreck. I know what future awaits.
And Istillchose to sleep with her last night.
I leave the station at the end of the day, return home, and find her curled up on the couch. Her hair is swirled on top of her head, messy, similar to how it was last night when we?—
“I didn’t expect you back yet.” She surveys me from the couch with those same tired eyes that make me crumble.
