Evie
CALEB
good luck today!!!
wishing the absolute best for you
thanks C
I’m really nervous
CALEB
you’ve got this
worst case just bring me up ;)
bound to win you brownie points
Ireceived the email two nights ago and screamed so loud Matteo thought an intruder broke into the apartment.
With the way my hands are clammy and my heart rate is spiking, you’d think I’m fourteen starting high school again, not twenty-four stepping through the front door of Denver’s dispatch academy. Perhaps I’m not nervous enough, though, because inside, I’m met with a whirlwind of activity.
Close to thirty people stand gathered around the lobby, chatting amongst themselves, and I’m relieved to see a few other worried expressions in the group. Although I am surprised to find it’s predominantly women in the room.
I’m honestly not sure what I was expecting. The corporate ladder I was climbing in finance was dominated by men. I was constantly overworked trying to prove myself; whatever workload the men received, I was juggling double just to prove I was equally qualified.
Tirelessly trying to prove myself in a man’s world to now be greeted by a sea of women, my heart sighs in contentment.
Squaring my shoulders and lifting my head up high, I try to appear as confident as I can. But I only make it halfway across the room when a woman with dirty blonde hair steps in front of me, clicking her tongue and pointing at me. “I know you.”
Slightly taken aback, I search her features—the deep green eyes, full pouty lips, and petite frame. She’s stunning, a real life Bratz doll, but no familiarity bells are ringing.
Fuck.
Wincing, I can’t hide my guilt. “Sorry, but—”
“I said I know you,” she drawls teasingly, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Never said you knew me.”
An impossibly tall, dark-skinned man slides up beside her, mirroring her grin. “Teasing the newbie already?”
Without giving him a second glance, she waves him off. “They said no hazing this year.”
My eyes widen before I can stop it. “H-hazing? Aren’t we meant to help people?”
“Of course, but it’s so heavy all the time we have to try and inject some lightness somewhere around here.” Turning to the man, she taps a red manicured finger against her lips before pointing at me again. “I know her.”
His brows rise as he turns to study me. “Do we like her?”
I cannot believe they’re doing this in front of me.
Blinking away my shock, I’m about to make a retort when she purses her lips. “We do.”
Crossing my arms over my chest protectively, I find my voice. “So glad I get the tick of approval, but how exactly do you know me?”
Please don’t tell me you’ve slept with my brother.
Living in the same city as your brother who infamously gets around is not for the faint of heart. One time, I was out at dinner with Carter and went to the bathroom and was cornered by a woman who took all of her frustrations about my brother on me.
Caleb was mortified. I’ve never seen him so apologetic before, and of course I milked the shit out of it, but it was terrifying nonetheless.
The man gives her a look. “And a little bit of tongue on her. Absolutely obsessed already.”
“She’s iconic.” She turns to him fully like I’m not even here anymore. “That’s Evie Ellington.”
He gasps, pulling back and placing a hand on his chest, his brown eyes widening comically. “The Evie.”
Biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying something stupid, I settle on wallowing instead. I cannot believe it’s my first day here and this is happening. Although I still have no idea what this even is.
The man places a hand on his hip and the move has so much sass in it I’m mentally taking notes.
“Iconic indeed,” he drawls as he looks me up and down, assessing once more before addressing the woman. “Put her out of her misery, A. She’s practically squirming.”
She steps forward, placing a gentle hand on my wrist as she lowers her voice.
“You have been applauded in our circle. My best friend Kalani used to date Carter a few years ago and he absolutely destroyed her.” The disgust that overcomes her face is similar to the disgust roiling through me.
“I mean, absolutely wrecked her. I’ve never despised a man as much as that abusive piece of shit.
Anyway, word got around about what you did to his car and how your friend put him in his place. ”
My eyes widen so far I’m worried I’ve forgotten how to blink.
“Small world,” is all I manage to whisper.
“You’ve done what Tristan and I have been dying to do for years.”
The man next to her pats his chest with a flourish. “Tristan, by the way, and this is Angel, but don’t let the name fool you, she’s far from it,” he says with an eye roll. “Can never be told what to do. Even ignores you when you call her name sometimes.”
“I’m not that horrid,” Angel protests, slapping his chest.
“No, you just have a little devil inside you that likes to come out every now and then.”
Smirking my way, Angel whispers, “Which, by the way, that devil came out for Carter.”
