Page 8 of Spring Break with a Fire Chief

“You'll always be probie.” He claps him on the back.

“And you'll always be the dick hat guy.”

Isaac starts to laugh uncontrollably. “It’s true then?” He doubles over slapping the bar top. “I thought Reece was fucking with me.No waydoes Marigold make you put hats on your dick, bro.”

“Oh, Marigold doesn’t make him do anything. He’s very willing,” Jace says snarkily.

I stifle a laugh and order another round. “More shots before this gets completely out of control!”

Chapter 5

Madeline

In a short amount of time, I’ve quickly fallen into a rhythm at the hospital. It’s not hard to fit in here when you love it so much. There were familiar faces and new faces, but they all welcomed me in as if I belonged.

But I want to belong with Ryan.

It’s only been a week, but it feels like he's been avoiding me. Well, not necessarily avoiding me but he's not looking for me either.

I get it. I’d stay away from me too.

But he needs to know that by leaving years ago, I broke my own heart as well. At the time, I should have been thinking about settling down but I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t have a stable household growing up so I don’t know what it's like to want to make a home somewhere. I felt there was so much more to do and so much more help I could give to others. And since I spent years and years in schooling, I didn't want to waste that education and I definitely didn't want to give up all the good I felt I could deliver.

But by helping others first, I put myself last. Sure, it made me feel good at the time, but I quickly realized it wasn’t enough.

I want to share a life with someone.

Pagers begin to ring and it pulls me from my thoughts. I hear the head nurse, Sarah, call out, “We’ve got a bus bringing one in! Trauma room one! Second degree burns, hands and forearm. LB Fireman. We take care of our own people. Everyone, you know what to do.”

My heart sinks at hearing it’s a fireman and I pray it isn’t Ryan. I rush to stand at the entrance. I see the ambulance pull up and roll through with a man on the stretcher. As they get closer, my eyes strain to focus on who's coming in.

“Who do we have?” I ask as I follow the stretcher down the hall.

“Ted Loughlin. Thirty-three years old. Second degree, possible third burns on left hand and forearm.” Ted groans on the stretcher. “EMS gave him a shot of morphine on the ride in.”

“Not helping,” Ted croaks out.

“I know it hurts, Ted, but you're going to be just fine. Let’s get you unwrapped and see what’s happening.”

We bring him into the room and throw the brakes down on the stretcher. I begin to unwrap the wet rag they placed on him. “Who wrapped you, Ted?”

“Baylor.”

I nod. “He did good. Now hold on, I’m going to pull this off.” I gently pull the rag away and see his hand and forearm are already heavily blistered. The skin is fire red and angry looking.

“I can’t believe you forgot to grab your hose, Ted.” I try to break the ice with him, taking his mind away from the pain.

He lets out a grunt and his eyes are shut tightly. “I see why Chief likes you.”

I roll my lips inward and I help him hold his arm above the level of his heart. “Tell me what happened.”

“Basic two alarm. Grease fire in the kitchen. Tried to usher the homeowner out the door but they were refusing to leave. She freaked out, waved a kitchen rag around which caught fire then caught my arm when I blocked her from it.”

“So you’re a hero, is that what you’re telling me?”

“Tell that to Chief Donnelly. He thinks I’m looking for extra vacation days.”

I smile at him despite his eyes still being closed. I’m glad he’s got his sense of humor right now. Because this burn is ugly and is going to set him back a bit.

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