10
JACK
FISH PIZZA
Twenty-four hours felt like twenty-four years.Fromthe momentIset foot in the station, the crew didn’t slow down.Tonesdropped all night long, keeping us running on shitty coffee and exhaustion.
By the timeIdragged my body home,Iwas dead.
I skipped the shower meatloaf, but not the shower.Ihad a rule about getting in bed after work.Ihad to rinse off, even if it was quick.Ididn’t want to bring the smell and grime of the shift into my sheets.
Begrudgingly,Iwashed off and nearly fell asleep against the slick tile wall.Icut the water and toweled off beforeIcracked my head open by dozing off on my feet.
I tucked the towel around my hips and walked over to the window to yank the curtains closed.Thelight stung.Igrabbed the edge of the fabric, then froze.
Something—or rather, someone—was curled up on the edge of my boardwalk.Anyonewas welcome to use the beach, but it was generally frowned upon to hang out around someone’s private entrance.
I was half-tempted to ignore whoever it was.Theyweren’t bothering me or fucking around on my property.Itwas a nice view.Icould share.
Then the wind blew and picked up her hair.Lightbrown strands looked bronze in the morning sun.Aurora’s.
What the hell was she doing?Sleepingout there?Didsomething happen at the house?
Exhaustion was overpowered by adrenaline.
I grabbed a pair of shorts and yanked them on before jogging down the stairs and out the door.
“Roar!”Ishouted.
She didn’t move.
Fuck.Wasshe injured?
“Aurora!”Ibellowed as the wood slats of the boardwalk creaked with each heavy step that slammed into them.
The little lump shifted asIcame to a skidding stop in front of her.Myheart raced asIsmoothed my hands over her back and shoulders, checking her over.
“What the hell?” she said with a yawn. “Jack?—”
“What are you doing out here?”Isnapped asIcupped her jaw to get a good look at her face.Sheseemed dazed, but it could have just been tiredness.Herpupils weren’t dilated or constricted.
She blinked. “Whattime is it?Ithought you were on duty.”
“It’s just after seven.Areyou hurt?”
“Seven . . .”Hereyes flicked down as she worked it over in her mind. “Inthe morning?DidIsleep out here all night?”
“Looks that way,”Isaid asIoffered a hand to help her up.
Aurora groaned as her joints creaked and cracked. “Ohmy god.I’mtoo old for this.IthoughtIleft my ‘falling asleep in unlikely places’ days behind me in college.”
“Don’t tell me you got drunk and went into the water,”Isaid with a sharp edge to my voice.
“What?”Stormyeyes met mine. “No.Ididn’t get drunk.”Shesighed. “Iwanted to, butI’mon a budget andIdon’t like cheap beer.Iwas just having a bad night and came out to get some air.”
“Sounds like my night,”Imuttered.
Aurora cocked her head.Mussedhair speckled with sand spilled to the side. “Badshift?”
