Page 12 of Ignite

“Pole bunnies?”

“Women who love the firefighters. It’s almost a town tradition that no man remains single or lonely during bushfire season, unless by choice.”

“I’m a new guy in town. I’m sure I’ll do okay.” Although Ophelia seemed to be able to avoid me. So far, I’d walked the main street checking out cafes and other shops without running into her. I’d introduced myself to the high school and primary school principals, agreeing to come back with a formal plan for a new before-school training program. I’d even spent more hours at the gym than necessary, just in case she dropped by. Not that I’d seen an Ophelia on the membership lists, but still, perhaps she was a casual member?

“The novelty will soon wear off.” Reece laughed, “Okay, okay, I won’t pressure you about tomorrow night. But get your ute fixed, and think about it, okay?”

I missed the RFS meeting.

I kept to myself at the gym, earbuds in, and avoided conversation for the next two days before driving the team hard at training.

But something had changed.

I’d been buying my morning coffee when Felicity stopped me to chat. She had ideas for my training program including how to target it at the teens most likely to drop out of school, but open for all. Except, participation in my program would require attendance in class and no disruptions. I liked the way she thought.

Then, I saw her. Ophelia. Her smile could double me over from across the road. Felicity watched my reaction, and asked, “Someone got your eye? Should I make introductions?”

“No.” I said quickly. “We’ve already met, and I don’t think my ute will ever recover.”

“Oh, that.” Felicity laughed. “I think everyone in town heard about that. When will it be fixed?”

“After I get it towed somewhere and I decide which organs I can live without.”

“Huh?” She looked up and I could see what had attracted Eric. Felicity wasn’t the normal definition of beautiful, but she had an all-round goodness that made you want to be a better person. Eric was a lucky guy.

“I might be living in free accommodation, but I’m still catching up with bills from back home.” If I was honest about my situation, maybe Felicity would let the owner of Rylee’s Beat know and they’d feel sorry for me. “Right now, I’m living paycheck to paycheck and haven’t decided on which organs to sell so I can afford to bring my ute back to life.”

“Oh, Ethan,” Felicity sighed, getting up from the table. “You need to take your baby to Rylee’s Beat. They’ll look after you.”

“Seems to be a common suggestion.”

“Then stop being so stubborn. People want to help.”

By the end of the day, I’d decided people could stop helping. It seemed like everywhere I turned people were either suggesting where to take my ute, or I had to dodge Ophelia.

My ego had doubled down and refused to let me acknowledge the woman who’d hit me. I never usually obsessed over a woman, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The last woman in the world I should be thinking about, and karma kept putting her in front of me. I’d crossed streets, cut grocery shopping short, and even changed my jogging path to avoid her.

She seemed to be everywhere but I couldn’t just go home to avoid her. Going home meant facing my poor ute in the driveway and that meant facing my financial situation.

Damn it. I’d barely gotten home from traipsing all over town and the four walls closed in on me. I missed having a whole house. I missed tending to my mother’s herb garden. I missed my … no, I wouldn’t go there. I needed to keep busy. I needed a direction and there were too many months between now and our first trial game. I looked over towards my training bag. Since moving here, I only emptied it to wash the clothes when they stunk so bad even I got offended.

I could go to the gym again. I could go there and do some paperwork instead of working out. I could even take a note of all the businesses that sponsored the team and see if anyone of them wanted to hire a handyman. I wasn’t ready to start another business, but some extra cash could go a long way towards putting my baby back on the road.

“Hey, man,” Bailey greeted me. “It took you long enough to discover our secret training.”

What on earth? I’d arrived at the gym to see my entire team here. “I’m here to work, what’s your excuse?” I set down my bag and reassessed. Should I work out or hide in my office?

“Women.” He nodded to the half a dozen women who had taken over the cross trainer, treadmill, and weights.

“Looks like you’re gonna be waiting a while before you get a go,” I said laughing, thinking that any red-blooded man’s heart would get a good work out just watching the women bend and stretch.

“Gives me time to get a good stretch happening.” Bailey slapped my back and joined the rest of my team. They’d formed a long line against the wall, stretching and pumping hand weights while their attention was obviously on the women.

I waited and watched for a few minutes, prepared to kick my team out of the gym and let the women have their space. Then I realized this was a game that both sides liked to play. Felicity was doing her best to flirt it up with Eric and I’d be surprised if the man could walk straight after she’d been wiggling her ass in his face. Bailey might be full of talk, but he didn’t act like a single guy looking to hook up, despite the best efforts of a woman who wanted to remind him of a previous encounter.

As for the other women, as their numbers grew, so did their confidence.

“I think I hurt my neck, can you rub it for me?” Yet another woman had decided to flirt with me. Reece might have warned me about pole bunnies, but my novelty value was paying dividends.

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