Page 2 of The Fireman and the Flirt

I played with the silver tinsel strung along the top of our booth. I was a total sucker for Christmas decorations.

“I’m just distracted with year-end stuff and getting a client’s house ready for the market.” Being a real estate agent meant that I had a never-ending list of stuff to do. I was either trying to help people buy or sell houses.

“Yeah. You seem very distracted.”

“Usually, end of year isn’t so busy for me because people wait to buy or sell in the spring. But the market isn’t calming down.” Talking about my work helped keep dirty thoughts of Derek at bay for the moment. Because my thoughts about himalwayswent there eventually. “Go on.”

“Anyway, since his wife passed away, he’s had some trouble on his own, so he moved back here to be closer to family. It’s hard raising a child by yourself.” Cal had ample experience with that, since he was a single dad for the first decade of his son’s life. I could barely care for a succulent, let alone another human being. “He’s been back for a little over a week.”

“That’s great. The Hogan brothers will be reunited.”

“Something like that.” Cal shrugged.

In high school, Cal and Derek didn’t seem that close, and I supposed things hadn’t changed much. They were so different. Derek, as I’d already established, was a jock with overflowing sex appeal. Cal was a big theater nerd. Derek being Cal’s big brother protected us from getting harassed by the popular kids for a while. It also meant I got to see Derek whenever I hung out at Cal’s house afterschool, even though I could never build up the nerve to talk to him.

“How’s he doing with the…” I waved my hand, trying to think of a nice way to saythe dead wife thing. “How is he coping?”

“He doesn’t say much, and he says even less about that. He becomes a brick wall. He and Paula were such a great couple; they were so in love. It’s tough…but I think he and Jolene are doing well considering the circumstances. It’s been six months, so a lot of the initial shock has worn off.” Cal shook his head and stared out the window. “I didn’t know healthy people could get aneurysms.”

“It’s awful. I’m so sorry.” I sent Cal a bouquet of flowers when Paula died. It was terrifying knowing we could lose somebody close so quickly. I didn’t have Derek’s address in Alaska to send him one, too, and I felt awkward asking for it. He barely knew that I was a person who existed in high school, one of his little brother’s uncool friends.

“Coming back to Sourwood, to a community he knows, will be a good transition.”

“He can really start to move on,” I said.

I’d seen pictures of Derek online. He didn’t have social media, but last year, Cal and his family had gone out there to visit him. Derek still looked good. He had middle-aged heft, less hair on his head, more hair on his face, and the start of distinguished wrinkles at the corner of his squinty smile.

Wasn’t it weird how as we got older, we found older people attractive? When I was a teenager, I never would’ve found a gut and wrinkles sexy. And yet here we were.

I rubbed Cal’s arm in support and to let him know I wasn’t zoning out. “You’re a good brother. He’s lucky to have you and Russ and the boys.”

“And you.”

“What?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Cal said. He scratched at his own beard. “He’s going to need a place to live. I gave him your information.”

“You gave him…he has…” All blood drained from my face. All the air drained from my lungs. “What? Why would you do that?”

“Because you’re a real estate agent?” Cal cocked an eye at me. He pulled one of my business cards from his pocket. Damn me for giving them out so freely. I should’ve known it would come back to bite me in the ass.

“Right. I am.” My business thrived on personal referrals. It was just that nobody had ever referred a former crush to me. “What did he say when you brought it up? Does he even remember me?”

I wished Cal had ordered me that third iced coffee.

“He took your card and shoved it in his wallet. I’m sure he remembers you. He just has a lot on his plate.”

“Right, right.”

“Rather than rent an apartment and wait until spring, it’s best if he starts looking now.”

“Absolutely. Because prices will only go up if he waits.” Speaking of things going up, I crossed my legs when another flash of Derek hit my mind.

“So you’ll take him on?” Cal asked, hopeful. “You remember Derek, right?”

“Vaguely.”

“I hate to say it, but he hasn’t changed much since high school.” Apparently, neither had I. “He’s not the most talkative person. It’ll be hard to get any opinions out of him, but I know you’re up for the challenge.”

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