As we start driving back, the first flakes fall, light enough that they ghost off the windshield without settling.
“Is that for real?” Korren asks, rolling down his window to stick his head outside. “Is it actually snowing?”
“It’s a bit early for it.”
“I’ll say.”
I laugh. “Are you sure you’re prepared to stay the winter here? We have nine more months of this.”
“Luckily I’ll have a cozy little cabin all to myself by then, with an excellent supply of firewood waiting for me,” Korren says. He pulls his head back in gives me a cocky smile.
“You’re welcome, asshole.”
Neither of us is smiling when we reach the fire station. My shoulders are tight with tension, and Korren’s expression hasclosed over. I’m starting to think we should have skipped today altogether. This is going to look very bad, in more than one way.
The snow is falling thicker now as we trudge up to the door. The crew is inside doing weight training, but Garret drops his dumbbell when he sees us and calls out, “Look! It’s Dex and Korren!”
Korren flinches at my side. I want to take his hand, but now is absolutely not the time for that.
Uncle Rhodes rounds on us, his face reddening. “I don’t know what sort of game you two are playing, but it’s never okay to show up this late to work.” He’s looking straight at me now. “You’rethis closeto getting kicked off the crew, Dex. And I don’t need to remind you what that means.”
“Did you get laid?” Garret shouts.
“Fuck you,” I snap before I think better of it.
“Dex,” Chief Rhodes growls. “Enough. I’ll speak to both of you later. Right now, get on the mat and give me fifty push-ups. You’re not getting lunch until you’ve finished the morning workout.”
I’m only slightly panicking as I force my way through the workout, surprised at how sore my legs are after our hike up the ridge yesterday. I should’ve known Uncle Rhodes would threaten me with something like this if I messed up again. I knew he was watching me closely.
And now I’ve gone and given him proof that I’m exactly as unreliable as my dad thinks I am.
Then I notice Korren. He looks white as a sheet, and I’m afraid he’s going to pass out before he finishes the first set of push-ups.
I want to get him out of here. He looks like he needs time to himself.
But my job is on the line. Scratch that, my whole future is riding on how well I smooth things over with my uncle.
Fuck this.
Chapter 35
Korren
The whole crew is mocking us. They’re not even trying to hide it.
I keep hearing snatches of what they’re saying, and each word drives another splinter into my lungs.
They’re gay.
I knew they were fucking each other from the start.
…something off about that new guy.
Probably why Dex got disowned.
I don’t even know why their words are tearing me apart so much. Nothing makes sense these days. I know I’m not gay, and I know it was a mistake to go on that hike with Dex. Their teasing shouldn’t mean anything.
So then why am I suffocating?