“I’d introduce myself but apparently I’m famous,” I say. “Is Kalani okay now?”
Angel waves me off. “Oh yeah, she’s peachy. Has a new boyfriend that adores the ground she walks on. Took her a while, though.” She looks at me then. “We’re going to be best friends, I just feel it.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Well, considering Carter fucked my last best friend, I’m in need of a new one.”
Tristan gasps as Angel’s eyes heat with fury. “No,” they say in shocked unison.
I nod, with a slight scoff I accidentally let slip. “Oh yes, caught them in my bed.”
“What a dog,” Tristan says with such disdain that a smile springs free on my lips.
“Are you guys training as well?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation away from my horrid ex-boyfriend.
“No, we’ve been here for over two years. Well, I’ve been here two years. Tristan here is a certified senior,” Angel teases.
“Seven years is not old!”
An older woman enters the room and everyone falls quiet, but not Angel. She leans forward conspiratorially. “Now that is our senior gal. She’s been here for over thirty-five years. She’s the one who’s going to train you. Give her the upmost respect and you’ll be good.”
Tristan also whispers, “She’s big on empathy, won’t have anyone in the academy who acts coldly. There’s a level of detachment needed but she wants humans, not robots.”
“Thanks for the tip,” I whisper back right as the woman in question raises her brow in our direction.
“Don’t force me to teach you lot again. I survived it once, I don’t need to do it another time.”
Angel gives the woman such a sickly-sweet smile I know instantly Tristan was right—she gets up to trouble. You can’t nail a face like that to get you out of situations without having to master it somehow.
“Sorry, Nina,” she says, taking Tristan’s hand. “We’ll be on our merry way. Good luck, recruits!”
With a last wink over her shoulder at me, I bite the inside of my cheek trying not to laugh as I step closer to my peers.
The navy work shirt Nina wears compliments her deep ebony skin, the braids in her hair entwined with both black and gray strands also suiting her features. I’m assuming she’s over fifty considering Angel said she’s been here for over thirty-five years, but she doesn’t look a day over forty.
“Quite a choice of friends,” she murmurs, but not harshly. It’s a tease, a loving one at that.
I offer a small smile. “In my defense, the choice was made for me.”
Nina laughs at that. “That doesn’t surprise me. Those two are a whirlwind.” Clapping her hands, all niceties and friendliness are put away as professionalism slips over her. It has my back straightening. “Recruits, are you ready to help save lives?”
“Yes,” the room calls out in unison.
“Here’s to a new beginning. Welcome to the Denver 911 dispatch operation. We’re excited to have you here.”
My first day may have taken an unexpected turn with Angel and Tristan already knowing me, but my heart rests easy knowing I’ve already made some work friends…
or that I’m on my way to developing some.
At least I didn’t have to bend over backwards to get them to respect me and view me as an equal colleague like I did at my prior job.
As the day progressed, it became evident that I made the right career move.
The majority was spent walking through the training program that’s to come, paperwork, security clearance, and basic policies.
But the thing that truly made me realize I made the right decision was the excitement that filled me.
I can’t remember the last time I felt excited to work or even learn.
Maybe during my freshmen year in college, but as I dove deeper into my financial degree, that spark winked out.
However, I’m most excited about the on-site training that occurs after the initial seven-week classroom course. We’ve been allocated mentors to shadow, and I just so happened to be assigned to Angel. Although, by the wink she sent my way in passing later on, that wasn’t fate at all.
Something tells me that girl gets everything she wants and then some.
Perhaps I sound na?ve, but I have a feeling I could learn a lot from Angel, how it is to stand in your power and be so confident in who you are. I can tell I’m coming back to myself but a part of me feels like I’ll never be who I was before.
Maybe I shouldn’t be.
That girl allowed people to walk all over her.
Carter really did break me, but in a beautiful way, now I’ve grown from the ashes he wilted me into. And because of it, I’ve risen stronger than ever before. Best believe that I’ve vowed to myself to never let any person in my life ever treat me with such disrespect again.
I’m no longer accepting poor behavior. I’m only allowing things and people into my life that fill my cup, and I won’t tolerate anything less than I deserve.
Hopefully when those calls come through, I can be a beacon of light in other people’s lives. I’m going to be the light that I was never given. I’ll be the voice that believes them when no one else does.
And I’ll do everything in my power to help those who feel helpless.