Page 15 of Wish You Were Mine

And on and on they went. All the faces of the people I hadn’t been able to save.

Eventually, my eyes gritty and my pulse pounding way too fast, I lifted Cookie off my chest and got out of bed. I dressed in the dark, put my headphones on, and climbed back onto the cycle, turning up my music to drown out the endless chorus of the dead.

If I couldn’t sleep, the only thing left to do was try to outrun them.

7

SUMMER

I moved to the front of the line in Taste of Destiny and greeted Eden, the young woman behind the counter, with a smile.Hopefully, she could help me make up for putting my foot in my mouth last night.

“What can I get you?” she asked.

“A box of assorted bakery items, please,” I said. “Perhaps some slices, some donuts, and cookies.”

“Sure thing,” she replied. “How many, and what’s the occasion?”

“Let’s say ten.” I wasn’t certain how many people would be at the station. Most likely, at least four in the fire crew, plus two paramedics, and the captain, but there might be a few others hanging around too. “It’s for the fire station.”

Eden winced. “I heard about the accident yesterday. Let me give you the local hero discount.”

“There’s no need for that,” I protested. I could afford to pay the full cost. The veterinary practice did well, and I was entitled to fifty percent of our profits in addition to my salary, so while I wasn’t rich, I was never short of cash when I needed it.

“I insist.” Eden took my payment, grabbed a box from beneath the counter and filled it with treats. When it was full, she closed the lid and passed it to me. “Tell them thank you for what they do, from all of us here.”

“I will.” I took the box and carried it down a couple of blocks to the turn off to the fire station. The morning was still dim, and as I left the sidewalk and moved onto the grass, it crunched beneath my feet, stiff with frost.

The doors into the fire station were all closed, but the main entrance opened when I pushed it. I made my way along the corridor and into the staff room. The bitter scent of coffee permeated the air, and several empty cups showed that many of the people on duty had already enjoyed their first coffee of the day.

“Morning, Summer,” Liam called from a sofa in the corner.

Darcy, who was sprawled beside him, tipped his chin at me. “Hey.”

Asher and Maia, who were both in the connected kitchen area, nodded in greeting.

I put the box on the center of the table. “I come with goodies.”

Darcy immediately perked up. “What have you got?”

“A selection from Taste of Destiny.” I opened the box. “For you guys from me and Eden. I know you lost someone yesterday, and we wanted to remind you that the community appreciates everything you do.”

Liam rose from the sofa, walked straight over and hugged me. “Thanks for being sweet.”

“No problem.” I hugged him back and pulled away.

Maia, a tall, lean Maori woman, squeezed my shoulder. “Thanks, Summer. Those callouts are always hard.”

“I can’t even imagine.” I moved aside so they could help themselves.

Liam chose a muffin while Maia grabbed a chocolate caramel slice. I watched her delicately break off a piece from the end and nibble on it. Back when she’d started working with Asher, I’d been jealous of her, but I’d quickly realized there was nothing between them.Now, she was married with a kid, and I found myself jealous of her in a whole other way.

I wanted that. But I wanted it with Asher, and he’d made his position clear.

I checked the time. “I’d better get to work. I have patients arriving soon.”

“Let me walk you out,” Asher said.

I hesitated, but he hadn’t tried to raise the subject of our dates last night, so hopefully he wouldn’t now.

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