“I don’t want to be a pain.”
I pinned her with a look. “Stop apologising. Let me take care of you.”
Her lips parted, and there was a moment of silence between us.
“Thank you.”
“You wanna hang about until I’m done? If we get called out on a shout, there’s food in the kitchen and you can make yourself at home and watch TV.”
“Am I not in the way?”
She looked so vulnerable that I couldn’t help running my fingertips over her cheek, pushing her wet hair behind her ear. “Never. Now go, warm up.”
Before I got to see Helen again, the alarms went off, signalling another job. When I got back two hours later from a house firestarted by a faulty log burner igniting, I took off my helmet and jacket before heading straight for the kitchen, where I knew the next shift would be waiting to do the handover. What I didn’t expect to see was Helen, dressed in an oversized fire service hoodie and some baggy sweats, her hair tied up in a messy bun, sitting around the table, hugging a mug to her chest as she talked animatedly with the night crew like she’d known them a lifetime.
As if she could sense me watching, she lifted her gaze, a smile widening as she noticed me, and then her face fell. Standing, she walked toward me. Concern danced over her features as she looked me up and down and then she lifted her hand, wiping her thumb across my cheekbone, holding it out for me to see the black soot that covered it. “Are you okay?”
I huffed out a laugh. “I’m good. Probably need a shower.” I pointed in the direction of the bathroom. “You good to wait and I’ll drive us home?”
“Home sounds good.”
“Did they look after you?” I asked as I climbed into my car.
Helen laughed. “Of course they did. I’ve known most of them for years, remember… since they were kids.”
I waited until she fastened her seatbelt, the crashes from today still fresh in my mind as the rain hammered down outside. “Are you referring to your age again?”
“No. I’m speaking the truth. I saw themand yougrow up.”
“I guess.” Turning on the engine, I put the car into gear and pulled out onto the main road. We drove in silence for a while, the windscreen wipers accompanying the rain as the only sound.
“Have you had a good week?” I asked finally. “I’ve not really seen you.” I was surprised how much I’d missed bumping into her around the house.
“Meh. I mean, it was a week. But I’m not sure it was a good week.”
My hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Did something happen?”
“No, it was just… I don’t know. Just ignore me. Let’s blame my hormones.”
Neither of us said another word until we got back to the house. Helen exited the car quickly and ran to the door, unlocking it and ducking in out of the rain, which wasn’t easing in the slightest. I followed her.
“You suit the uniform,” I told her as she flicked on the kitchen light.
She held out her arms to the side. “You think?”
“Can I tell you a secret?” I placed my phone and keys on the counter before walking to the fridge and opening it. “You want wine?”
“Please. And yes, you can tell me anything.”
“I like that you came to me tonight. That I was the person you thought of when you were in trouble.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she brought her hand over her heart. “I was worried you’d think it was weird.”
“I think we’ve established that I think you worry and overthink too much.”
“Why?”
I frowned. “Why do I think you worry too much? I—”
