26. Leo
Chapter Twenty-Six
LEO
It felt like time was flying by, as if I was on a high-speed train, watching the scenery in a blur. In the midst of it, our crew got called out to a fire. The interior of Alaska was largely unsettled. There were some Alaska Native villages scattered within the wilderness, along with some remote outdoor resorts and hunting cabins. This roaring wildfire was visible from the road that cut through the central part of the state and led up toward the Arctic Circle.
Dora squeezed me hard before I left. She said she’d miss me, but my parents had plenty of things planned for her and she was excited for all of it. I stopped by Firehouse Café to see Casey before I left. We had time for a quick, fierce kiss in the back before I had to go. My heart ached when I left.
I was going to miss her. Ever since our appointment the other day and her meeting Dora, we had stuck to the plan of one night a week together. And now, I wouldn’t even have that. Our hotshot crew would likely be out for a week or more.
I couldn’t quite pin it down, but I sensed Casey was worrying about something else and holding back. I would have to wonder until I returned.