"Same time tomorrow?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
She went inside, Watson trotting after her. I watched her go and thought:Soon. I’d tell her soon.
Later that day, I was at the station. Slow shift. Equipment checks, drills, and the comfortable rhythm of waiting for the tones.
Shane found me in the kitchen, nursing a coffee.
"Heard you signed up for the paramedic program."
"News travels fast."
"Cap's proud of you. Told everyone at breakfast."
I shrugged, already uncomfortable with the attention. "It's not a big deal."
"It is, though." Shane sat across from me. "You've been coasting for a while. Nice to see you want something."
I didn't ask what he meant. We both knew.
"So," he said, "you and Ava."
"There's no me and Ava."
"Right. You just make her coffee every morning and look at her like she's the answer to every question you've ever had.Totally normal neighbor behavior." He paused. "For four years now."
"Drop it."
"I'm just saying. Maya and I were 'just friends' once, too."
I looked at my coffee, swirling it in the mug.
"What if she doesn't see me that way?"
"What if she does?"
"She's a doctor, Shane. Brilliant. Driven. The kind of person who's actually going places?—"
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't do that thing where you convince yourself you're not good enough." Shane's voice was firm. "That's Carmen. Not reality."
I went still. I'd never told Shane Carmen's exact words. But Shane knew me. Saw me.
"You're a good man, Brian. You show up. You care. You run into burning buildings to save strangers. That's not nothing. That's everything."
The conversation was interrupted by Garrett, who appeared in the doorway.
"Tones are about to drop."
"How do you always know?" Shane asked.
"I pay attention."
Sure enough, ten seconds later, the alarm sounded. We moved as one. Boots, gear, the engine roaring to life. This was the job. This was who we were.
