Page 43 of Inferno

“Good call.” He absolutely wanted to be the one to drive her back to her house. “You have everything?”

“Except a clean bill of health, but that’s a problem for tomorrow-Samantha. Today-Samantha is interested in getting where she’s going so she can sit with her eyes closed and try to figure out how to eat pizza with a sore throat.” She handed him some papers and a plastic sack.

Julio chuckled. “How about soup?”

“Depends what kind of soup it is.”

“We could run by the store on the way to your house and pick something up?”

She scrunched up her face. “I probably have something in the cupboard like chicken noodle or tomato that we haven’t eaten yet.”

“We?”

“Bristol and I have been roommates since…”

Julio reached out and snagged her hand, curling his fingers around hers. Just a little measure of solidarity, but it was enough for right now. “That’s good.”

“How about you? Do you live with anyone?”

“Just me.”

He often rattled around in that empty house, wondering if he should get a dog and then dismissing the idea because he was at the firehouse way too much. One of the guys at work already had a dog he brought with him to be their mascot. She liked to chew the pillows on the couch when they were out on calls and had pooped in the women’s bathroom at least twice.

“So, anyway…” Samantha began but didn’t finish.

Yeah, he hadn’t explained where he lived. Or what kind of place it was. As soon as he did, she would realize far too much.

“Soup and some soft bread,” Julio said. “Maybe a soggy cheese sandwich that’s all gooey.”

“That sounds terrible and intriguing at the same time.”

“You are really good to get out of here?” He hit the button for the elevator either way.

She nodded. “Because of you.”

Julio tugged her over and wound his arms around her, giving her a supportive hug. It occurred to him that when it all shook out, this might be all she was prepared to give him. That they might be forever destined to remain friends. Never more than that, because of their shared history.

All the pain they’d been through might eclipse anything good they could have, like flying too close to the sun. No matter if you were happy, you’d still burn up.

But was it worth a shot at survival? At the chance for something good on the other end?

When the orderly came over with a wheelchair, she flashed her badge at him. The guy backed away. Julio walked her to the lobby and had her sit while he retrieved his truck. When he parked at the curb out front, she came out. Walking slowly enough, he hopped out and went around to the passenger side, pulled the door open for her, and held her hand while she climbed in.

When he got in the driver’s side, she had already entered her address in the GPS.

He knew that side of town, not under the purview of his firehouse. Probably on purpose, in case of a fire. Two lives running side by side but never intersecting.

Until a few days ago.

“Wake me when we get there.”

She had to feel terrible if she was willing to let down her guard enough to go to sleep while he drove. Julio kept the music low, taking an easy route to her house and wondering as he did if this was all part of some bigger plan for them to restart their relationship.

And all he needed to do was yield to it.

SEVENTEEN

As Samantha swallowed some of the soup, she eyed Julio. “What did you do to it?”

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