Page 14 of Silver Fox Firefighters Next Door

“You’re bleeding! From your head! We’re going to make a fuss.” I pushed dripping hair out of my face and tried to slow my breathing. It was useless, though. I was freaked out and I kept hearing his cry in my head.

He looked over at me, ready to argue, but he got distracted and started chastising me instead. “What the hell are you doing out of the house in a towel, Eve? Go put some clothes on!”

Nash gently cupped my arm and pulled me to my feet. “We’ve got him. Get dressed before he blindfolds us to keep us from seeing anything.”

“Nothing you haven’t seen before. I saw her sneaking back in here this morning after coming home on your motorcycle last night.” Grandpa somehow managed to make me feel like a scolded child while bleeding from the head, lying flat on the ground.

“Sorry, Grandpa.” Hurrying into the house, I rushed through and pulled on leggings and a t-shirt. I yanked my hair into a bun and shoved my feet into the nearest shoes so I could get back outside.

They had Grandpa standing up and walking toward the front of the cabin when I returned. My heart stopped when I saw how pale he looked. I didn’t even realize I was crying until Grandpa pointed it out.

“Stop crying, Evie. I’m fine.” Even as he said it, a drop of blood rolled down his cheek.

“The head wound is superficial but they bleed like a bitch. Everything is okay but we’re going to need to go get that arm x-rayed after we patch up his head.” Nash’s voice was low and even, like he was talking to a scared animal.

“I don’t need an x-ray.” Grandpa struggled up the few steps into the cabin and went straight to his chair with the guys’ help. “It’s not broken.”

I frowned. “You don’t know that. If they say you need to get an x-ray, you have to get an x-ray.”

“I know what a broken bone feels like. This isn’t it. I’ll let you boys doctor my head but my arm’s fine.” He said it like it was final and shot me a look that demanded I not argue with him.

If it was about anything else, I wouldn’t have. I respected and loved him more than anything in the world. I’d gone my entire life not arguing back. I’d just spent the last year going back and forth with him to doctor’s appointments and having doctors tell me that he had a tumor in his brain. It was benign but it had been pushing in on another part of his brain and affecting his behavior. I’d spent the year making sure he took the pills and followed the treatment plans and I wasn’t going to lose all that progress because he wouldn’t go to the hospital for an x-ray.

“You’re going.” I put my hands on my hips and stared down at him. “It could be broken. There could be damage and an infection could start. Anything is possible and I’m not going to let you chance it because you think you know what a broken bone feels like.”

“Eve, I’m not going. No matter how sassy you get.”

“Grandpa, you’re going.” I looked around for my keys. “You fell off a ladder. You’re bleeding and you look like crap. Would you like to take my car or your truck?”

“I’m not going to the damn hospital again, Eve! A man my age goes and never comes out. Now stop arguing with me and let the men work.” He wagged his finger at me as he spoke. “When I say no, I mean it. I did all that other shit you wanted me to do but I’m drawing the line here.”

“Grandpa! That other shit was to shrink the tumor in your brain and it worked!” I was so angry tears peppered my eyes. “You can’t be sure you’re not hurt. Please, just go to the hospital and let them look at you. Dr. Wallace can talk to your oncologist, too, and we can just make sure. Okay?”

“No! I’m not going back. I’m never going back. You want to know the truth, girl? I’m done with doctors. I’m going out naturally this time, however God wants me.”

I’d forgotten anyone else was in the cabin with us. Tears streaked down my cheeks as I knelt at Grandpa’s feet. “Are you serious?”

He nodded and stared out of the window across the room. “Dead serious.”

“You’re going to willingly leave me all alone?” I sounded like a small child in that moment but I couldn’t help it. My heart was shattering and I didn’t understand how he could do it.

“You’re not going to be all alone.” Grandpa looked behind me and then reached out with his good arm and tipped my face up to his. “You’re home now and you’ve got people here. Now, stop crying. Go and get cleaned up. This isn’t an argument we’re having again. Understand?”

Nash’s voice made me flinch as I realized they were still there. “We’ll take care of him, Eve. We’ll stick close by this week and make sure there are no signs of lingering damage.”

I rose to my feet and frowned down at the man who’d raised me when my own parents didn’t want to. “You’re not being fair. I’m so mad at you right now. I gave up everything to come back here to help you because I love you and because you deserve it and you’re just going to roll over and die now? It’s bullshit.”

I didn’t listen to whatever he said next. I found my car keys and left, driving towards the city and away from the pain radiating through my body.

CHAPTER 13

Aiden

I was taking my turn to check on Hank and we were in the middle of a game of poker when I finally asked what was on my mind. “So. Where’d Eve go?”

The old man smiled back at me with two black eyes, courtesy of his fall. “Why are you asking?”

I folded my hand and tried to play it cool. “You two had a fight. In the months we’ve lived here, I’ve never seen her not come home.”

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