If we weren’t calling the hospital checking in on her, we were calling the Fire Marshal’s to see if there was any news on the investigation into what started the fire. The only things they knew so far were there was an accelerant used and that the fire alarm had been tampered with. That was all they would share with us until they collected more evidence. Understandable since none of us were family. It was honestly a surprise we’d gotten that much, but our families were equally as ready to hear what had happened.
Even though none of us had kept in touch with the Hardings after Chief passed, our parents still remembered Sophia and Kaden and expressed their concern after we called to let them know. My Ma in particular insisted on getting added to the list of visitors, but my Pa and I had talked her down, letting her know all of us would feel like strangers to her. It was best to give her time.
Then again, it took everything in me not to get myself added on. The guys and I had settled on just sending flowers, hoping maybe after she healed up we would have the chance to check on her in person.
So yeah. I was hitting the bag especially hard today in our basement gym. Alden, Darren, and I shared a four bedroom, two bathroom house not far from the station. It was easier just to room together and save on housing since we weren’t even home half the time. Darren was on shift today while Alden and I would be on shift tomorrow, giving me plenty of time to work out and get rid of some frustrations.
“You look like you’re having a good day,” I heard Alden say from the stairwell leading down here. He held a bowl of cereal in his hand and was smiling over the bowl, clearly amused by my need to pulverize the bag.
I stepped away from it and grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat beading on my forehead. “Like you can talk. You’re stress eating a lot lately.”
Alden shrugged. “Got no argument there. Cereal is without a doubt a comfort food.”
I snorted. “And super high in sugar. How the fuck do you stay fit with the amount of cereal you eat?”
“Just gifted, I guess,” he snarked back, making his way down the rest of the stairs and taking a seat on one of the workout benches. “She’s staying awake longer now.”
I didn’t even need to ask who he was talking about. Like I said, none of us could get the blonde-haired beauty out of our heads. It was obvious to all of us how much she’d blossomed over the years. The memories of her that were once suppressed, now flowed through my mind so vividly. I wasn’t ashamed to admit I’d crushed on her hard when we were kids. I remember liking the way the sun danced on her hair, making it look like fire. But of course, she’d been Kaden’s little sister and we were like fourteen at the time. I was pretty sure Sophia was younger, so that just wouldn’t have looked cool for a boy my age liking a younger girl.
Shit. I needed to stop. The poor girl was injured and all I was thinking about was how beautiful she’d gotten.
“Any other news?” I asked Alden, pulling myself out of my inner monologue.
He shrugged again. “Not much. I think Alice is getting annoyed by the constant calls. At first she seemed cool with it, but I think we’ve hit our quota.”
I laughed, realizing we’d been quite pushy with someone we didn’t know. It was Kaden’s fault though. After he’d called the station to find out who saved her and realized it was us, he basically demanded we keep an eye on his sister. No exceptions. Amazing how you could not really be friends for so many years but be able to pick right back up where you left off.
“Have you talked to Kaden?” I questioned, hoping maybe he at least had something new to offer.
“Not a word. This is weird, right?” Alden inquired, clearly thinking what I had been. “With Sophia? She doesn’t really know us and we’re sending flowers and basically stalking her recovery.”
It was my turn to shrug. “Maybe. But other than Kaden, who’s over a thousand miles away, she has no one else. Hasn’t for years since Chief died. She’s doing good though, I guess. Managed to keep the house and now works in the burn unit she’s actually recovering in. It doesn’t hurt to be there for her. When she’s healed and shows she doesn’t need help, we’ll back off and go back to normal.”
Even as the words came out, I knew they were a lie. How? No fucking clue. Hadn’t even said a word to her, but already she was the center of my thoughts all the time.
“Maybe,” Alden replied, his tone a bit solemn.
My cell ringing pulled my attention. I saw Kaden’s name flashing across the screen and quickly made a grab for it, fear spiking. Had something happened?
“Hello?” I answered. Alden perked up with his head tilted in question. I mouthed Kaden’s name and he set his bowl down and rushed to my side. I turned the phone on speaker.
“Hey man. Tried calling Darren but his phone must be on silent or in his locker. You busy?”
“Yeah he’s on day shift. And no. Alden’s here too. What’s up? Has there been a change?”
Kaden was silent for a moment, putting me on edge even more. “Kaden?”
“Yeah. Sorry. Just trying to figure out how to ask this of you guys. Sophia is doing good. Hanging in there. She’s awake more and should get released from the hospital in a day or so.”
My heart, which I hadn’t even realized had been racing so hard, finally slowed. “That’s awesome. So what do you need? You know we’ve got your back,” I told him.
“I know, man, but this is pretty big. Sophia doesn’t have anywhere to go while healing. She refuses to put me and Heather out with the baby coming, and there’s no way Alice could be there for her to help do things like changing her bandages or helping her to do all the other little things she won’t be able to do herself.”
I knew immediately what he was getting at. “You want us to take her in?”
Alden’s face took on a look of shock, but I could already tell he was mulling it over.
“Look, I know. It’s a crazy big favor. Y’all all don’t really know each other anymore, and God knows even we are practically strangers, but you three saved her life. You were my friends through all the shit with Dad, and even after over a decade, y’all still jumped in to help keep an eye on my sister. I trust you three more than anyone in this world to watch over her. That fire wasn’t an accident. You don’t have to be a fire marshal to know that. Not with how anal Sophia is about fire protection.”
