Page 38 of Courageous Demands

“Don’t be that way…”

“The man has a point,” Alec grinned, walking off with Colton. “There was coffee left when I got my cup, too.”

“I hate you guys…” Lance hollered from behind them as they looked at each other and laughed – only to see Justin coming. Both men glanced quickly in alarm and started up the stairs in a sprint, trying not to spill their cups of coffee, only to hear Justin’s voice holler from the engine bay.

“SERIOUSLY, CORTES?!”

“It wasn’t me!”

“He better not snitch,” Colton grimaced. “Justin’s not in a great mood this morning, and Chad texted. He’s running behind. Maya’s car wouldn’t start.”

“Uh oh.”

“Yup. Shall we take one for the team and cover for the man?”

“Absolutely.”

The two men bumped knuckles – and Alec hesitated, pulling a stuffed mouse from his shirt pocket and dangling it between the two of them.

“If I’m gonna get yelled at, let’s at least have a little fun.”

“You are either seriously messed up or…”

“Let’s go with the ‘or’ and not talk about it, okay?” Alec interrupted, wanting to keep his relationship with Willow private.

“You got it, bro – but if you ever need to talk.”

Alec nodded and then cupped his hand to his mouth, yelling loud enough that he heard the fire chief laughing from his office below where they were standing.

“Ohhhh my Dear Department Daaaaddy? I did a boo-boo…” – and he flung the mouse into the engine bay where the two bright red fire trucks were waiting. Lance’s scream could be heard a mile away, along with Justin’s cackling laughter.

Chad bolted in the front door and looked up at them, then turned toward the commotion in the distance.

“What’d I miss,” he said breathlessly.

“Lance just messed his knickers, Justin’s looking for you, there’s no coffee, and you owe us both a solid, bro,” Colton grinned. “We’re about to get reamed as soon as he stops laughing.”

The two men tapped their coffee mugs together in solidarity, standing there on the stairs, waiting for the poop to hit the fan.

“Lance, quit screaming,” Justin snapped, coming around the corner and looking at the trio. “Chad, get the truck ready. Where have you been?” – and his head swung toward the two men waiting.

Alec took a sip of his coffee while Colton counted under his breath.

“Three, two, one…”

“AND YOU TWO KNUCKLEHEADS DON’T EVER LISTEN…” Justin snapped hotly, glaring at them and pointing. “That is MY coffee you are drinking, and while the mouse was a nice touch? I now have a headache combined with my significant lack of caffeine.”

“I think he’s backed up,” Alec whispered loudly – and Colton choked on his coffee, spraying it in front of him and all over the stairs. “Dude, there are some sore throat lozenges in the med cabinet ‘cause you are starting to sound a little hoarse – and I think there is some Ex-Lax, too, if that will help you. It’s the little chocolatey squares, so I wouldn’t eat more than one or you are on your own while we are on a call…”

Justin’s mouth dropped open.

Chad just stood there, his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing.

Colton was still coughing and trying to catch his breath – as Lance’s shriek pierced the silence, followed by another yell.

“WHO PUT A MOUSE IN MY BOOT?!”

“Wasn’t me this time,” Alec admitted, looking at Colton and Chad warily – only to hear the chief laughing again as he shut his office door. “I really like that dude, you know?”

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