Page 35 of Come Back to Me

“Hey, sorry to interrupt you, but I wanted to talk to you sooner rather than later. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to stay the night tomorrow. Shayna messaged, and she’s on an overnight call shift and needs a sitter for Tommy because my parents are sick.”

“Oh man, I’m sorry they’re sick. It’s up to you and your sister, but if you guys still want to come, we could have a sleepover in the living room with us all and the dogs. But, if not, I totally understand. I’ll miss you, though.” She smiles.

“You really wouldn’t mind that? I could check with Shayna, but I think she’d be fine with it. I was really looking forward to seeing you.”

“Of course I wouldn’t mind!” she answers. “Obviously, the night would be rated G but, once your sister picks him up in the morning…” She winks and smiles as she brushes her hand against mine, discreetly.

God, she’s adorable.

Fitz walks toward us and we say our goodbyes. I wish I could kiss her now that she’s got me thinking about what might happen after Tommy gets picked up from our sleepover, but I don’t.

Fitz and I head out to the rig. When we get in the ambulance and start driving back to the station, Fitz seems quieter than usual.

“Are you okay?”

He hesitates, but then speaks. “You’re still good friends with Teddy, right?”

When I nod, he continues,“I know he has a big personality, but sometimes I don’t know how to take him,” he says.

“Oh no, what did he say today?” I ask.

“I guess it’s not a big deal, but I was trying to finish the run report and he came up and kept talking to me about how hot he thinks Annie’s new trainee is. Kept asking if I had a chance to ‘check her out yet.’ I tried to ignore him, but he just kept going on. It was weird, and it’s like he didn’t care that I clearly wasn’t into hearing about it.”

“Oh, man. Yeah, that isn’t cool. I’m hoping he was just trying to engage with you or something. Annie says he flirts a lot here, but I think he and Emily are doing fine.”

“You know Trina and I are best friends. Maybe I’m just being pissed for Em on her behalf. I know she’s really protective of Emily. But, Jesus, I walked Emily down the aisle, man. What makes Teddy think I’d be okay listening to him talk about another woman that way?”

Fitz and Trina have been best friends since they went tothe fire academy together over ten years ago, so it’s no surprise he feels this way.

“I don’t think you’re wrong for being annoyed. If he says anything to me about her, I’ll try to talk to him. Hopefully, he’ll stop once the newness of her wears off.”

“Hopefully.” Fitz shrugs and flips on the sirens as our radio goes off, dispatching us to another call.

CHAPTER 17

ANNIE

Thank God for Fridays and three-day weekends.

It’s eighty-seven degrees today and since Jack and Tommy are coming over, we invited my landlords, the DePauls, to have a cookout with us so the kids can all play.

Dan and Julie DePaul have set up one of those wacky sprinklers that spray in a crazy pattern, and the twins, Sarah and Sammy, are already playing in it. Children’s laughter floats in through my open windows and I can’t help but smile.

I finish prepping the burgers and topping off the pasta salad with pepperoni when Jack, Tommy, and Gracie arrive, right at four. Tommy is already in his swimsuit, so Jack helps me grab the small cooler of beverages and the plate of watermelon, and we make our way outside.

When we get down to the backyard, Tommy is a little shy and holds onto Jack’s leg, but the girls, who are very outgoing, immediately come to meet him and try to get him to play in the sprinkler. It helps that Bean is already trying to catchthe water from the sprinkler in his mouth and Tommy loves playing with him.

The girls and Bean are very convincing and within minutes they’re all playing in the sprinkler. They get along so well that, if I didn’t know better, I’d think the three kids have known each other since they could crawl.

We sit for an hour or so and the air is filled with childlike squeals and giggling as the kids run through the sprinkler and laugh at Bean biting at the water. Gracie lies on the grass, just outside the reach of the spray, her head resting on the ground between her paws, looking dignified and unimpressed.

I take a sip of my cool peach hard cider and listen as Dan animatedly tells us a joke and Julie rolls her eyes at him like she’s heard it several times before. After a few more minutes, Dan grabs his beer and guzzles it down in one long gulp before crushing the empty can in his hands, standing up, and flexing both arms in front of his chest, roaring.

“What do you say us men go grill, Jack?” He grins widely.

Jack chuckles, then stands as well. “Sure thing, let’s do this.”

They both saunter toward the grill, leaving Julie and me to continue lounging in our chairs. I have no complaints about that at all. I don’t mind having another beverage and relaxing on the sidelines.

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