Page 22 of Code Red Chemistry

Epilogue | Levi | One Year Later

The station smells likepizza and chocolate cake rather than diesel fuel and floor cleaner. Jake and Mack’s attempt at decorating makes it look like a dollar store exploded in the bay. Crooked streamers are strung across the side of the truck bay and a multicolored banner that reads “Congratulations!” in glittery block letters looks like it’s about to fall off the wall. But the sentiment behind the decorations for my farewell party makes my chest tight.

I tug a finger under the starched collar of my dress uniform.

Zoe reaches up to straighten my tie. “Ready to ditch the formal wear?” Her touch, even after a year together, still sends electricity racing through my veins.

“Not when I know how much you love a uniform,” I murmur, leaning down to nuzzle her earlobe.

Her lips curve into a smile against my cheek. “It’s a shame there’s not a coat closet around here somewhere…”

“There’s a utility room,” I reply. “But between the mops and cleaning supplies, there’s nothing sexy about it.”

“I can wait until later,” she purrs.

“Could we not?” Alex groans as he walks up and hands me a beer.

“Oh, please,” Zoe chastises, wrapping her arms around my waist. “It’s not like you and Kristina could keep your hands off each other when you first met.”

“But it’s been what? A year?”

“Don’t be jealous.”

Alex groans. “I just never would have guessed my best friend would go from never missing family dinners to dodging my sister for years then back to never missing one again.”

“Your sister’s an excellent incentive,” I reply, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah.” Alex rolls his eyes. “Just remember, I’m still watching you when it comes to her, no matter that the New York Fire Department is trusting you to train new cadets now.”

Pride fills my chest at the mention of my promotion to become a trainer at the academy, a highly competitive post, even though it means saying goodbye to my station. I press a kiss to Zoe’s hair. “I don’t doubt it.”

“Did you hear what he did last year?” Libby asks Alex, chiming in from where she’s perched on the weight bench next to Brock. “I mean, if the academy knew about that little hospital stunt they might not have been so eager to make him an offer…”

“That was your idea,” I reply, shooting a glance over at the administrators who accepted Chief’s invitation to come back to our station after the ceremony. Fortunately, they don’t appear to have heard her throw me under the bus.

“But you have to admit that Code Red was a masterpiece of a romantic gesture,” Libby adds. “I mean, look where it got you.”

“You’re right about that.” I slide my hand down to the small of Zoe’s back. “I mean, who knew faking an emergency would be a move that led to everything I ever wanted?”

“It’s a good thing they don’t know about the fire code you keyed in at The Plaza,” Zoe murmurs under her breath.

I tug her against me, signaling that her silence on that little detail is appreciated. She looks up and casts a warm smile at me. One that says she’s proud of me. One I once thought I’d never deserve.

“Speaking of being on your best behavior…” Mack says, approaching with a paper plate piled high with pizza. “Anyone else worried about this sorry lot embarrassing ourselves at Serenity Slopes next month?”

“You better not,” Libby warns, at the mention of the five-star ski resort in Wildwood, Vermont where she and Brock are getting married. “If any of you show up to our wedding in anything less than perfect form…”

“Don’t worry,” Brock assures his fiancée cocking an eyebrow at the rest of us. “I’ve already threatened them with double shifts if they don’t mind their manners at the resort.”

“Perfect.”

With that, Zoe and Libby excuse themselves to use the restroom as I take a swig of beer and enjoy the last few minutes with my crew before I officially no longer work at Ladder 24. I’m glancing around this station that I know like the back of my hand, enjoying Jake giving Mack a hard time about something, when a movement near the bay door catches my eye. A petite woman with long dark hair tied back in a tight ponytail has slipped in. Her guarded expression matches her look—steel-toed boots, dark jeans, and a black leather jacket. She scans the station, her dark eyes scouring until she spots Chief, who’s chatting with the academy administrators.

A quick glance at Brock confirms he’s taken note of the unusual arrival as well. A notch forms between his brows as Mack, who’s been ribbing me mercilessly all afternoon about my ‘touching’ speech at the ceremony, goes suddenly, suspiciously quiet. He’s tracked her presence and the slice of pizza he was devouring is now stalled halfway to his mouth.

“Who’s she?” Jake asks, following our line of vision.

“No idea,” I reply, “but someone better check Mack’s pulse.”

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