Page 58 of From the Ashes
My friends sit in a stunned silence. Occasionally, I’ll raise my voice at Hudson or I’ll banter with Jake like we’re siblings, but none of us lash out at Knox.Ever.It’s like an unspoken rule.
Trying to lighten the mood, Hudson keeps his voice low and overly pouty when he says, “Fucker hogs all your time, though.”
Even though I want to stay pissed, I can’t help but laugh.
“Like you even notice since you’re so busy over there dicking down your wife.” One joke and things are back to normal. Well, almost normal. Knox is on to me and keeps giving me the side eye. Hell, he probablyshould beconcerned. These guys have never seen me act like this. Fuck, Idon’tact like this because no one hasevergotten under my skin like Walker DeVille.
Before things can devolve further or someone else can ask questions, the alarm in the station starts wailing and we all jump up on autopilot moving to our boots and uniforms like we’re trained to do.
All three trucks have been dispatched meaning it’s another hefty fire.
Jake is the only one of the three of my friends assigned to my truck, and every time we’re deployed together, I think about the night he almost lost Dylan. It’s something I try to avoid remembering in vivid detail because we almost lost Jake too.
Our squadron is well trained and well organized. Although the flames are high and the heat is damn near intolerable, we’re able to get the warehouse fire under control in less than an hour, and thankfully, no one was still inside by the time we arrived.
The addicts who accidentally set the place on fire hadn’t caught their high quite yet and were able to scramble to safety. What happens next is a job for the officers on the scene.
As usual, when we get back to the fire station, I’m wrecked,but we have to clean the trucks and make sure they’re ready to go in case another call comes in. This is where the volunteer guys are super helpful, as are the fresh faces who will come in at seven a.m. to relieve those of us who are dead on our feet after twenty-four hours.
Knowing I’ll be in trouble if Cassie hears about tonight’s fire via Jake and Dylan instead of me, I pull my phone out and hit call as I gather my stuff for the shower.
While it rings, I can’t help but wonder how Miguel feels about me calling his girlfriend at one in the morning just to let her know I’m safe, but until Cass tells me to stop, I’m going to give her what she wants.
Suddenly, I’m pulled from my thoughts when a groggy,deepvoice answers, startling me. I might’ve felt bad, mistaking it for Miguel, but there is no mistaking Walker’s voice. Even when it’s thick with sleep like this.
“Shit, sorry, Walker. I meant to call Cassie.”
“Phoenix?” His voice is clearer now. “Is everything okay?” My heart pinches at his tone of worry.Don’t go there, Harding. Anyone would be concerned if you called them at one a.m.
“Yeah, just got back from a fire. Cassie always likes a call to know I’m safe.” I don’t know why I’m explaining myself. A simpleyeswould have sufficed.
“Smart.” I can hear the smile in his tone and I briefly picture him lying in bed. In my house. In my sheets. “How do I get on that list?” he asks. This is the most relaxed he’s been during a conversation, and his sleepy chuckle has my remaining energy flowing to my cock.
“Looks like you already are,” I joke back, too tired to care that I shouldn’t be flirting or encouraging him.
Growing serious, he asks, “Was the fire bad?”
I sit down on one of the benches in our locker room, abandoning my thoughts of the shower just so I can keep him on thephone a little longer. At this hour, with this mix of physical exhaustion and mental elation, I’m too weak to talk myself out of wanting him.
Hell, I wanted him eight years ago. I want him still. And I’m tired of pretending like his proximity isn’t carving up my insides with every interaction.
“It was bad because it was so large, spanning multiple floors, and had the potential to reach other buildings nearby, but also, not bad because no people had to be rescued and none of the first responders were injured.”
“That’s a relief,” he says sincerely. “Were any of your friends with you tonight?”
The fact that he thought to ask about Jake and the guys has me dangerously close to doing something stupid, like asking if we can video chat so I can see his beautiful face.
I have to swallow my emotion before I can speak. “Um, yeah. They all were, actually.”
“Well, then I’m extra happy no one got hurt, especially Hudson. He won forty bucks off me last game and I need a chance to redeem myself.”
I snort a laugh. “Fucker tooksixtybucks off of me tonight. Don’t bet against Hud. He’s a hustler.”
“You don’t say,” Walker teases, causing a genuine laugh to erupt from my throat. “Mmm,” he groans a deep, throaty sound. “You should laugh more often.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?” I play along dangerously, my own voice dropping an octave against my will.
“Because the sound goes straight to my dick, and I fucking love it.”
