Chapter 48
“You’re definitely bringing Scottie, right?” I ask Cal as I keep an eye on my portion of the line where my sawyer is cutting down a snag. We’ve spent the day an hour outside of Sky Ridge near Benny Ridge National Park prepping for a prescribed burn near a highly developed area. We take away heavy fuels in an area that is highly susceptible to fire, especially when we haven’t had any rain the entire month of June.
Sup was tickled when we were tasked to it. He says it’s a really good opportunity to “team build” and get the newbies learning. We have three new crew members this season, bringing our squad to a record high since I’ve been on board.
“Yes, for the tenth time,” Cal mutters, wiping his brow before turning to the team.
“Your arms are on fire, but will you stop digging?” Cal calls to the newbs behind us.
“No, Cap,” the crew calls out as they dig.
“Making this hole your bitch?” Dixon asks, working with them. I shake my head and grin.
“That’s what she said,” Roycie calls out to Dixon.
“Well, your mom has a way with words, what can I say?” Dixon fires back.
Roycie pauses long enough to give him the Ross Geller flip off.
I chuckle at their typical bullshit.
“Reason number 101 why I don’t want Vi to be the only woman there with this group of miscreants.” I hike my thumb over my shoulder as I say it.
Cal chuckles. “Point taken. Scottie likes Vi, said she wants to get to know her better.”
I nod, liking the sound of that.
The moment Sup comes up from the base of the hill to check on our crew, everyone instantly becomes a little more serious. Cal won’t ride them quite as much about fucking around a little. It’s 90 degrees out here and we’ve been mucking for four hours already. I’ve been back to work for five days and we haven’t been called out to our next roll yet, which never—and I mean never— happens. I think the longest I was ever off after mandatory R&R was two days. So, five? That’s unheard of. But I’m not complaining. It means I’ve been spending almost every night with Vi and Hollie, and for the first time ever in my seven years on this crew, I’m actually dreading going out on my next roll.
If I’m being honest, the memory of falling into that pit is still fresh in my mind, although I’m doing my best to stay above it, and the other reason I’m dreading going? I just don’t want to leave Violette, not when I feel like something deeper is really starting to happen between us.
“This getting serious?” Cal asks like he’s reading my mind. “Hold that thought,” he adds before shuffling over to correct Roycie on something.
He's gone for more than ten minutes so when he gets back, I don’t expect him to remember to ask me the same question again, but he does.
“So…Little T, that serious?” Cal asks again.
“I’m just trying to get used to the idea that she actually wants to spend time with me.”
“And she does?” Cal asks, genuine concern lines his tone.
I nod. “Yeah, seems so.”
“You in love with her?”
I let the question sink in for a beat as I toss my chain saw over my shoulder to move up the line. I take a second to wipe the dirt and sweat from my brow. “I wanna be with her every chance I get,” I say honestly.
“That’s a start.” Cal smirks.
I shrug. “I’m all in with her, I can’t explain it. It’s like I’m picturing things I’ve never pictured before.”
Opp moves a little closer to us as he digs. “Like what?” he asks with a grin. “Talking about T, right?”
“Fuck,” I mutter. “This doesn’t need to be a PSA.”
“You know what, bro? Don’t even worry about it, bring her around tonight and we’ll all be able to tell you if it’s true love after five minutes.” Opp grins.
“Absolutely fucking not. You assholes better be on your best behavior tonight.” I point to Cal, Opp, and Dixon, who all start chuckling.
Opp raises his hands in innocence. “I’m fuckin’ hurt King, whaddya take us for?” he asks with a grin that says I’m fucked.
By the time I get to Violette’s I’m still re-thinking taking her out with the boys. They’re a bunch of unhinged apes when they drink, and the last thing I need is them putting her on the spot or spooking her.
I know Hollie is already with Mae and Jack for the night, and even though I’m starting to get attached to mine and Hollie’s little SuperPets ritual, the thought of having Violette all to myself has me already getting hard on her goddamn doorstep as I knock on the door.
I wait not so patiently for Violette to answer. Knock again, wait again. Five minutes on her porch and I start to get worried. Her car is here so I know she’s home. I turn the knob to find it unlocked, and now I’m really concerned. Nothing seems out of order in the foyer. There are no lights on in the kitchen or dining room to my right, but a soft lamp glows in the living room to my left. I kick my shoes off.
“Vi?” I call. No response so I make my way through the living room, she could be in the shower?—
The sight that finds me mid thought sends a warm, twisting feeling through my whole body. Violette is curled up on her sofa, still wearing her navy blue scrubs, her thick hair in a high messy bun. She’s wrapped up in a fleece blanket and she’s out fucking cold. Dead on her feet after the week she’s had. She’s had back-to-back rotations and a busy burn unit after a bad barn fire on Highway 4 earlier this week. I know it’s been a rough one, particularly because one of her patients is a kid not much older than Hollie. She even shed some tears over him the other night.
Suddenly, the last thing I want to do is haul this exhausted, incredible woman, mother, and nurse out onto the town.