Page 16 of Saved By the Firefighter

Danielle hugs me. "Alright. But if you change your mind, you have my number."

I sling my bag over my shoulder, turning to face the weekend with as much bravery as I can muster. "See you Monday."

With a final wave, we part ways, and I step out into the gloomy afternoon. The parking lot is nearly empty, the sky a canvas of gray, echoing my mood. At least it's not storming like it was earlier. It has been raining the past couple of days and the wind this morning was nuts. A chill runs through me despite my cardigan.

I search the parking lot until I see the taxi waiting for me—a ride I ordered since my old, reliable car was a casualty to the wildfire. I really need to start hunting for a replacement soon. But for now, I slip into the back seat of the taxi, grateful for the temporary shelter from the biting cold.

As the cab navigates rain-slicked streets, my thoughts drift to the only bright spot lately—Jake. I actually haven't seen him since he rescued me. He's been away battling the fire, but that doesn't mean he isn't on my mind constantly. His strong arms pulling me close, his lips pressed against mine—a kiss that felt like both an anchor and a storm. It was irrational, kissing him like that, but in that heated moment, I just didn't care. I had just escaped death and all I could think about was finding safety and warmth with him. I needed that kiss to comfort and ground me. I just needed him.

But what has been confusing me was how he kissed me back. He was so passionate and hungry, as if driven by raw need. I'd never been kissed like that before. It felt magical, even in the midst of a life-threatening disaster.

My pulse quickens at the memory, my cheeks warming. I have no idea what I'll say to him when I finally see him again. I have no idea what I want.

But I'm sure it will be awhile. I heard on the news they're getting the fire contained, but that doesn't mean it's over. I only hope he's okay.

Maybe my deep concern is a sign I should forget the kiss; I already worry enough about my brother risking his life. Do I really want two firefighters in my life I fear I'll never see again?

My phone rings, jolting me out of the whirlwind of memories and what-ifs about Jake. I fumble in my purse, the screen lighting up with Marcus's name. Speak of the devil. He's probably calling again for the hundredth time to check on me. I appreciate his concern but he can definitely be overbearing.

A knot forms in my stomach as I press the phone to my ear. "Hey, what's up?"

"Ellie, thank God. Are you okay? You're not at home, right?" His voice is more tense than I anticipated, a mix of relief and fear.

"Um, I'm in a taxi on my way home," I reply, my voice steady despite the tremor of anxiety that his tone causes. "Why? What's going on?"

"Listen, there's been an accident at your place. I'm glad you're not there."

"An accident?" I lean forward, clutching the phone tighter. "What kind of accident?"

"I can't get into it right now; I'm in the middle of work emergencies, but it's bad, Ellie." He pauses, and I can almost hear him running a hand through his sandy hair in frustration. "I'll come by later to pick you up. You can stay at my place for now."

"Hey, wait—" But he's already hung up. My mind races with possibilities, each more unsettling than the last. What the heck happened to my apartment?

I close my eyes. My string of bad luck lately just doesn't want to end, does it? Whatever happened, I just hope no one is hurt. At least I know Jake and Charlotte also aren't home since I haven't seen them there in a few weeks. I see Charlotte at school in the halls, and I’ve heard her teacher talking about behavioral problems, so I'm guessing she's staying with family while her Dad is out battling fires.

My chest warms again at the thought of Jake—such a strong, heroic man.

"Everything okay?" the taxi driver asks, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

"Hope so," I mutter, trying not to worry too much until I know what happened.

We pull up to my duplex, and my heart sinks. The scene before me looks like a still shot from a disaster movie. Police cars, their lights silently screaming danger, and a fire truck are stationed outside my mangled home. There's a huge tree laying on top of it, the roof completely smashed. I can even see into the living room.

"Miss, are you sure you want to get out here?" the taxi driver asks.

"Yeah. This is my home. Or it used to be." I grab my stuff and then fumble with the door handle. I step out into the chaos. Surprisingly, I'm not even that worried. This is really nothing when compared to surviving a forest fire, and I think I'm just too exhausted to truly react.

One way or another, I'll deal with this.

"Ellie!" Asher's familiar gruff voice calls out to me. He's in his firefighting gear. He jogs over to me.

"Hey, Asher," I say, forcing yet another smile today. "Good thing the landlord forced me to get insurance, huh?"

My attempt at humor doesn't hit and he only looks concerned. "It's good it happened while you were at work," he says, his deep blue eyes scanning the damage. "We've put a tarp over what we can for now. Your landlord is handling everything. Cleanup crew will be here first thing in the morning."

"Thanks, that's...great." I close my eyes for a moment, trying to steady myself. I think it's finally hitting me because there's a lump forming in my throat.

Asher puts a large hand gently on my shoulder. "Did you talk to Marcus? He's across town and probably going to be busy for a while. I can call Olivia to give you a ride to—"

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