18. Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
Nick
Even after struggling to get to sleep, I woke up at two fourteen in the morning. Instantly, my mind went right back to analyzing what had happened.
But why—
When she said—
After going over the situation several hundred times, I finally fell back asleep at three. Only to wake up again at four after what felt like five minutes.
What did I—
And about the—
I went back to sleep at four fifty. Then I woke up again when my alarm went off at five thirty. Which I shut off and promptly went back to sleep until six thirty. Something I never allowed myself to do.
This morning, I sat on the edge of my bed and ran both hands through my hair. I'd come to the conclusion that, based on her reaction, I'd done something wrong. For the life of me I couldn't identify exactly what it was.
How was I supposed to fix what was wrong if I couldn't identify it?
And what if I didn't want to fix what was wrong?
Because maybe I didn't.
Cap stretched and rolled over in his corner of the bed, not a care in the world. His head resting against his favorite toy, a stuffed penguin.
“Such a life,” I muttered, heading for the shower.
Cap didn't rise until I was out of the shower, dressed, and almost done cooking my morning bacon. He strode into the kitchen and plopped his ass next to the stove.
“Oh, nice of you to get up.”
He yawned, his head nearly level with the frying pan.
“Nope. You know the rules. Outside first.”
I opened the patio door and let him out. And just like that, I was back to thinking.
Was my breath bad? I know we'd just eaten. No. She wouldn't have kissed me twice if it was. Alright. Deodorant? Nope. Had that covered.
Cap pawed at the glass door.
“What do you think I did?” I asked as I let him back in.
He hurried straight past me and headed for the stove.
“Thanks. In case you were wondering, the kiss was good. I mean, I haven't kissed anyone in quite some time, but it's like riding a bike. You don't forget.”
Cap contributed nothing to the conversation beyond sniffing the air.
“And I'll have you know, even though she said I was, I was not competing. I'm sure you understand.”
Cap whimpered as I flipped the bacon.
I stopped and looked down at him.
“I bet she told Jo all about it. Thompson said they've been hanging out quite a bit. Maybe I can get Jo to tell me.”
Cap tilted his head approximately two degrees and released an enormous string of drool.
“Damn, dude.”
I shook my head.
“For the record, I don't compete with Hank. Never have.”
This time Cap actually looked at me as if to say, yeah, right.
“What? I don't.”
I pointed the tongs at him.
“Hank's police. We're fire. Both important, but totally different. We're friends.”
Cap got up and walked to his water bowl. Drank a bunch, then slobbered water all the way back to the stove, where he resumed bacon vigilance.
“It's hot.”
I took the remaining bacon out of the pan and fried two eggs in its place.
Finally carrying the plates to the table, I gave Cap a piece of bacon, which he gobbled down in half a second.
I took another piece, reached behind me, and crumbled it over the food in his dish.
We continued breakfast in silence. Well, relative silence.
Me silent. Cap chomping and gobbling his food.
When we were done, I washed the dishes and we headed to work.
I was almost to the firehouse when my phone rang through the truck speakers.
Incoming call: Hank.
I answered.
“Hey—”
“DUDE!” Hank's voice flooded the cab.
Cap pulled his head in from the open window and cocked it to the side.
“Against the fire truck? NICE!”
I stared at the road. “What?”
“Don't what me, you sly dog!” He made an appreciative sound. “Man, I didn't know you had it in you. Dude, you should've said you were interested. I wouldn't have asked her out.”
“Hank. What are you talking about?”
“I know it's probably been a while, but I wouldn't expect you to forget about sex this fast. Unless it was bad.” He blew out a breath. “Oh, shit, Nick. Was it bad?”
I pulled into the firehouse parking lot and put the truck in park. “What are you talking about?” I asked. “Did you call the right person?”
“Nicholas Carson. Fire Chief. Great Dane. No personality. Ringing any bells?”
