Page 134 of Firecracker

“Dear God.” Mila pressed a hand to her chest. “You’re lucky it’s not worse.”

“Yep.”

“The man who died…?”

Tyler blew out a breath. “Turns out he was dead before the fire started.” He’d learned this from his captain and Cliff and Tremon, who’d visited him earlier. “Cops say it was a homicide. He was murdered, and then they set the house on fire.” It didn’t help a whole lot, but at least they knew they hadn’t failed to rescue the man. It was still a traumatic thing to have seen.

“Oh wow. That’s awful.” Mila perched on the arm of the chair, her hand still on Jamie’s back. “How long do you think you’ll be in here?”

“I think they said I might be able to go home tomorrow.”

“We’ll be there to help.”

“Thanks.” A wave of dizziness swept over him, and he closed his eyes again. “But Mom said I can go to her place for a few days.”

“What else do you need?” Jamie asked. “What can we do for you?”

Arden. He needed Arden. “Water.”

He heard noises, then Mila said, “I’ll find some ice.”

He gave a tiny nod, head hurting too much to move.

Then she was back. It felt like an hour, but maybe it was a minute. Who knew? A straw touched his lips and he opened, closed them around it, and sucked down some deliciously cold water.

He dozed off and woke up, hearing low voices talking. Mom and Jamie.

“He was asking for her last night,” Mom whispered. “I didn’t know what to say.”

Jamie gave a low growl. “I’m so pissed at her.”

Tyler drifted back into a medicated sleep.

The next time he woke up, Mom was there, Mila and Jamie gone.

“Your friends will be back later,” Mom told him, now calmer. “They told us to let them know if there’s anything you need.” She paused. “They’re good friends.”

“Yeah,” Tyler croaked. His throat hurt. “Can I have more water?”

Mom helped him drink.

“I need to talk to Arden,” Tyler said to his mom a little desperately. “I need my phone.”

Mom bit her lip. “I don’t think it’s here, Ty.”

“Oh.” Probably still at the station.

“You can use mine,” Mom said, digging it out of her purse.

He gazed blankly at the phone. “I can’t remember her number.” Pain sliced through his chest, and it wasn’t from his injuries. She was gone. He couldn’t call her. She didn’t love him.

He drifted again. Those pain meds were really something. Too bad they didn’t help a broken heart.

* * *

The sound of the front door opening and closing reached Arden’s ears. She frowned and checked her watch. It was only three o’clock. Then Jamie’s apartment door opened and closed. She knew the difference between his and Mila’s sounds now.

What was Jamie doing home so early?

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