"Perfect. Well, that's all I have. Stop by the front desk on the way out, and Addison can show you to our payroll and accounting person to get things rolling. She'll also handle the bonus because I've already mentioned it to her. Welcome aboard, Lindsey."
We shake hands, and it's a struggle not to dance my way out of the office. The salary Quinley offered was five percent more than I made at my last job and since I wouldn't be paying California prices for everything…
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
It isn't an instant fix. I'm still pregnant, still alone and still one bad day from panic. But it's a start. And right now, a start is enough.
Or it will be—once I stop aching to share my good news with the one man I can't allow myself to call.
Chapter 34
Kace
Gabe's bachelor party involves all the crew from the station, a few city officials, members of the Blackwater Saints MC, and lots of other friends, including the Blackwell brothers. The Pelican is loud, packed wall to wall with well-wishers, and all I can think about is Lindsey, the girls and how every decision lately seems to have come with a cost I didn't see coming soon enough.
A heavy hand lands on my shoulder, and I turn to see Sully squeezing into the space between my stool and the one next to me, where Pierce sits talking to another EMT. She tried to engage me at first but gave up when all I did was grunt or shrug or not respond at all.
"What's up, Grumpy Gus?"
"Hey, Sully."
"Dude, you know this is a party, right? What's got you looking like a lost puppy?"
I glance up and see he's not even looking at me but at Violet, one of the Beach Babe Burger owners, who also works weekends at the bar for extra cash. "Did you come over to talk to me or get closer to Vi?"
Sully's low chuckle fills my ears, and the moment Pierce gets up to join her friend on a trip to the bathroom down the hallway behind me, Sully plops himself down next to me.
"Seriously, McCallum. What's going on? You get bad news at rehab?"
Before Sully finishes the question, Gabe walks up to join us, and I want to groan at the timing. Like Sully said, this is a party, and I don't want to be the downer. "I'm good. PT's going okay. Doc says I'm on track." But on track for what?
Gabe leans a forearm on my good shoulder and dips his head to better hear the conversation. "So you've made a decision."
I've never been able to get much by my best friend.
"Nah, really?" Sully says, his tone holding more than a little surprise. "Never thought I'd see the day you'd hang up your boots."
"You haven't seen it yet," I say, sounding very much like the Grumpy Gus he'd mentioned.
"But you're thinking about it?" Sully asks.
"Because of what the attorney said," Gabe murmurs knowingly.
I stare into the drink I've barely touched and nod. "I see his point. Madi's only got a year left with her mom. Why would a judge remove her from home when my job endangers me? Bad enough I risk leaving Dani without a father, but to force this whole custody issue and then… It is definitely something to consider. And if I'm honest, it's a fact I've been thinking about for a while now since Dani's mom is constantly MIA."
I glance at Sully and find him solemn.
"Hey, you do what you need to do," he says, holding up his palms. "I get it. You know you'll always be family."
"It doesn't mean leaving the firehouse entirely, either," Gabe adds. "You can always apply for deputy chief."
I turn to face Gabe, intrigued. "That's a thing?"
"It is now. Carolina Cove is growing by leaps and bounds, and we got budget approval earlier today," Gabe says, one thick eyebrow hiking high. "You interested? You're the first person who came to mind when I got the news, and I can put in a good word for you. You've got the years and the training."
"Ah, man, you've gotta do it," Sully says. "I can't handle someone else coming in who doesn't have a clue, trying to tell us how to do our jobs."
"Think about it," Gabe says. "It'll take you out of burning buildings and be a positive move with Madi's guardianship."
