Page 96 of Up In Flames
Knox
“Knoxy!” Paul yells when I enter the fire station. My six-week mandatory hiatus has finally come to an end. Perfect timing, too. With Taylor gone for days at a time, I’ve been going out of my mind since he went back to work a few weeks ago.
I grin at Paul’s enthusiasm over my return and clasp his hand, pulling him in for a hug and a clap on the back.
“Paul. Good to see you.”
“Holy fucking shit, man. Is that asmileI see on your face?” he asks with a laugh.
The entire day I’ve been thinking about the picture Taylor sent me. He was all sass in a piece of lingerie that was made up of straps. One across his chest, one over each of his shoulders, and the bottoms looked like a garter belt, complete with clips for the stockings he wore. He was stunning. And he’s all mine.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” I answer Paul, flashing him my smile once again.
“Oooh, looks like Knoxy got laid!” Scottie yells, coming into the room to stand behind Paul.
I roll my eyes. “You guys are starting to sound like Phoenix, Jake, and Hudson.”
“How are those love-sick bastards anyway?” Paul asks as we all move into the gear-room to check that everything’s ready to go.
“Good. They’re all good.”
Then Paul turns to me with a smirk. “Was Scottie right? Did you finally end your drought?”
A laugh bubbles up my throat.
“Yeah, I did.”But it’s so much more than that,I think to myself.
“Glad to hear it, man. You seeing each other, or was it a one-time thing?”
I think about Taylor’s messages, the way he feels in my arms, the way I miss him every second he’s gone. Hell, I thinkI’mmore of a love-sick bastard than any of my friends.
“We’re definitely seeing each other,” I answer.
Paul claps a hand on my shoulder. “That’s really great, Knox. Can’t wait to meet her.”
“Oh, uh…” I stammer. I’m not really sure Paul or Scottie would care. They certainly didn’t when Jake and Phoenix came out. “Him,” I correct. “Taylor’s my boyfriend.”
Scottie’s eyes bug out of his head, and Paul goes stock-still.
Okay, maybe I was wrong about them not caring.
I’m starting to get a little pissed until Paul says, “Not what I was expecting, but, hey, I’m glad you found your person.”
Scottie finally barks out in laughter. “What the fuck is in the water around here?” He shoves Paul playfully in the shoulder. “We’d better bring our own from home, or we might end up naked in one of the bunks together.”
I silently laugh about the irony ofmegetting ready to choose dick in the dick versus pussy debate.My friends would be so proud.
But before I have the chance, dispatch calls through the intercom, alerting us to a medical call we need to take.
After that, we’re called to a low-grade kitchen fire. It was thrilling because I got to suit up for it, at least, except there was nothing left but smoke by the time we arrived.
It’s now midnight, and I’m just settling back in from getting everything situated after the second call when my phone rings.
My lips split into another wide grin as I plop down into one of the small chairs at the fire station’s kitchen table and slide the button to answer the call.
“Hey, baby.”
“I didn’t expect you to answer!” His excitement over the fact that Ididmakes my knees weak.
