This was temporary. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. The bond was so fresh that everything was stronger, but with time, it would dissipate.
I hoped.
Once back at my laptop, I searched something different.Convict Firefighting.I knew the basics—everyone who worked in emergency services in the state did—but given my situation, I thought a little extra research was needed.
The program was pioneered in California, due to the high number of wildfires we got and the lack of city-funded firefighters. Several captains had banded together and come upwith this program that allowed incarcerated individuals who were close to their sentences ending to go to a fire camp—sort of a halfway house. Not a jail, but no freedom. These convicts were taught how to fight fires and then, when ready, used alongside the LAFD. In return for reduced sentences, pretty crappy pay, and somewhat limited restrictions, they helped keep the wildfires at bay and protected the community. Then, once their sentences were over and they were free, they could apply to work at any firehouse in the country, having all the right training to take up a career in firefighting.
It seemed like a brilliant program. Personally, I had come across the convict crews from Camp Bower several times. They were polite and helpful. I had helped one a few months back who had cut his leg on a shard of glass while clearing some debris from a fire, and he had been kind.
Why was Preston there? What had he done? Had he hurt someone? The thought made my chest ache.
Shoving a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth, I sat on my sofa and prayed to whatever deity above was listening that I would be able to get through this unscathed.
Somehow, I didn't think that was likely.
Still, a girl could dream.
Chapter 5
Hailey
“Girl, you look like ass,” Freddy said as I walked up to our rig.
After two days of moping in bed, I’d decided to pull myself together as best as I could and force myself into work. My body still ached, and I wanted nothing more than to retreat to my nest, but I couldn't avoid life for much longer.
Not without raising suspicion.
The suffering had eased, but only slightly. I could stand and go about my daily tasks well enough, but there was a deep ache in my chest and an overwhelming sense that something waswrong.
“I may have had a little too much fun with Alice.” I laughed, but it hurt.
Worse, I knew that was a pitiful excuse, but it had to be a believable one for the time being.
Why was everything so bright? My eyes ached, and the California sun certainly didn’t help.
Sunglasses. Remember sunglasses next time.
“Ooof. A night of clubbing with Alice will do some long-lasting damage. The guys from Station Thirteen went outwith her a few months ago, and I'm pretty sure they'restillrecovering.”
“I don’t think that’s because of the drinking…” I pointed out, trying not to smirk.
Freddy’s eyes widened as he fought a smile, eventually breaking down into a lopsided grin. “Those poor fucks.” He chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Actually, I don’t know if they’re luckyorunlucky, to be honest.”
“Oh, I’m sure they had thetime of theirlives.”
I slid into the passenger seat, tilting my head back against the headrest with a sigh. It was too early to be this tired already.
“Are you sure it’s a hangover?” Freddy asked as he hauled himself into the driver's seat and started fiddling with the radio.
“What else could it be?”
“Stomach flu? Dive bars aren’t exactly the cleanest of places, are they?”
He had a point. There were quite a few sticky surfaces at the bar…still, I knew that wasn’t whyIwas feeling so monumentally crappy. There was no way in hell I was going to tell him that it was because I had fucked up and bonded with a total stranger, though. Freddy was understanding, but no one wasthatunderstanding.
“I’ll get over it, and we’ve got work to do,” I told him, leaning forward, rubbing the back of my aching neck.
Freddy looked me over with concern. “If you start to decline, let me know. I can always drive a student around for the day.”
