I’m impressed and taken aback all at once.
Fiery thing.How the hell am I going to train someone so hell-bent on proving us all wrong?
I jog my way back to the bottom of the watchtower and find Tennison handing over the hose to Davies.
“Who said you’re done, Tennison?” I snap.
She takes the water bottle from the ground by the tower and downs a few mouthfuls before meeting my gaze. “I did.”
Without a word, she walks away. Leaving me with Davies, Sandy, and Heids.
“How many runs did she make?” Sandy asks, glancing back as Tennison disappears into the back door of the firehouse.
“Seven.”
Heids’s eyebrows shoot up. “Milo—I mean, Cap—that’s more than Sandy, and he’s a machine.”
“But she’s not fast enough. She’ll have to halve her speed per run to pass the fitness test at the end of her probation. Endurance is great, but time is a resource she will never have,” I utter. Speed and capabilities matter.
“Beginner’s luck,” Sandy scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Give me the damn hose. Hell, give me two.”
He takes off up the stairs like the devil is hot on his heels.
“You sure you and the probie haven’t crossed paths before?” Heids says softly, worry lining her voice.
Only that one time I tried to return a, unbeknownst to me beloved, puppy to a shelter where apparently they are put down after so many weeks...
“Nope. I have no idea what’s gotten into her. She was amicable the first half of her first shift.”
“Must have been your stellar personality then, Hammer. Not everyone loves the golden-boy hero type.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes at her.
What the fuck has gotten into everyone today? They’re either giving me hell or talking shit.
Chapter 6
LONDON
“What’s got you worried, my love?” Mama says, dotting a kiss to my head as she passes behind me, bowl in hand, en route to the dinner table.
“Probably some hot fireman. Oh, we are so changing first world probs to first responder probs, babe.” Kels reaches for the salad, and I give him the stink eye.
Mama laughs, her frame shaking with the sound. “You think he’s got a big hose, yeah?” She sits, placing the savory chicken dish in the center before giving me that smiling nod of hers that means she wants me to consider something.
“Haha. Nothing of the sort, andyoushould have told me who tried to return Petal.” I point my bare fork at Kel before diving into my own salad.
“And where would be the fun in that? Besides, gave you a reason to talk to the man, didn’t it?” He winks at me.
Guy must be keen for a fork to the eye.
“He’s literally my boss, Kel. Keep your meddling love matchmaking voodoo far, far from me.”
He pulls a mock offended face and serves the chicken to each of our plates.
“How’s things at the shelter without our girl?” Mama asks.
“Dull.” Kel sighs. “If I have to listen to one more minute of Wendy’s crocheting podcast, my ears are going to bleed dry and solidify under protest. God, that woman and her hobbies... insufferable.”
