Page 7 of Flirting With Fire
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
“I…Uh…” I scratched behind my ear. “Turns out he’s come back.”
“Sorry, that apple wasn’t going to eat itself. What do you mean, Meyer’s come back? To visit Lindy? Geez. It’s about damn time.”
“Not visit. Stay. He’s Charming’s new assistant fire chief.”
“Shut the front door! Why? I thought he was living the high life in Chicago.”
“I think it’s mainly because of Lindy. I’m guessing he wants to be here for her because of what happened.”
“Wow.” I gave her a moment to process what I’d told her. “And how are we feeling about that?”
“It’s not that big of a deal. It’s fine.”
“Riiiiight. Because you’re always calling me in the middle of the day when you have a busy ranch to run just so we can shoot the shit about nothing.”
I rolled my eyes at myself. I’d called my big sister for a reason. I needed to let it out so I could move on with my life, which didn’t need to be taken up anymore with what Meyer was or wasn’t doing.
“Yup. You're right.” I rubbed my forehead, a headache definitely forming. “I dunno. Tell me I’m being ridiculous, that some homophobic jock from high school telling the coach tobench me all the time is a stupid reason to hold a grudge. We were kids. Shit happens, then we grow up and know better.”
“And does he? Know better?”
I barked out a laugh. “Yeah, that’s the first thing I asked him. Hey, are you still a homophobic asshole?” I grunted. “Didn’t stop him from climbing on Junie and getting a free ride into town. But anyway, we certainly didn’t discuss anything like that.”
“Maybe living in the city all these years has taught him that there’s more to the world than what he was viewing through a narrow lens.”
“Not so sure about that. He was as hostile and standoffish as ever. I don’t know what his beef with me is, though. I mean, other than the fact that he obviously can’t stand me because I’m gay.”
“You don’t know that, Dex. What if he’s just uncomfortable around you because of how he treated you back then?”
“I dunno. Maybe. Still doesn’t explain his hostility.”
“Um…” She cleared her throat. “Don’t take this the wrong way, hon. But there’s some seriously hostile vibes pouring off ofyouright now. He might be thinking the same thing, asking Lindy why you’re so pissed off at him.”
“Oh! And that’s another thing.” Now that the cork on my feelings about Meyer had been popped, I was off and running. “He seemed pretty pissed that Lindy and I have kept in touch and that I spend time with her.”
“Are you afraid that because he’s back, you somehow won’t be welcome at Lindy’s anymore?”
I huffed. “Of course not.” But my throat tightened up, and I reminded myself to quit bullshitting my sister. “Maybe.”
“Oh, Dex. She’s not going to just kick you to the curb. She didn’t do that when she started dating Chief Brannigan; why would she do it now?”
“Yeah…”
“Hon, give everything a chance to fit back into place, to get to a new normal. Things will sort themselves out. I know for a fact that Lindy has been very grateful for your help and companionship over the years.”
“How do you know that?” I hoped she hadn’t said anything too embarrassing to Lindy.
“Last year at the fiesta. She mentioned it to me when she stopped by our booth.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure what to think of that.
The heat was sucking the life out of me, sweat pouring down my neck and dampening my collar. Kayla was right. I needed to give everything time to settle. Maybe Meyer would quit being such a jerk. As far as Lindy went, she was dating the fire chief. In the back of my mind, I’d always prepared myself that if they got married, I wouldn’t be going there every week like I did now.
“Thanks, Kayla. Needed to get out of my head.” I checked the time on my watch. There was still plenty to do before the day was over, and I was way behind schedule after the Meyer incident. “But I should let you go.”
“Actually, speaking of the fiesta…” She laughed shakily. “I was saving this for our Sunday night call, but I might as well tell you now.”
