Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
DRAKE
The clang of the lockers and the smell of burnt coffee fill the firehouse, same as every other Monday morning, but I feel as if I’ve been chewed up and spat out. I dump my gear bag down harder than I mean to.
Bear glances up from polishing his boots. “So, Coleman, how was your date with Phoenix after Ember bailed on you?”
I glance across the room at Phoenix manning the phone. “Phoenix was all right, just not as pretty to look at.”
“You seen her this morning?” Phoenix asks.
“She wasn’t at school,” I say, pulling my jacket from the hook. “She called in sick.” My voice comes out sharper than I intend.
From behind me, Flint’s gravelly tone cuts in. “What’s wrong with Ember?” He strides through with a clipboard in hand, brow furrowed.
I shrug, my jaw tight. “Nothing. Just called in sick.”
His eyes narrow. “Yeah, you said that already. I meant, what’s up with her?”
I slam the locker shut. “How the hell would I know? She hasn’t answered a single one of my messages all weekend.”
Phoenix shakes his head from behind the desk. “Mate. Just how many messages did you send?”
Flint stops dead, eyes pinning me. “Did something happen? Knowing Ember, she could be lying at home with another bust ankle, stubborn as hell and refusing to call anyone.”
Before I can answer, Phoenix pipes up again. “Or maybe she’s not answering because she dumped his ass.”
Hollywood nearly chokes on his coffee.
Bear’s head snaps up. “I was only kidding in the group chat. I didn’t think she'd actually ended it.”
My jaw tightens. I brace myself for more ridicule from the lads. But they don’t say a word.
Flint’s gaze cuts to me, brow furrowing. “What do you mean, she dumped you? What did you do?”
“Nothing. She just ended it on Friday. Never even gave me an explanation. She fucking ghosted me.” I snap my lips shut before I let my temper get the better of me in front of the chief.
Everyone’s eyes are on me, but they don’t appear to be judging.
Flint’s expression darkens. He doesn’t say anything, but the weight of his stare is enough. “Something’s wrong. I’m going to find out what.”
I grab my coat, ignoring the lads’ stares, and stalk towards the exit after Flint. If Ember won’t answer my calls, she’ll damn well answer me in person.
“Where you going?” Flint says.
“With you. If you’re getting answers, I want to be there.”
“Coleman. Let me talk to my sister. I’ll find out what’s going on with her. Besides, you have the fire inspection to do at the lighthouse.”
Phoenix pats me on the back. “Chief’s order, mate. Let him talk to her.”
Bear chuckles, but his eyes are kind. “He’s right. Go do your job. If she wants you, she’ll answer Flint. If she doesn’t, then we come up with a plan.”
Hollywood says, “I have a few backup plans in my contacts.”
Part of me wants to follow, to shove past Flint into Ember’s hallway and demand answers. But Flint’s tone isn’t like a boss, it’s the tone of a brother, and maybe that’s what she needs right now.