“Not just any fireman,” Jeff said, kicking back in his seat. “He’s gonna be chief next year.”
“No shit?”
“Well, the boss is retiring. It’s not a guarantee.”
“Bullshit,” Jeff laughed. “You’re the only man willing to run into a burning building in this town and pull out tiny little puppies. Of course you’re gonna be chief.”
“Well, we’ll see about that,” Declan grinned sheepishly. “Well, I gotta run. Work calls, and firemen don’t get paid for sitting on their asses all day.”
“See ya,” I waved as he walked out the door.
Taking a seat beside Jeff, I shook my head in disbelief. Declan had grown like a tree. What else had I missed while I’d been gone?
“So, game?” Jeff asked, handing me the controller.
“You know, believe it or not, I don’t actually like video games.”
His jaw dropped in shock. “No way.”
“Seriously.”
“But…every guy likes playing video games.”
“Clearly, not every guy. Why the hell are you here, anyway?”
“It’s like I told you, to play the game.”
“You could have played at your house. And how did you get in?”
He grinned at me, completely unabashed by the fact that he broke in. “Well, my family does own the place. It would be silly of us not to have spare keys around. You know, in case you got locked out.”
“Or in case you needed to break in to play a game.”
“Whatever you choose to believe, man. Hungry? Let’s grab some food. I’m starving and you have nothing to eat in the house.”
“That’s because I just moved in!” I called out as he strode for the door.
I didn’t really want to go with him, but he was right. There was no food, and I’d have to go into town sooner or later for groceries. I could at least get something at the diner.
Grabbing my keys and wallet, I headed out, stopping on the porch as I was struck by the glorious view. Bright sun peeked over the mountains, illuminating the river in the distance. I hadn’t seen something like this in years, and now that I did, I found it hard to breathe. I’d been missing out on so much while I was in New York.
“But you had a career and a woman you loved,” I muttered to myself.
“Hey, are you comin’ or are you gonna stare at the mountains all day?”
I could sit here all day, but then my stomach growled, reminding me that food was required. Instead of drivingseparately, Jeff sat in the passenger seat of my car, wiggling around and running his fingers over the leather interior.
“Fancy. Didn’t think a boy from Montana would drive anything quite so…sophisticated.”
“It’s just a rental.”
“Right, but you chose it.”
“It’s just a car,” I said in irritation.
“Okay, fine. It’s just a car.”
“Exactly.”
