Chapter Four
It was nearly four hours later when Aaron, in the locker room at the station, finally read his texts from Amber.
Holy cow!
He tried hard to suppress the wide grin that was threatening to break out. He’d never had a good poker face. One look at him right now and there was no doubt someone could tell he’d received a naughty message.
It was imperative he rein it in. He loved the crew. The fire station was a brotherhood. But just like brothers, they gave each other hard times. Loved to bust balls around there. It was just the way things were.
And he wasn’t in the mood to take their questions or their razzing.
Especially about this.
Not after the day he’d had.
So, he finished drying off from his shower and dressing as quickly as possible. No one said much. Everyone was tired from the harrowing events.
Contrary to what many people thought, firefighters often didn’t actually do what their profession’s name implied.
They were always at the ready. Able to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
But they spent the majority of their time fielding health emergencies or working automobile accidents.
Nine times out of ten they were the first ones on the scenes, beating the police and ambulance crews by minutes.
Those minutes often saved lives.
And while those calls could be taxing, they weren’t nearly as bad as fighting an actual fire. Especially when it was an inferno like today’s had been.
That just left them all drained.
Thankfully, he was able to get out of the locker room without too much interaction.
Wearing his cowboy boots, jeans, and black t-shirt, he felt a mite better than when he’d had on his heavy gear.
Plus, these clothes didn’t smell like smoke!
Though the stench would linger in his nostrils faintly for a while. It always did…
Leaving the locker room, he saw Ed and snapped to attention with a crisp salute. “Captain Chambers.”
Ed laughed and returned it. “Lieutenant Garrett.”
It was their little joke. The firehouse was far from formal.
The captain’s smile faded a bit. “How are you, son? Today was a tough one.”
“I’m good.”
“You sure?” He studied Aaron closely.
“Yeah. But I am tired.”
Ed nodded. “I bet.” A few seconds passed. “You saved that man’s life.”
Aaron almost gave him the cliched line about just doing his job but thought better of it, because it wasn’t true. He would have saved that man even if it wasn’t a requirement of his profession. There’s no way he’d just let someone die like that.
“I hope he’s okay,” Aaron said sincerely.
“I expect he will be. Thanks to you.” The captain put a reassuring hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “You’re officially on vacation now. Right?”
Aaron grinned, eager to change the subject to a better topic. “Heck yeah.”
“Then get out of here. Enjoy it. Don’t even think about this place. Just have fun.”
Remembering the texts he’d received from Amber, he smiled.
Perhaps he would have some fun this coming week.
A lot of fun…