Chapter 4
Trevor
“Hey, man. I can’t thank you enough for the last few days. I wasn’t sure what I was walking into here, moving from Hanover. The dinner the other night was one thing, but inviting me to The Cellar Bar helped me to start feeling at home.”
Especially when I noticed there are women in Sycamore my age. And not just any women. Those girls were hot as fuck. Maybe a little too hot, I remind myself as I run my hand through my hair.
I swore to myself after Ashley that I was dating down from now on. Correction. I’m not dating at all. And I’m sure as hell not getting back into a situation where I’m spending time with girls like the bombshells I saw the other night.
Never going back there.
I believe the blonde stunner was taken, as the guy with them kept his arm around her much of the evening. I’m aware of this fact because it was impossible to stop looking at them. They were the most attractive women I’d seen in a long while. And not just because it’s a small mountain town. The two of them were every bit as gorgeous and flirtatious as Ashley. And that spells nothing but trouble.
“Well, you haven’t been introduced to the brotherhood of station 12 until you’ve attended one of Shotgun Sam’s parties.” Jason laughs.
“Who?”
“Sam Shepherd is a firefighter on C shift. He has a big ranch on the outskirts of town. He’s a crazy motherfucker but would give you the shirt off of his back.”
“Does he like to hunt?”
“No.” Jason snorts. “He inherited the ranch from his grandad. Why?”
I give him a deadpan look. “Uh, the name.”
“Oh, yeah. Sam’s perfected the art of never being labeled the designated driver. For years, if we went to a bar, he’d yell shotgun and jump in the front passenger seat so fast no one knew what hit ’em.”
“I don’t get it. Why not just call an Uber?”
“Dude, there’s no Uber in Sycamore Mountain. The only pizza parlor in town doesn’t even deliver. You better keep your fridge stocked with cold ones and your nightstand full of condoms, my friend. ’Cause, there’s no twenty-four-hour anything in this town.”
“Fuck.”
Jason chuckles, tossing a stray twig onto the ground from where we sit at a picnic table behind the fire station. “Oh, it’s not so bad. May have to plan ahead more and drive a little farther to get wherever you want to go, but it’s not a bad life.”
“Did you grow up here?”
“Hell no. I grew up in Chicago. I hated the traffic and the hustle and bustle. I came here over a long weekend with my parents and never wanted to leave. In the city, the cost of living is so expensive you spend your days off trying to make an extra buck. Here, I while away the hours fishing to my heart’s content.”
My gaze takes in our surroundings with renewed appreciation. An array of gorgeous evergreens decorate the mountains in the distance. “I’ve never been a big nature enthusiast. I’m taking online classes to complete my IT degree.” I scratch the back of my neck nervously. “This probably isn’t the best place to put that education to use.” I have to admit, the thought of finding some real downtime to relax and enjoy life sounded nice. Maybe this place could be just what I need.
“So why did you move here?”
“I wanted a fresh start. I had a terrible breakup and needed to get the fuck out of town. I heard there was an opening and jumped at the chance.” An uncomfortable silence settles upon us, and I immediately feel the need to clarify. “I’m dedicated to the station, Jason. It may take some adjustment to get acclimated to the town. But─”
“You’re good, man. It’s okay,” he swiftly interrupts. “I’m sure the guys had their concerns when I moved here. But Sycamore is a great town. I think you found the perfect place to start a new life.” His large open palm pats my shoulder, and I relax a bit. You place a lot of trust in your brothers on this job. It’s the only way to tackle what we do, day in and day out. I’d never want any of them to think I’m just using their station as temporary rehab from my failed relationship.
“So, you game?”
“For what?”
“A Shotgun Sam party?”
“What exactly am I in for?”
A laugh barrels out of him. “With Sam, one never really knows.”