6. Artez
“Hi. I’m not sure how these things work, but I’m here to drop off some food to the firefighters who helped me a few days ago. Do I just leave the food here, or am I able to thank them personally?”
The familiar voice made me stop in my tracks.
“If you give me a few moments, I can see if any of the firefighters who were on the call are here.”
“Of course.”
I tossed the half-eaten apple into the bin beside me and wiped my hands on the gray slacks I wore, before I made my way to the reception desk where the voice came from.
“Well, look who the wind blew in. Hey, Mali.” My tone was light and playful. I pulled my lips into a big smile. I couldn’t hide the excitement I had at the sight of her. A part of me was sure I’d never see her again, but I was grateful to see her.
Her gaze met mine as her lips tugged into a smile. “Hey, Flame.”
Now, in the light of day, I got a better look at her and couldn’t help but let my eyes roam her frame.
She wore a sleeveless romper that showed off her curves in the best way.
On her left shoulder was a small tattoo of flowers on a vine.
Her hair was no longer hidden by the bonnet.
Instead, her dark brown tresses fell down her back in deep curls.
She was taller than average height, with wide hips and an ass that could be seen from the front. I could tell it was homegrown. She was my type, but it would be unprofessional of me to pursue her romantically—conflict of interest with me being on the team that saved her life and all.
“What brings you by?” I asked as I closed the distance between us.
As I approached her, the smell of her perfume infiltrated my senses. Whatever scent combination she wore was something I’d never smelled before. It was warm and sweet and uniquely hers.
“I wanted to bring y’all my favorite dish as a thank you for what y’all did the other night. If it weren’t for y’all . . .”
“It’s what we do. Is it just the pan? Do you need help?”
“I have two other pans in the trunk of my car. I made Cajun pasta with steak and sausage. I also made fried chicken and garlic bread to go with it if people didn’t like the pasta. I originally planned to bring cookies, too, but my mama decided y’all needed banana pudding and peach cobbler instead.”
My stomach growled at the anticipation of devouring the home-cooked meal. I closed my eyes and licked my lips slowly. When my eyes opened, Mali looked at me with a smirk on her face.
“I thought I lost you for a second, Flame,” she joked.
A light chuckle left my lips as I replied, “Nah. I’m definitely alive and ready to eat. Y’all threw down like that for us?”
“Yes, we did. It was the least I could do, honestly.”
“I can’t wait to dig in. Let me get some extra hands to help you. Chloe, can you check her in with a visitor pass while I go get some extra hands, please?”
“Of course, Flame.” Chloe batted her lashes in my direction before she turned to take Mali’s ID for a visitor sticker.
When I turned to see who was close enough to help, Charles and Bradlee just so happened to be walking by.
“Charles! Bradlee!”
Their gazes met mine as I stopped them in their tracks.
“What’s up?” Bradlee quizzed.
“Mali has blessed us with a home cooked meal. Come help get this food.”
At the mention of food, Charles and Bradlee briskly walked over to the reception desk.
“Mali, this is Charles and Bradlee. They were also on the scene. Guys, Mali was the house fire a few days back. They would be more than happy to help you bring the pans in.”
“Perfect. Follow me, fellas.” She pressed the visitor sticker onto the top of her romper and escorted the guys out to her car. I waited patiently for them to return.
We walked Mali through the station to the common area.
It didn’t take long for the four of us to get the food set up at the dining area.
As soon as the aroma spread through the station, everyone migrated over.
We grabbed some of the paper plates and forks out of the pantry and let everyone dig in.
For a long moment, no one said a word. The food was too good to interrupt the chew with a conversation.
“Did you want to sit and join us?” I asked, as I noticed Mali moving toward the background.
She shook her head. “I ate with my parents and best friend before I came. They wanted to join me, but I told them this needed to be a solo trip. I’ll sit with you, though. I want to hear your thoughts on the food.”
I smiled. “Say less.”
She sat across from me and rested her cheek on her fist. I felt like Gordon Ramsey as I tasted the flavors of the pasta.
The sauce was rich, spicy, and seasoned to perfection.
The chicken was crispy. I knew I wouldn’t have space for the dessert and prayed there would be some banana pudding waiting for me when I made the room for it.
“What’s all of this?” Captain asked as he walked over and eyed the array of food. He had an amused smirk on his face as he eyed the family.
“Cap, this is Mali. She wanted to show her appreciation with a delicious home-cooked meal,” I explained. I recited the menu for him.
Cap nodded. “Thank you, Ms. Mali. We are always grateful for a home-cooked meal from the community.”
“It was no problem at all. It’s the least I could do for y’all.” Mali twiddled with her thumbs nervously. Even when she was shy, she exuded pure beauty.
“It looks and smells delicious. I hope these hoodlums save me some.”
“No promises, Cap,” Bradlee said through a mouthful of pasta.
