Page 27 of Fall at Once

Cole

It was clear, bright autumn perfection as I jogged up the street quickly so I wouldn’t be late for my meeting. Leaves crunched under my feet as my sneakers pounded over the sidewalk. Tourists were fucking everywhere, and I had to weave around them as I ran up Main Street to the station.

The Cozy Creek Fire Brigade Station took up an entire block. The structure was designed to serve as a gathering place for services and a shelter for our community in emergencies.

The brick building had four double-deep and two single-deep apparatus bays on the ground floor and a reception area. The second floor held administrative offices, a conference room, a turnout gear room, and a storage area for our emergency medicalsupplies.

We had ten bunk rooms, each with a bed, desk, and storage cabinets, and five unisex bathrooms with private showers surrounded by a locker area.

We spent most of our downtime in the newly remodeled kitchen and seating area of the station. When we were in town, the Cozy Creek Confectionery and Bookers Pub were some of our favorite haunts.

With a combined force of paid and volunteer firefighters, we were always ready to help wherever needed throughout the county.

My office was on the top floor, where I would meet our event planner. I had barely enough time to shower and change before we got started.

I scowled as I crossed the parking lot toward reception. My heart was still flying circles around in my chest from my interaction with Madi, and I couldn’t think straight.

Interaction?Right, what we’d had was no simple interaction. I’d shamelessly flirted with her. I told her I liked her freckles, for fuck’s sake, and compared her to Belle. I think I even winked at her.

How was I supposed to resist someone like her? She was like fucking sunshine, and I was nothing but a grumpy, dark cloud. But worse, she seemed into me, and I fucking loved it.

I wanted to keep running, blow past the station, blow off my meeting, and run until these fucking feelings I was developing for Madi were gone, and I was back to feeling nothing again.Nothingwas safer. I could deal with nothing.

With a shove, I opened the door and stepped inside, hoping to make it to the locker room without talking to anyone.

“Cole! Bad news.” I stopped short. The last thing I needed was more to deal with.

Our administrative assistant, Monica, a pretty redhead who was a year behind me in school, stood behind her desk to greet me as if she had been waiting. The look on her face said it wasn’t just bad news; it was terrible.

“I don’t wanna hear it,” I joked. “No, thanks.”

“Jenny canceled.” Our event planner. Great.

I closed my eyes, praying for patience. “Please tell me she only canceled today’s meeting.”

She tapped her fingers on her desk. “You’re going to find this hilarious.”

“I seriously doubt that,” I answered as I walked slow circles around the lobby to catch my breath and cool down.

“She took a temp job in Colorado Springs. They offered her twice what she’d make freelancing here. She’s filling in for Gigi’s granddaughter.”

“No shit.” I barked out a laugh.

“None whatsoever. Ironic, isn’t it?”

“We’re screwed. We’re already selling tickets online and in town; it’s on the marquee, Monica. It’s official. It’s a done deal. We can’t cancel, and there’s no way I can plan this myself. Not unless we want to grill burgers and watch football. I mean, what the hell?”

“I don’t know. That sounds pretty fun to me.”

“I don’t have time for this.Youdon’t have time for this either.”

“I know, Cole. I’ll make some calls and see what I come up with. I’ll let you know by the end of the day.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Of course.” She waved me off and picked up her phone. “I’ll call around. Or maybe I’ll get in touch with Gigi or one of her friends. Those ladies know everybody in town. Word of mouth is key here. We don’t want to hire just anybody to replace Jenny. We need someone who can handle this on their own.”

“Yeah, and this is all Gigi’s fault, too, for spraining her ankle.” I laughed. “She owes us.”

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