Page 4 of Single Dad Panther's Best Friend Romance

Vic shakes his head. “That’s a negative, man. Look, they’re bringing out the big guns. They got the people they could. They’re not waiting. And we can’t grab a truck and redirect.”

Todd chimes in. “Man, we don’t even know if the reports of more people are reliable. We need to do as Cap says.”

“What the hell? He’s not a captain, for fuck’s sake. He’s just the team lead. And I’m telling you, we are not going to stand here.” My reputation as a hothead, though many times meant jokingly, seems real enough now. “So, I better damn well hurry.”

The guys look unhappy, but I picture Joel in there and I just can’t leave things alone. “They may get to them, they may control things in time, but I just can’t ignore the possibility.”

“God, Preston, you really don’t know your nature.” It’s a casual insult that shifters throw around, but it gets my goat this time when Todd says it.

So, I’m about to make a very big mistake and do a very public thing when I see a truck come around the corner. A very angry Garrett is directing. He hops down and gives some instructions to the other guys, instructions that sound very similar to what I just said, and now he’s coming for me.

“What the fuck are you doing? I told you to stand down from the shifting nonsense and let the crew handle it. You’re just too damned stubborn, Pres.”

“Fuck arguing right now. I’m going to help.” I run over to help steady the hose and to aim it into one of the highest windows. I’m ignoring everything, Garrett’s anger, the news cameras and the babble that always fills a scene like this. I see only the flames and the water and the smoke.

I don’t want to see if anybody appears trapped. I don’t want to think that we left anyone behind to die because we’re busy guarding a secret that isn’t even a real secret.

Well, the fire takes some time but it does come under control with an eventual attack on all sides. Extra engines from a neighboring department have to join the fight, but it finally does cool. And we also discover that there were actually no other individuals left in the building. Which should make me feel better.

My emotions, though, stay red hot. I’ve always hated how we hide our abilities. The public has been made aware of the presence of shifters, but not in any real everyday way, and I find that fucking ridiculous. We’re different but we could do a lot of good. Scratch that, we do a lot of good already, damn it!

I blame my later silence with the guys on exhaustion, but I just keep seeing Joel in that building, trapped and wondering why his dad won’t come to save him.

This isn’t the first time I’ve thought along those lines but I think it’s the first time it impacts my job so definitively.

Chapter Three

Elizabeth

Why aren’t there easy to understand statements, for fuck’s sake. How in the world can the news show coverage of this fire for fucking hours, point out that people are hurt, and not actually say who’s hurt? Are firefighters hurt?

Is Preston hurt?

Okay, I’m glad the news is talking about how at least sixty people got out of the fire completely unscathed and they’re calling the firefighters heroes.

Well, no shit, Sherlock.

Firefighters are heroes.

Tell me something I don’t know!

Like, for example, tell me if Preston is safe!

This is maddening, and it becomes more maddening when the anchor on the television screen tells me that they’re going to return to their normal programming now.

I feel like I’m just going to pass out! The fire is out. It’s been out for forty-five minutes. Why in the world aren’t they offeringdetails of the people who were hurt? I grab the couch pillow and mash it against my face as I scream, “FUCK!!!!”

I’m going to fall apart.

I’m just going to absolutely fall apart.

And then the door opens. I’m momentarily terrified because somehow, the fact that my best friend has a key to my house escapes me. Then, I see Preston and I’m so flooded with relief that I don’t think I even remember what terror is. He says, “Oh, Liz. I didn’t think you’d still be awake. That’s why I didn’t…”

He can’t speak anymore with my tongue in his mouth.

I kiss him desperately. I don’t have any other way to describe it. Whatever motivates me comes from very deep within me. I can’t claim that this is something I’ve thought out and planned. I can’t even claim that I reached a decision.

I see him and I run to him. I leap up, wrap my arms and legs around him, and kiss him.

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