“Nah. I need her to come back every week with this dish. I ain’t ever had no pasta taste so flavorful.” Charles grabbed another slice of garlic bread to slop up the rest of the sauce.
Mali giggled. “Thank you. I’m glad y’all enjoy it.”
“It was great for sure.” I grabbed a napkin and wiped the corners of my lips. “I need to walk this food off my stomach. Would you like a tour of the station?”
Mali’s eyes lit up. “If you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. C’mon.” I stood up and tossed my trash into the bin before stretching. I let out a deep breath. “We’ll start in this room since we’re already here.”
The tour started in the lounge area. I showed her the amenities.
Then we went to the training rooms, bedrooms, and ended the tour with the trucks.
Along the way, she asked dozens of questions.
Her curiosity was cute. It also made me feel special to hold her attention and tell her all the facts I’d learned during my years here.
“This place is huge,” Mali stated as we sat on the back of the ambulance truck.
“We have the largest station in the state. We’re considered the central hub for Cade’s Cove emergencies. There are three other smaller stations around, but we handle most of the calls because of the sheer size of our team.”
“I commend y’all for putting your lives on the line to keep the city safe. Are you from Cade’s Cove?”
“Born and raised. How about you?”
“Same. What part did you grow up in?”
I chuckled. “My folks are from the Southside, but we’re in the ’burbs now.”
She shook her head. “Not the Southside.” She sang the note and laughed.
“Told you I used to be around some bad crowds. I’m a better man now, though.”
“I know that’s right.” She did the two-finger clap women do.
“What about you?”
“I’m a Northside girlie.”
“Yeah, I’m not surprised.”
She raised an eyebrow. “We got beef?”
“It’s a tale as old as time. Southside folks ain’t ever got along with Northside folks.”
“Luckily, I don’t follow the norm.” Mali shrugged.
“You are different, huh?” I teased.
“Exactly that. You’ll never meet another Mali like me.”
“I believe it.”
She giggled, and the sound sent a shiver down my spine. The urge to continue to make her laugh was strong. She was the definition of beautiful. I even loved the way the corner of her eyes wrinkled when she smiled big or laughed loud.
“How have you been? I know it’s a hard adjustment, but are the days treating you well?”
She sighed and looked away. “I want to tell you it’s been good, but that would be a lie. It’s been rough. This is actually the first time I’ve been outside since the fire.”
“Baby steps. You experienced something traumatic. It’s normal to have moments of darkness and depression. Just don’t let the bad days outweigh the good ones.”
She smiled. “That’s easier said than done.”
“You’re not wrong. All you can do is take it one day at a time and try to make the most of each day.
I hope this isn’t too forward, but would you like my number?
I’m not trying to be a creep or anything, but you could call me anytime.
Day or night. If you need a listening ear from someone who has experienced a house fire. ”
“I’d appreciate that a lot, actually.”
She reached into her handbag and held her phone out for me. Within a few moments, I had my contact saved in her phone and sent a text to myself to save her contact.
“You’re locked in. Call me whenever.”
“I will . . . You probably have a lot of work to do. I should head back.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Thank you.”
We stood up and took the long way back to the front. She leaned against the driver’s side door and peered up at me.
“Thank you for the tour.”
“It’s no problem at all. We’re very open to visitors to help the shift go by.”
She smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll see you around, Flame.”
“Fa sho. Be safe.”
“You too.”
I stepped back as she opened the car door and got inside. She got comfortable and adjusted her mirror before tapping her horn and pulling off. I watched her merge onto the main road before I went back inside the station.
“Flame, you feeling her?”
“Flame’s got a crush!”
“Flame and Mali, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”
I ignored the crew as I walked over to the couch and plopped down.
I couldn’t explain it, but I felt drawn to her.
I wanted to be near her, be with her, be her protector, be her person, be her friend.
It might have been crazy, but I didn’t care.
I’d do what I had to do to make sure the good days outweighed the bad in her life.
“You thought we wouldn’t pry?” Juliet asked as she plopped on the couch beside me.
Connor sat on the other side of me. “Exactly. Spill the beans. What’s that all about?”
“Y’all get on my nerves. You know that, right?” I asked rhetorically.
“You know we never cared. Are you going to pursue something with her?” Juliet asked.
“You know, in all my years here, I’ve never seen you mention your dating life,” Connor admitted.
“I don’t have a dating life. My focus is my family.”
“So you didn’t get her number?” Juliet inquired.
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
She squealed. “I knew it! She fits you. The way y’all looked at each other at the table, I could tell there are feelings there that y’all should explore.”
“You sound crazy. We saved her life. What you saw in her eyes was appreciation. She’s only grateful for me being the one to save her and walk through the aftermath with her.”
“You can tell yourself that lie all you want. We were all there that day. I could tell then there was a spark between y’all.” Connor shook his head.
“Look, I will not force you to step out on faith and make her your girlfriend or anything, but don’t close yourself off to the idea,” Juliet advised.
I shrugged. “We’ll see.”