“They always think that.” She rolled her eyes. “Like the ambulance I worked on was the only one that existed.”
“So you’re in trouble?” Dhillon glanced at her.
“What?”
“At the fire station. You were in with the captain and the lieutenant. I heard you arguing.”
She sighed. She really didn’t want to do this right now.
“Are you not a team player, Riya Desai?” Dhillon asked, as if he found the idea of her being a team player ridiculous.
“Well, I can’t play if the team doesn’t want me.”
“Make them want you.”
“I shouldn’t have to make them. It’s up to them to realize that I am part of the team, regardless of the fact that I’m a woman.” She sighed again. “Besides, I saved a little girl today.”
“Doesn’t sound like a bad thing.” Dhillon sounded cautious.
“It’s not.” She tried to sound confident.
“So what’s the problem?”
“I went alone.” As she said it, she knew he was going to flip.
“You went alone? Why would you do that?” The accusation as well as the panicked concern in his voice were clear. “Isn’t there some kind of rule against that?”
“You know what? Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I’m not capable.” She turned on Dhillon. Yes, there was a rule. No need to confirm that for him.
“You’re tellingme?” His eyes bugged out, and a smirk fell across his mouth. “I’ve known you since we were five. If there is anything that’s true about you, it’s that you can do whatever you decide to do.” He side-eyed her. “What is also true is that you’re not a team player.”
“Whose side are you on?” Honestly, Dhillon could be such a pain. Just once, could he take her side? “Not that what I do at work is any of your business.”
“I’m on the side that keeps you safe.” Dhillon’s voice went back to being calm and even, annoying Riya even more.
“I am perfectly capable of going into a fire and bringing someone out.”
“I don’t think that’s why you were in with the captain. You were in trouble because you didn’t act as part of a team.”
“Just drive. My mom’s in the hospital. Why is this the moment you choose to lecture me?” Riya turned away from him. He didn’t understand. She had to prove herself capable of doing this job.
“And what the hell was that locker room?” Now he sounded agitated.
“There isn’t a separate women’s locker room. Because there haven’t ever been women at this department. I’m the first.” She felt more than a little bit of pride at that. “It’ll be fine. I can handle them.”
Dhillon shook his head. “You shouldn’t have to.”
She stared out the window, not really seeing anything. The locker room was the least of her current worries. Her mother’s health was bad. How had she not seen this coming? She’d just seen them a couple of days ago. Sure, her mother was on high-blood-pressure meds, but her diet was good, and she exercised. She should have known something was off when she’d last seen them. Shouldn’t she?
“You know, you don’t have to prove you can go into a fire. But ever since we were children, you havealwaysbeen the hero, Riya.” He shook his head again. “You were the one to stand up to bullies, the one who climbed trees for errant cats. Even playing kickball in the street, you had to score the most runs, make the most outs. No one on your team ever got any action. You had to do it all.”
“That’s not true!”Is it?
“Why do you think Tommy Higgins never let us up in his tree house?”
“That’s why?” Her eyes bugged out at this revelation. That was stupid.
Dhillon rolled his eyes as he parked the car and turned to face her. He placed his hands on either side of her face, making her look at him. “Stop trying to always prove yourself. Your abilities speak for themselves.” She made herself ignore how secure and warm it felt to have him touch her like that.
