Page 8 of Fight

“Do I get a name?”

“Scottie.” She holds her palm out in a handshake, and I take it in mine.

“Callahan Woods,” I say. “You gonna text me, Scottie?”

“Probably not,” she says, still shaking my hand and grinning.

I laugh and release her palm. “Well, it was awful meeting you.”

The corner of her mouth curves up in a smile. “Likewise.”

I slide off my barstool.

“Maybe I’ll see you around,” she adds.

“I hope not.” I wink and head back to the guys, finding my spot next to Xander again.

She downs the remaining liquid in her glass and pays Lou, leaving a couple bucks on the bartop before standing and walking out the door without giving me so much as a sideways glance.

I return to my barstool next to King and Xander, and Xander shakes his head. “So, who’s your new friend?” King asks.

“Scottie,” I answer, stealing one more look toward the door. “Scottie thehottie.”

Caleb sighs, still disappointed from his crash and burn earlier.

We spend the next couple hours knocking back beers and retelling stories from the fire we just rolled off of. With each one, our voices get a little louder and less articulate. It’s gonna be a late night tearing it up. It’s been a good season. A couple more assignments and we’ll be wrapping up. I’m about to pay my tab when the phone in my pocket buzzes.

Unknown

Thanks for the drink tonight.

A smile lights up my face, and I tap out my reply.

Anytime.

While adjusting the clip with my employee badge at my hip, Matthew opens a few cabinet doors at the fire station. “Here’s where we keep overstock.”

“Got it.” I acknowledge to my new medic, who’s giving me a tour of the county fire station. Is everybody in this town good-looking? Is it the water? Should I be drinking more water?

Matt is attractive the way a Ken doll is attractive. I stare at him like a scientist studying a test subject. He’s just so…pretty. Thankfully, I’m not sexually attracted to him, and I think we’re going to get along well together. He’s nice, knowledgeable, and treats me as an equal, unlike other stations I’ve worked at where they love hazing the newbie.

The firefighters seem nice too. One of the guys, Dave, introduced himself at the bar. I think he had a few too many that night. Especially after some other patron called him out on having a wife and a couple kids at home. Truthfully, I’m not sure if he even remembers because he hasn’t given me any sideways glances—for which I’m grateful.

He opens another cabinet with CPR dummies inside and some other training materials. A sealed package containing oneof the Resuscitation Annie’s faces falls onto the floor like one of Hannibal Lector’s snacks.Annie, are you okay?I stuff it back in the cabinet and shut the door, then follow him through another doorway that leads to a large open room with windows spanning one of the exterior walls. The center of the room holds foosball and Ping-Pong tables. Along another wall is a mounted television and a leather couch that’s seen better days.

“Rec room.”

“Nice.”

“Some of the fire guys take the games pretty seriously.” He gestures toward the wall with two large whiteboards, one filled with a foosball bracket and the other set up with Ping-Pong scores.

“Yeah, I’m not at that level. Not anymore, at least. I could have gone pro in college, but, ya know…” I end the joke with a wistful sigh.

“Injury?” he asks, matching my bit.

“Nah, couldn't handle the pressure. The fans, the women, the money… It became too much. So naturally, I became an EMT.”

“That’s the logical path.” Matt chuckles and I smile. At least my medic has a small sense of humor. That would not have flown at my last job. “I think you’ll fit in well here. Laurel and Pete are on a call, but when they come back, I’ll introduce you.”

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