Chapter 4 Leo
CHAPTER FOUR
Leo
The rhythmic hum of the fire station is oddly comforting this time of morning.
It’s quiet for the most part. Just the clink of metal and the occasional whir of the coffee machine.
I’m halfway through my third cup of coffee when Jesse walks in, and I can tell by the set of his shoulders that something’s bothering him. Jesse rarely walks in here looking too cheerful, but when he’s not smiling, it’s usually because something’s weighing on him.
He spots me by the counter, pours himself a cup of coffee, and leans against the counter with a sigh.
“Anything interesting happen while I was gone?” Jesse asks lightly, but with a slight edge to his words.
He’s trying to hide it, but I can tell.
“Not much,” I grunt, giving him a sidelong glance. “Same old, same old. Karl almost set the kitchen on fire trying to make toast.”
Jesse chuckles, and for a second, the tension breaks. “What else is new?”
“I told him to get the fire extinguisher ready,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “I knew it wasn’t gonna end well.”
“You’re just mad you didn’t get to eat his cookies.”
I stop mid-sip and glance at him, eyebrow raised. “I can’t believe you actually remember that.”
“Hey, you eat your feelings, Leo. I’m just saying, you’ve got an entire stash of cookies hidden behind the fridge. Don’t pretend like I don’t know.”
Riley chuckles from the corner of the room. I didn’t even realize he was there. “True, Leo. We all know shit’s gone wrong when you’re carrying around a bag of chips like they’re a lifeline.”
I roll my eyes and throw my hands in the air in mock surrender. “Alright, that might be true. But don’t act like you guys are so much better than me.”
Just as Jesse is about to shoot back, Karl walks in with his usual swagger, practically rolling up his sleeves in the doorway as if he’s already done something heroic.
“Man, you guys look serious as hell,” he says, plopping himself down at the table, grinning wildly. “What’s going on?”
Jesse snorts, taking a sip of his coffee. “I heard about the fireman who nearly set his kitchen on fire…”
Karl shrugs, looking perfectly unbothered. “Whatever. At least I’d be able to put it out.”
I raise an eyebrow at my cousin. “Yeah, you’re really good at that, Karl. Almost like you’ve had some practice.”
“More than you know,” Karl replies with a grin, tapping his fingers on the table.
His cocky attitude doesn’t faze me, but it’s hard not to appreciate the way he can lighten the mood even when things are a bit tense. His presence is a shot of adrenaline… chaotic, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore.
Riley snorts. “Man, Karl, I think the only thing you’ve been practicing is how to burn toast without actually setting off the fire alarms. That’s some next-level talent.”
Dan, who’s just walked in, leans casually against the doorframe with a piece of candy hanging from his mouth, a grin already tugging at the corner of his lips. “No kidding. I bet Karl’s the reason we get so many false alarms around here. Half the time, it’s just him cooking.”
Karl groans dramatically, throwing his hands up. “You guys are all a bunch of comedians, huh? I swear, one day you’ll all be begging me for my culinary expertise.”
“Yeah, when pigs start flying,” Riley shoots back, laughing.
Jesse chuckles, shaking his head, but I can see the strain still sitting on his shoulders. Whatever it is that’s bothering him, it hasn’t gone away just because we’re making jokes. He’s good at hiding it, but not good enough for me to miss it.
“So, what’s on your mind?” I ask, leaning against the counter and crossing my arms. “You don’t exactly look like you’re here to swap war stories about burned toast.”
Jesse gives me a small, almost reluctant smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Nah, I’ve just got a lot on my plate. You know how it is.”
I don’t press him right away. Jesse’s the type who needs time before he opens up about the stuff that’s bugging him. But just because he’s not talking doesn’t mean I can’t tell something’s off.
His hands are gripping his mug tighter than usual, and his posture is stiff. If anyone knows Jesse well enough, it’s me. And right now? Something’s got him on edge.
I want to know what, so I can help him out.
The sound of the door to the fire station opens with a muted creak, causing me to spin around.
Freddie walks in, his usual easygoing demeanor a little more subdued than normal. I notice Jesse’s eyes snap toward him immediately, and I can see the tension in his posture start to melt, just a little.
“Freddie, everything okay?” Karl asks sharply.
Freddie nods. “Jesse, I just came to let you know that Max is fine. He had a slight fever, but he was taken care of at the hospital. Ivy’s alright too. She’s been freaking out, but she’s doing okay.”
The way Jesse exhales in relief is almost imperceptible, but I see it in the way his shoulders sag a little.
This is what’s been troubling him.
His nephew and his sister. Makes sense.
“Thanks, man.” Jesse nods. He takes a deep breath, his eyes a little lighter now, even though I can still see the exhaustion lingering there.
It’s the kind that comes from caring too much.
“I'm glad to know everything’s good, and thank you for looking after them both. Say thanks to Mitchell and Timothy, too.”
Freddie gives him a small smile. Clearly, he knows precisely what this relief means. “No problem. I figured you’d be stressed out with everything. Just glad they’re both alright.”
Jesse nods, but his usual easygoing smile still feels a little strained. I’m not sure if it’s the news itself or the way he’s still trying to carry that burden of responsibility, but there’s something else lingering under the surface, and he’s not saying what.
As Freddie starts to leave, he slaps Jesse’s back lightly, his expression softening. “Don’t worry about it too much. You’ve got enough on your plate already.”
With a quick wave to the rest of us, he turns to head out, leaving us in the quiet hum of the fire station once again.
I watch Jesse for a beat as Freddie walks out. He’s still got more on his mind than he’s letting on. I can see it.
“That’s good news, right?” Riley asks tentatively.
“Yeah, sounds like the kid is strong,” Dan jumps in. “Your sister, too.”
I nod and pat Jesse on the shoulder. “Yeah, Ivy kicks ass. The triplets, too. All three of them.”
“Hey, man,” Karl says, sitting back in his chair and stretching his arms over his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Since you’re free from the worries of Max and Ivy, what do you say we hit up the bar for a drink after this shift?”
Jesse gives a tired sigh but manages a half smile, his eyes flickering toward Karl as if considering it. “I don’t know, man. I’ve got a lot to do still…”
“Don’t make me drag you out,” Karl interrupts, slinging his arm around Jesse’s shoulders. “You’ve been walking around with a furrowed brow for days now. It’s time to put that serious face away for a while.”
Jesse raises an eyebrow, a little amused despite himself. “You act like you’re some sort of life coach, Karl.”
Karl shrugs, not even remotely bothered by the jab. “Hey, somebody’s gotta teach you how to have fun. You can’t be the serious, brooding fireman all the time.”
I can’t help but chuckle, watching the exchange. There’s something effortlessly comforting about the way these two bounce off each other.
Despite the tension that’s always hanging around Jesse, Karl knows how to needle him just right. It's a gift. One that makes Karl impossible to ignore and hard to be mad at, even when he’s being a total pain.
“Alright, alright,” Jesse says with a resigned sigh. “I’ll go. But just for one.”
“Urgh, such a bore,” Karl growls. “I bet you aren’t even coming out for Halloween.”
“Jesse and I are working that night, remember?” I pipe up. “But I’m sure you’ll be fine on your own.”
Karl throws me a mock glare, but it’s dulled by the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, more fun for me. I don’t need you guys for that.”
I roll my eyes, glad that we have a lot of shit to do today. I don’t need to hear my cousin going on all day long, that’s for sure.