Page 6 of Where There's Smoke…
I laugh and nod before exiting the office. I head straight to the locker room and grab my uniform before stepping into the small unisex bathroom that was put in once I first started working here. I always appreciated that, even though I was pretty androgynous and most of my friends were guys, everyone still respected that I was a woman and that I needed my privacy. It was just one of the small things that always made me feel accepted in this more male-dominated profession.
I changed into my black pants and black shirt with the firehouse’s logo. Next, I tuck in my shirt and fasten the belt before stepping into my shoes. I set the clothes I’d just taken off on the counter so I could tie up my hair. I’d been growing my locs for about five years now and was proud of the length. Recently, I dyed them this orange/red color, and I thought that it complemented my complexion well. Hell, a lot of people thought so, including the few women I entertained here and there. There have been plenty of times when they ran their hands through them as I was feasting.
My mind drifts over to Angel, and I envision her softly tugging on my locs as I taste her. Fuck, I knew she tasted so good. I wanted nothing more than to lie between her thick thighs and savor her flavor for hours and hours. I could picture her now trying to keep her composure as those cute little glasses she wore tried their best to stay on.
There was just something about her that made me want to worship and tend to every part of her body. It was wild to me because I’d never felt this strongly about anyone else that I was attracted to. She was different, though. I could tell.
I sigh as a knock comes at the bathroom door and brings me back to earth. I collect my clothes and open the door to see another of my coworkers, Emerson, standing there. He tells me to come quick because Jed’s dumb ass has broken something on the truck.
I sigh and place my clothes in my locker before following him back out to the garage. My head immediately starts hurting as I see water coming from somewhere it wasn’t supposed to on the truck. I groan and go over to assess the situation.
Even though this firehouse employed about eight or nine firefighters on a rotating schedule, only three of us knew how to work on the fire trucks. Me, Emerson, and Chief Park. Even though I was technically a lieutenant, I didn’t mind helping with the mechanics from time to time since I was professionally trained in that field as well. My grandpa made sure of it when I was training to become a firefighter. He said it was important to have as many skills as possible, and I never doubted him once.
“Move. Move. Let the professionals through,” I joked as Emerson and I playfully pushed Jed out of the way.
We got to work trying to figure out what was wrong with the truck as we talked about random shit. The guys argued about who the better football team was, like they usually did, as I nodded along. Although I like sports, I don’t care much for football. I was more of a women’s rugby fan, but aside from Emerson, they didn’t know anything about that. Every time I brought it out, I may as well have been speaking a different language.
It took a few hours to get the truck up and running again, but we did, and it was just in time to go tend to a fire at an old farmhouse a few miles away. So, we geared up and got to work doing what we all loved to do. Luckily, the fire wasn’t too bad, and no one was hurt. I loved those outcomes but knew from experience that they weren’t always the case.
I’ve been a firefighter since I was eighteen. I didn’t go to college like my sister and instead went straight into the academy once I graduated from high school. Since I knew all the ins and outs, thanks to practically growing up around firefighters, I passed the exams easily. That was almost thirteen years ago, and I still loved this job. It was truly my calling.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, and we only got a few calls for minor, non-fire-related emergencies. I guess that was the thing about small towns. There weren’t nearly as many fires as in the big city, but we were still needed, nonetheless. Honestly, I liked the slow pace of everything. I’ve never been a fan of bustling city life anyway. You can’t fish in a public park.
Speaking of fishing, it’s been a while since I’ve visited my granddad’s old fishing spot. He owned a little cabin on a lake about two hours away, and we used to go up there a couple of times a summer just to be one with nature. My sister always hated it since she wasn’t the outdoorsy type. However, I loved everything about being outside. The trees. The breeze. The smells. The sounds. Surrounding myself with nature was something I always tried to do when I could.
“Speak of the devil,” I mumble as I glance down at the vibrating phone on my desk. My sister’s name and picture flashed across the screen. I answered it. “How may I help you, Mrs. Raven Preston-Anderson?”
“Hi, big sis!” She greeted me in a chipper voice, and I immediately groaned. She wanted something. “Don’t groan like that! I haven’t even said anything!”
“Yeah, but I know you, Raven,” I say. “You’re up to something, and I can tell from your overly excited voice. I’m annoyed already.”
“Phee, please just listen,” she whines. “Her name is Courtney…”
“Nope, I’m not going on another one of your terrible blind dates,” I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “Last time, you hooked me up with a straight girl, who had the audacity to say that she always wanted to be with a girl to see what the hype was about. I got up and left her ass right there. Nah, I’m not doing that shit again.”
“Phee, I’m sorry about that. I am,” she sighed. “She was so into you that I didn’t realize it was nothing but fetishization. I’m sorry, twin.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, shaking my head. “I forgive you, but I’m not hooking up with any more of your friends. If anybody else asks, tell them I’m taken.”
“Ugh, fine!” she grumbles. “God forbid a girl wanna see her sister find love...”
“And I appreciate it, Rae, but I’m good. I promise,” I say with a sigh. “Look, let me go do my job and I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay, big sis. Go save the town,” she chuckles. “Oh, and don’t forget we have dinner plans tomorrow! The twins have been asking when you’ll come see them again.”
“Tell them that I’ll be there for sure,” I reply. “Now, get off my line, please.”
She chuckles. “Alright, damn,” she says. “I love you, with your mean ass.”
“I love you, too, you big baby,” I tease, quickly hanging up the phone before she has a chance to reply.
I sigh as I place my phone back on the table. I rub my hands down my face and close my eyes. I loved my sister with all of my heart, but she had a habit of trying to set me up on dates ever since I moved back. She was a hopeless romantic and wanted nothing more than for me to find my person.
While I appreciated her and what she was trying to do, I also wasn’t the biggest fan. I didn’t think that I would find the love of my life on these blind dates. I believed that it had to happen naturally. You can’t force yourself to be attracted to someone because, at the end of the day, your heart wants what it wants.
And what my heart wanted was the beautiful bakery owner by the name of Angel Savoie.
My Sweets.
