Chapter Thirty-Seven
Emily
When I walk into work, Dale is already there with his feet propped up on the table. He glances up from his relaxed position, peering at me from under his cap and frowns. “Look what the cat drug in.”
“Shut it.” I stride to the coffee pot and pour a steaming mug full of dark roast. I don’t bother adding any creams or sugars despite my preference for medium roast and sweeter flavors.
But today calls for the big guns. I groan and lift the mug to my lips, blowing on the contents.
“Jake keep you up all night?”
Holy fuck. I cough as the coffee sloshes over the rim and splatters onto the floor.
“Shit,” I growl, deposit the cup on the counter, and grab a handful of napkins. Those tri-folded brown ones that are useless at picking up spills but that’s what we’re supplied at the ambulance station.
“I wasn’t expecting to hear that he was that bad at it.”
“What?” I glance up from my squatted position with a fist full of crumpled napkins in my hand. With my first swipe, all I’ve managed to do is slosh the coffee in either direction, rather than soaking it up.
What exactly am I doing? Hoping that by playing dumb, he’ll forget what he’s saying, and move on?
“I wasn’t expecting to hear that Jake was that bad in the sack due to his reputation as a lady’s man, but you look like hell and not in a good way.”
“I wasn’t with Jake, but thanks for the compliment about my looks.” I return my attention to the spill, folding the paper towels in half and swiping them again over the concrete. This time, I’m able to collect most of the mess.
His boots drop down to the ground as his shifting weight causes the chair feet to scrap along the flooring. “I didn’t mean to be insulting.”
“Well then, your execution was off.” I spin on my heel, drop the used paper towels into the trashcan, and snatch up a couple more. This should be enough to finish off the rest of the spill.
With my back to him, I drop the paper towel to the ground and use my shoe to slide it over the remaining debris.
“I would’ve thought after yesterday’s display of–”
“Don’t.” I spin on my heel and glare at him. “Nothing happened.”
“Fine.” He raises his hands in mock protest but has the decency to appear chagrined.
As I toss the last paper towel into the trashcan, Dale is smart enough to keep his mouth shut. The less people know…. What? That Jake needed to get off and used me to do it?
Yeah, no one needs to know that happened. I have no intention of breathing a word to anyone. Including Bella and Ruby. I hate the thought of lying to them, but I can’t bear the humiliation of them feeling sorry for me. Again.
“I’ll be in the office doing paperwork.” I pick up the coffee mug, march to the office, and shut the door with a snap.
I don’t have any paperwork. I finished everything up the day before, but I’m not about to sit in awkward silence with Dale while he envisions things he has no business thinking. My teeth grind together. Things I don’t want to remember.
After slumping into the chair, I cross my arms over my chest. Why did I go with Jake to his house? He was with Amanda two nights ago.
Did I really think he’d change for me? Am I that foolish? Amanda was already messaging him in the middle of the night planning to hook up tomorrow night.
I scrub my hands over my eyes and face. I shouldn’t have picked up his phone.
Granted, I thought it was my phone, but that’s no excuse. The second I realized it wasn’t mine; I should’ve set it down. Not slid the screen down and read the first part of the message.
Amanda: I can’t wait for tomorrow night….
Thank God I couldn’t see any more. She could’ve sent a detailed account of what she couldn’t wait to do. Or sent photos to get him in the mood. I’m going to get sick.
When my phone pings, I jump, causing my upper thighs to hit the underside of the desk. My heart races as I retrieve my phone from my back pocket. It’s my brother.
Kaleb: I can’t stop by Mom’s tomorrow night after work, can you?
Me: Sure.
It’s not like I have anything else to do besides moping around and wondering what Amanda and Jake will be doing. His hands caressing her body after laying her on the bed. The fresh scent of paint filling their heads as they climax.
I hop out of the chair with the intent of running to the bathroom to lose my coffee when Dale knocks on the door. “We’ve got a call.”
“I’m coming.” I straighten my shoulders and block everything else. Duty calls and someone’s life may depend on me keeping my head straight and the contents of my stomach where they belong.
After I climb into the passenger seat, Dale slides behind the wheel and the engine revs to life. “What do we have?”
“A fender bender at the four-way stop.” A fender bender is a simple call. More of an obligation to the community than an actual emergency.
“Who?” We both buckle our seatbelts at the same time.
“Elias ran into Ben.” Elias McCormick is in his mid-forties. Pretentious and snooty. Not that he’s a bad guy. He isn’t. It’s not his fault he’s the bank president’s son.
But running into Ben, Bella’s brother? Probably not a good idea.
I shake my head. “I suspect Elias was driving the Boxster.”
“Unfortunately.” Dale navigates the ambulance out of our lot. The low rumble of the ambulance is comforting. I suppose if I was on the other side of the calls, I’d have a different experience when I heard or saw the ambulance coming but as a paramedic, it settles my nerves.
Against my better judgment, I glance toward the police station. Jake’s 4x4 is in the lot. Of course, he’s at work. My only hope is that he’s stuck in the office this morning and Ramirez will be the officer on call.
Two minutes later, we arrive at the scene and I’m out of hope. Jake has his hand on Elias’s shoulder as they talk. So much for Ramirez being the one on the scene.
My attention shifts to the Boxster. It was a beautiful black car. Now, the front bumper is dragging the ground, one headlight is busted, and the fender has seen better days.
The other vehicle is Ben’s lifted pickup. There isn’t a dent on his vehicle. If he hadn’t felt a bump, he probably could’ve driven over the sports car.
“It’s a travesty.” Dale shakes his head.
“Yes, it is. Boxy is Elias’s pride and joy.”
“It looks like he’s not taking it well,” Dale says as he drives toward the parked cars.
At this point, there’s eight vehicles parked along the street as well as the cars pulling up to the stop sign.
It’s our version of a traffic jam. As soon as the ambulance is parked, I climb out and walk toward the accident.
Jake glances at me but as soon as he sees me, his face hardens, and he shifts his attention back to Elias.
The coldness in his eyes feels like someone punched me in the gut. Less than six hours ago, Jake’s eyes were warm and filled with lust as he took my body to places I’ve never been. And won’t ever go again.