Page 19 of Firefighter Midlife Wolf

A hint of a smile crossed Verna’s face. “Sometime, yes, but not right now. Like I said, I’ve got some thinking to do. I don’t want Darcy to know that I know until I’ve figured out exactly what I’m going to do about it. All right?”

Conflicting thoughts bashed around inside Jessica’s head, but this was what Verna wanted. “All right. I’m just worried about you.”

“Don’t worry about me, dear.” Verna settled back in her chair, suddenly looking more like a queen on a throne than an old woman in an armchair. “I’ve taken care of myself for over a century. When I need your help, I promise I’ll ask for it. For now, you keep my secret and I’ll keep yours.”

It had to be good enough for now. “All right. I’m here when you need me.”

As Jessica headed home, she kept the radio off and let her thoughts ramble. She’d gone into Verna’s apartment with the intention of determining whether she was still mentally competent enough to live alone. She’d come out realizing that not only did Verna have all her wits about her, she was intelligent, observant, and cautious.

The part about her being an elf was still casting doubt in Jessica’s mind. Verna was absolutely correct in her assessment of Jessica as a wolf, but did that mean she was right about everything else?

10

“You want to give another shot at teaching me how to play that world-building game you like?” Hayden had enjoyed video games as a teen, but he couldn’t say it was a hobby that’d followed him into adulthood. He was too busy, and sitting down to stare at a screen filled him with guilt when he thought about all the things he could be doing. If it would entertain Jack, though, he’d smash buttons all night.

“No, thanks.” Jack scrolled through his social media feed, his finger listlessly swiping up, never stopping to read anything in detail or comment.

That was pretty damn bad for a teenager. “You sure?”

Jack finally put his phone down, if only to give his father an irritated look. “I’m sure. The last time you tried, you somehow managed to both flood and set fire to the whole place.”

“Not so great for a firefighter, huh?” Hayden gave Jack a soft punch in his uninjured arm, trying to make fun of himself. It really had been terrible, but the new game systems were so different from anything he was used to. “Maybe we should get out of the house for a bit. It’s a nice day.”

“And go where?” Jack snarled.

“Oh, anywhere, really. I could load you into the car, and we could get some ice cream or go to the mall. Everything there is easily wheelchair accessible.” Hayden was already planning the logistics and really liked the idea.

Jack shot it down quickly. “No.”

“Why not? It’s been a while since we’ve been there. Maybe we can check out some new t-shirts.” Hayden still felt bad that the paramedics had cut Jack’s favorite shirt off him. It didn’t matter in the grand scope of things, but he knew Jack had been bothered by it.

“I don’t want a new shirt. Don’t you get it?” Jack swept an aggravated hand through his long hair. “I don’t want you to have to think about how you’re going to load me into the car or which places are wheelchair accessible. I don’t want to be some pitiful case that you have to push around the mall. That’s not how this is supposed to be.”

Hayden was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry I made you feel different, Jack. I was just trying to find something that might work and wanted to make it as easy on you as possible. You know I don’t care what it involves. If I had to carry you around piggyback so you could get to your favorite store, I would.”

Jack picked up his phone but put it down again. “I hear what you’re saying, Dad, but you just don’t get it. I should’ve been different. I should’ve been like you. I feel like I’m going to be using that damn wheelchair forever, and I’m so sick of this fucking bed.”

Hayden let the curse word go. He’d told Jack to make sure he didn’t use that sort of language in front of his sister, but Ellie was upstairs. “I’m sure. I just want to help.”

“I don’t think anything’s going to help right now. I’m not feeling any better than I was when I first came home.” Jack picked at the railing on the side of the bed.

“Are you in pain? Is something wrong?” Hayden reached out to touch his forehead.

Jack jerked his head away. “I just feel like shit, okay? Same as yesterday.”

“Okay.” Hayden was at a loss. He’d spent his whole adult life helping other people, but he didn’t know how to help Jack right now. Teens didn’t like to listen to adults, especially their parents. Hayden could spout all the platitudes and quotes he’d seen in the pamphlets he’d read about caregiving, but it wouldn’t help. “I’m going to put my grocery list together for the week. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

“Yeah. Whatever.”

As hard as it was, Hayden left Jack and went into the kitchen. He should’ve been looking through the pantry and fridge to see what they needed and thinking of what meals to have that week. They’d all need to be fairly easy since he hadn’t had much time to cook anything complicated. It was a chore he did every week, and he was used to it by now, but it suddenly felt like it would take more energy than he had.

He went to the fridge, trying to force himself to get something done so he’d feel a little better. As he grabbed the door handle, a business card stuck to the fridge with a little magnet shaped like a pushpin caught his eye. In fact, it’d drawn his gaze every time he went to the fridge. Jessica’s number was written across the top in neat ballpoint. Her personal number.

Hayden wished he’d known exactly what she’d meant when she’d given that to him. Was she genuinely concerned about Jack and trying to help? Or had she wanted him to call her for more personal reasons? Hayden had seen that look in her eyes, the one that said she knew exactly what was happening between them, even if their hands were tied. He swore he’d sensed that her wolf had connected with his, but now he couldn’t do anything but question himself.

He took the business card off the fridge and rubbed his thumb over it. He truly did need help with Jack. He was genuinely worried, yet he knew he had more than one motive for calling. Hayden wanted to see her. He wanted her there at his door, and then in his house. He wanted even more than that, but he’d settle for a whiff of her perfume and one of those smiles that sent shivers down his spine.

“Hello?”

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