Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“I like being able to help the kids. Most of the time, they don’t really understand what’s going on. It’s scary, but it helps me take their mind off things while I make sure they’re okay,” he explained.
“My brother, the All-American hero,” Garrett spoke up from behind me as he walked over to us, bumping the side of his fist against Gabe’s. “Good shift.”
“Good shift,” Gabe repeated before the two brothers faced me.
Their sudden attention on me made my heart rate spike, my face warming up. After their genuine apology, I saw them differently. I looked past what happened years ago and now saw two hardworking, honest men.
Trust me, if their apology wasn’t as great as it was, I wouldn’t have been so quick to forgive and move forward.
“What do you guys typically do after a shift?” I inquired as I glanced around, seeing the others change clothes and prepare to switch out with the firefighters coming in for the next shift.
“When we work this late, we usually head home. All the restaurants are closed, so we cook dinner and hang out until we basically pass out,” Gabe replied with a light chuckle.
“You guys live together?” I asked, unable to reel in my curiosity just yet. Most people were nosy about what their high school classmates were up to during present times, right?
“We’re renting a house for now,” Garrett answered.
That made me wonder if they were both single. From what I could tell, no one on the crew was married, but that didn’t mean there weren’t girlfriends and fiancées around somewhere.
“So am I. Well, kind of. My job set me up in a house for the time being, but it’s pretty bare bones. I think all I have in the fridge are a few bottles of water and pre-packaged salads,” I laughed out. I had been so focused on recovering and working that I hadn’t even gone to the grocery store yet.
I supposed that was a bit of a flaw of mine. When work started, the rest of my life came to a halt. Investigative journalism was the perfect thing to hyper-focus on, because digging up clues and crafting pieces of information into a captivating story demanded all of my attention and effort. But lately, those things had been divided between work and the alluring firefighters that I was trying to cooperate with.
Gabe nudged Garrett, his eyes lighting up with a sudden thought.
“Let us make you dinner,” Gabe offered. “I promise it’ll be better than pre-packaged salad.”
I wasn’t sure if going home with them was such a great idea, especially since this was our first day together after being apart for years. And also after having a rivalry for a few years before that. However, the hope in Gabe’s voice, along with his kind gesture, was hard to say no to. My stomach rumbled at the thought of a warm meal, selling me out in front of them.
“Can’t say no now,” Garrett teased, with an expectant look in his eyes. He was more serious than his brother, but it wasn’t in an unsettling way.
It was one meal, and it wasn’t like I had much to eat at the house.
“Okay, thanks,” I accepted with a nod.
Once I pulled my jacket on, I followed them out of the fire station and went to my car so that I could follow them to their house. My headlights lit up the dark road, illuminating the back of their black truck as we left the middle of town behind in exchange for the neighborhoods on the east side. My heart rate remained quick, even if this was simply dinner.
I just never expected myself to share a friendly meal with the Wallace brothers, and I couldn’t predict how our present, new relationship was going to develop.
When we reached a small but homey brick house, I parked behind them and met them on the front porch.
“This place is nice,” I complimented.
“It’s not bad,” Garrett agreed as Gabe unlocked the front door. “Make yourself comfortable.”
I nodded my thanks and wandered into the house, able to see more when they flicked on the lights. While they disappeared into the kitchen, I walked through the living room, admiring a few framed photos of them with their friends, family, and fellow firefighters that were scattered around on the coffee table, the wall, and the entertainment center. Their house smelled like cedarwood with a touch of something sweeter. Maybe vanilla.
Regardless, it smelled good, and it didn’t take long for another scent to enter my nose. I followed it into the kitchen where Garrett was pan searing chicken breasts and Gabe was boiling potatoes next to him.
“Are you making mashed potatoes?” I asked Gabe as I stepped up to his side.
“If you don’t like mashed potatoes, I’d have to declare you a psychopath,” Gabe chuckled.