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I point out where their PPE gear or as most commonly called, turnout gear should be stored, and they place their helmets on the shelf above the hooks before they hang up their coat and pants.

“So when that alarm goes off, you get in here and get suited up and back to the truck as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, Lieutenant,” they answer again.

“Good. Well, that’s the tour. I’ll run some drills with you both in a few. For now, go ahead and grab the cleaning supplies from the closet there and make sure that our beautiful Benny shines. Got it?”

“Yes, Lieutenant.” They nod.

I leave them in the garage and make my way back to the living quarters. I love my job, and everything about it. But training the new guys is bittersweet. If they make it through, it’s rewarding to see the firefighters and men they become. If they drop out, it’s a lot of work for nothing. So far, I have a good feeling about these two. Only time will tell.

“Coffee!” Deacon Montgomery yells as he sets a beverage container of coffees from our favorite coffee house, Café G’s. “Hey, Pauly, I have your pansy-ass froufrou drink,” he says

Montgomery hands a coffee to Pauly D who is sitting on the couch playing Xbox with his legs propped up on the end table. Pausing his game, he takes the cup from Montgomery.

“Thanks, man,” he says before taking a sip. “Oh, sweet heaven, you are so good.” Pauly is practically moaning into his cup.

We all laugh. Pauly D’ Agostino is such a character, but the house wouldn’t be the same without him.

“You’re such an idiot. You should save the sweet-talking for Victoria later,” Montgomery says with a laugh

“Yeah, well, that shit ain’t happening tonight. Victoria is being a total bitch, man. She must be ragging or some shit. I was actually happy to get out of there before the sun fucking rose today. She has the day off, and I’ve never been so happy to come to work.”

Pauly and Victoria’s on-again, off-again relationship is always entertaining, albeit sometimes draining. Those two Italians are without a doubt, the biggest hotheads I’ve ever met. Yet they seem to work, and when they’re not arguing about something, they’re making out as if their life depended on it between whispers of adoration.

“Do I sense another break coming on?”

“Nah. We're actually doing decent. I love her. I just couldn’t take the bullshit today. She slapped me with enough of it last night.”

“I hear ya,” I say as I stand next to Pauly and absentmindedly stare at the TV, paying little attention to the game he has resumed playing.

“Pauly! Montgomery! You still going out tonight, right?” I ask while grabbing the coffee labeled with my name from the carrier. We have a nice coffee maker in the kitchen that was donated by some local residents we helped last year. It even makes cappuccinos with the foam. But, for some reason, coffee made by someone else just tastes better.

I see realization dawn in Deacon’s eyes as he remembers it’s my thirtieth birthday. “Happy Birthday, old man! Yeah, I’ll be there. You might need someone to help you get around after a few drinks. I’m sure your tolerance has decreased as you’ve gotten older,” he says, smirking at me.

“Fuck you, Montgomery. I’m just getting to my prime. Believe me, the ladies have no complaints.”

He laughs. “I’m sure they don’t, Boss. I’m sure they don’t.”

“I’ll be there, man,” Pauly says. “Shit knows I’m in no hurry to head home to Vicki when she’s on bitch patrol.”

I raise a brow. “You two headed toward another break?”

Pauly looks from Deacon to me, shaking his head. “Fuck. Do you shitheads have no confidence? We haven’t had a breakup in over six months. We’re good. She just needs a day to get the attitude out of her system, is all.”

I raise my hands in surrender, grinning. “Sorry, man. Whatever. Shit, I don’t give a fuck what you and Victoria do.”

Coffee in hand, I take a seat on the other couch and turn on the other TV. My body aches from helping my brother move yesterday.Man, I’m getting old.

Tiny enters the room and grabs his coffee off the table. “Sorry I forgot about your birthday, Boss. Happy Birthday!” His deep voice resonates through the room.

Archer Harris, also known as Tiny, is the largest guy in the department. He makes Pauly appear average in size, and that is saying something.

“You in tonight?” I call out from across the room.

“Hell yeah, man, I’m in,” Tiny replies, grinning.

“In for what?” Captain asks as he enters the game room. ,

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