“Yes. But I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Ha! Like you’d forget about you and Brandy getting it on against the fire truck.” He burst out laughing. “Ha! Did you ring any bells? Get it?”
Cap howled out the window at absolutely nothing.
“Cap, enough.” I rubbed my face. “I didn't have sex with her. We kissed, but that was all. Where did you hear something like that?”
“Today from dispatch.”
I closed my eyes. “Of course.”
“So.” Hank settled in.
I could hear his chair creak.
“What actually happened?”
I told him about all of it. The storage room and the kiss, and what I'd said afterward.
Silence.
“Hank?”
“I'm here. Just so I understand.” A pause. “You kissed her.”
“Yes.”
“Was it a good kiss?”
“That's not—”
“Was it or wasn't it?” he insisted.
“Yes. It was good.”
“Hot damn.” Another pause. “And then you made that dumbass comment while your hand was on her ass, yes?”
“It came out wrong.”
“Damn, are you new to women?” Another laugh. “Oh wait. It's you. You kind of are new.” He laughed again. “Well, Casanova, you've got to fix this.”
“I know.”
“Today.”
“I know, Hank.”
“Because here's the other thing.” His voice shifted. “The whole town's talking about this. She had to have told someone.”
I rested my head against the steering wheel. “The town's talking? You don’t think she made up that story, do you?”
“Well, someone did. There were only two people involved and since it doesn't sound like it was you—”
“Fuck.”
“Yes, that seems to be what people think you did.”
I looked at the firehouse. Why? Just why?
“I gotta go,” Hank said. “Fix it.” He hung up.
Cap put his head back out the window like nothing had happened.
I sat in the parking lot, blinking as I processed the conversation.
She told people we had sex against the fire truck? What the hell?
The morning ran the way mornings tend to run. An overwhelming amount of paperwork. A call at nine that could have easily been an email.
The guys had Scott out in the parking lot with the big truck, working on his backing-up skills.
I was about to call Jo into my office for the monthly equipment check when I heard her in the hallway.
“Jo.”
She appeared, leaned against the doorjamb, and crossed her arms.
“What's up?”
“It's your month for the equipment check.”
I held the folder out for her.
“You got it, boss.” She took it and turned to leave.
“Wait a minute.” I kept my voice neutral. “Have you talked to Brandy? I mean, recently?”
Jo looked at me. “If dinner last night is recent enough for you, then yes.”
“Right.” I nodded, keeping my eyes on my desk in an attempt to appear disinterested.
“I was just wondering if she was planning to come by today. You know, to finish with the candy. I, uh, didn't want Cap getting into the pallet.”
I didn't get a response. So I looked up.
Jo was staring at me with an expression I recognized. The same one women got when they could see straight through a flimsy excuse.
Damn it.
She knows.
“As of eleven o'clock last night, all of the remaining candy had been moved into the storage room. I had the overnight crew do it.” She paused. “As far as I know, Brandy's working from her office today.”
I nodded. “Good. Not that she's working, good. I didn't mean that. I mean—”
Jo shook her head, turned, and walked into the hallway.
I heard her clearly say:
“Men. I am so glad I'm a lesbian.”
Cap wandered into the office and flopped down on his bed. Nose on his paws. Looking at the wall instead of me.
“What's wrong with you?”
He huffed and scooted his butt in my direction.
“Fine. I'll call her.” I grabbed the phone and dialed.
Cap immediately lifted his head.
I waited through two rings. Three. Then she answered.
“Hello, Community Ambassador's Office. This is Brandy.”
I cleared my throat.
“Brandy. This is Chie—” I stopped. “Nick. It's Nick.” A pause. “Could I see you in my office, please?”
Silence, then quietly. “I guess. I'll be there in ten minutes.”
I hung up.
Cap lifted his head from his paws and looked at me.
“Try and remember who feeds you.” I pointed at him.
He wagged his tail once. Then got up and left the office.
Probably to go wait by the door for Brandy.
I called after him. “I should've gotten a cat.”