9. Cole
Chapter 9
Cole
I t was clear, bright autumn perfection as I jogged up the street quickly so I wouldn’t be late for my meeting. Leaves crunched under my feet as my sneakers pounded over the sidewalk. Tourists were fucking everywhere, and I had to weave around them as I ran up Main Street to the station.
The Cozy Creek Fire Brigade Station took up an entire block. The structure was designed to serve as a gathering place for services and a shelter for our community in emergencies.
The brick building had four double-deep and two single-deep apparatus bays on the ground floor and a reception area. The second floor held administrative offices, a conference room, a turnout gear room, and a storage area for our emergency medical supplies.
We had ten bunk rooms, each with a bed, desk, and storage cabinets, and five unisex bathrooms with private showers surrounded by a locker area.
We spent most of our downtime in the newly remodeled kitchen and seating area of the station. When we were in town, the Cozy Creek Confectionery and Bookers Pub were some of our favorite haunts.
With a combined force of paid and volunteer firefighters, we were always ready to help wherever needed throughout the county.
My office was on the top floor, where I would meet our event planner. I had barely enough time to shower and change before we got started.
I scowled as I crossed the parking lot toward reception. My heart was still flying circles around in my chest from my interaction with Madi, and I couldn’t think straight.
Interaction? Right, what we’d had was no simple interaction. I’d shamelessly flirted with her. I told her I liked her freckles, for fuck’s sake, and compared her to Belle. I think I even winked at her.
How was I supposed to resist someone like her? She was like fucking sunshine, and I was nothing but a grumpy, dark cloud. But worse, she seemed into me, and I fucking loved it.
I wanted to keep running, blow past the station, blow off my meeting, and run until these fucking feelings I was developing for Madi were gone, and I was back to feeling nothing again. Nothing was safer. I could deal with nothing.
With a shove, I opened the door and stepped inside, hoping to make it to the locker room without talking to anyone.
“Cole! Bad news.” I stopped short. The last thing I needed was more to deal with.
Our administrative assistant, Monica, a pretty redhead who was a year behind me in school, stood behind her desk to greet me as if she had been waiting. The look on her face said it wasn’t just bad news; it was terrible.
“I don’t wanna hear it,” I joked. “No, thanks.”
“Jenny canceled.” Our event planner. Great.
I closed my eyes, praying for patience. “Please tell me she only canceled today’s meeting.”
She tapped her fingers on her desk. “You’re going to find this hilarious.”
“I seriously doubt that,” I answered as I walked slow circles around the lobby to catch my breath and cool down.
“She took a temp job in Colorado Springs. They offered her twice what she’d make freelancing here. She’s filling in for Gigi’s granddaughter.”
“No shit.” I barked out a laugh.
“None whatsoever. Ironic, isn’t it?”
“We’re screwed. We’re already selling tickets online and in town; it’s on the marquee, Monica. It’s official. It’s a done deal. We can’t cancel, and there’s no way I can plan this myself. Not unless we want to grill burgers and watch football. I mean, what the hell? ”
“I don’t know. That sounds pretty fun to me.”
“I don’t have time for this. You don’t have time for this either.”
“I know, Cole. I’ll make some calls and see what I come up with. I’ll let you know by the end of the day.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Of course.” She waved me off and picked up her phone. “I’ll call around. Or maybe I’ll get in touch with Gigi or one of her friends. Those ladies know everybody in town. Word of mouth is key here. We don’t want to hire just anybody to replace Jenny. We need someone who can handle this on their own.”
“Yeah, and this is all Gigi’s fault, too, for spraining her ankle.” I laughed. “She owes us.”
“Ha! I’ll be sure to mention that to her,” she joked as she dialed. “We’ll be okay. I’ll find a replacement as soon as possible.”
“Let me know if you need me to call around too. Thanks, Monica.”
I made my way into my office and sat at my desk. I leaned back in my chair and put my feet up. I needed time to think. I only had a month to get everything ready.
Maybe I should call Madi.
Or not.
She probably had her hands full helping Gigi. The irony was not lost on me here.
But what if she could be the one to save my ass this time?
A lot of the fundraiser was preplanned to cut costs. The timing stayed the same. People were desperate to donate for the tax write-off toward the end of the year. We had a standing reservation at Cozy Creek’s Veterans Hall, and our caterer knew when to expect our call. The only real task was to decide on a theme, activities, something to auction off, and a menu—all of which usually ended up being fall-related—and decorate the place accordingly.
I pulled a yellow ledger pad from my desk drawer and a pencil from the cup.
If it came down to it, I could do it all myself. We could have a chili cook-off or host a poker tournament. I jotted down and crossed both ideas out. Gambling was a terrible idea for a fundraiser, and no one would want to be around the crew if we’d all eaten chili. People would demand refunds for their tickets.
I wrote down ideas as they came to me.
Touch football?
A ride through town on one of the trucks with the lights and sirens blaring?
Auction off slides down the fire poles?
I tossed the pad on my desk.
I could not do this.
We had set a precedent. I had standards to uphold. The Cozy Creek Fire Brigade Fundraiser was a classy event. People dressed up, for fuck’s sake. Who was I to take that away from the town?
I pulled out my cell and called Gigi myself.
“Cole! I was just about to call you. Meet Madi at Tres Chicas,” she ordered me without preamble. “Buy her some tacos and finish convincing her she can do this. I already talked to Monica.”
Relief flooded through me. Gigi was one step ahead of me, and I was grateful. I was also intrigued by the thought of bringing Madi on board. I’d get to see her more often and on my turf. The idea of her knowing what I was all about felt good. I’d save the contemplation about why I felt this way for later.
“Where is it?” Tres Chicas was a food truck that was almost always open. The only trouble was finding it; they parked all over town according to where they determined the taco cravings would be the strongest. For example, it could often be found across from the fire station after a call. We were all shamefully addicted to their food.
Gigi and her friends tried to keep the location updated on the town’s Facebook page, but the Tres Chicas ladies were too fast for that.
“They’re at the end of the street, near the park. It’s Mommy and Me day at the playground. Madi is hangry and stressy. So far today, she’s only had toast—delicious toast, I might add—thanks for helping her out of the tree and feeding her breakfast, by the way. That Kenny is a dang menace; he’s lucky he’s so cute. Anyway, you have to hurry before they move the truck. It’s almost lunchtime at the high school, and you do not want to wait in that line. She’s leaving now! Go! Cole! Go!”
“I’m on my way.” I shoved my phone in my pocket and didn’t hesitate.
“I think I have a solution!” I hollered over my shoulder as I passed Monica’s desk at a run.
“Oh, you do? You have a solution? She scoffed. “You’re welcome, Cole!” she shouted to my retreating back.
“Thank you!” I yelled, grinning when she burst into loud laughter behind me.