Chapter 1
MAYSON “TRUCKER” CALHOUNE
“Trucker, can I see you in the office for a second?”
I looked up from the engine I’d been wiping down and arched a brow.
Our new captain was Valentina “Zoom” Forsythe. She was fresh in the position—promoted right before her time off to get married.
None of the men had anything to say about her promotion over them. It wasn’t a secret that she worked harder than all of us—with training most of us didn’t think about getting.
She had the heart of a captain—there was nothing to be bitter about. Anyone who was ass-hurt about her promotion really had to look into why they were shit humans.
“Yeah—sure, Cap.”
Zoom grunted at me.
She hated when we called her that. We’d been close friends through the time she’d begun working at the station house. I would go as far as calling us best friends. But she was my Captain now—there had to be a form of professionalism.
What else were we supposed to call her?
Hopefully, as time went by, she’d get used to it.
“What did I tell you about that?” Zoom asked, her brows still knitted.
“What am I supposed to call you, then?”
I rested my hands akimbo to glare at her.
“Zoom?” She asked.
“Zoom, you’re acting like you don’t see the distance between us.”
“Because a piece of paper calls me a title?” Zoom demanded heatedly. “You’re my friend first. I don’t like it when you make it seem as if I did this on purpose. Come on, man.”
“You’re captain because you worked your ass off.” I snapped. “Not because you did anything on purpose. And I know you don’t like it when I call you Captain but people will talk, and we don’t have time for that.”
“I don’t care what—”
She bit her bottom lip—she did that when she was frustrated—and walked away.
Sighing, I dropped the towel in the bucket, dried my palms against my thighs and followed her.
Once I was settled in a chair across from her desk with the door closed, she sat on the front edge of her desk and smiled at me.
“You spoke with Moose.” I hung my head.
“No. I spoke with Pen.” Zoom replied. “They were chilling at Tex’s place for a birthday party of one of their kids. Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t okay?”
“You were busy.”
When I looked up at her, Zoom frowned at me, glanced toward her office door then back at me.
“We haven’t had time to catch up since I got back.” Zoom sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re a captain and a wife now.” I told her. “I know this friendship is strong. I wasn’t worried.”
Zoom nodded. “But I still feel like I’m so focused on everything else, I’m letting our friendship fall by the wayside.”
“Like I said. If anything was urgent, I would have told you and I know you would have had my back. Stop freaking.”
For a silent moment, she merely stared at me.
Eventually, she smiled and nodded. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
Zoom didn’t look convinced.
“Do you know where Albright is?” She asked.
‘Yeah—a small town just north of here.” I replied. “Why?”
“For years they didn’t have their own fire station.”
“Yeah. They were deemed small enough that they could use the county’s station.” I recalled. “What about them?”
Zoom picked up a piece of paper from her desk.
“There was a fire a year ago that killed an elderly couple.” Zoom explained.
“A year ago?”
“Politics.” Zoom offered a one shoulder shrug. “Things usually take a while but with changes at the governmental level—well.”
I nodded, understanding what she meant to say without her having to.
“Anyway, during that fire, the county’s engine didn’t get there in time.” Zoom exhaled as if she’d been holding her breath. “It was during rush hour. Traffic was a disaster—being two lanes in, there wasn’t much places people could pull over for the truck—you know how that is.”
Once again, I nodded.
Even in wide open spaces, people just refused to give way to a truck with the siren blaring.
Either way, we tend to be late.
“It’s a twenty-minute drive going in hot.” Zoom continued. “The people are angry still.”
“That’s understandable. What does it have to do with us?”
“The mayor managed to talk the powers that be into installing a station there.” Zoom replied. “They’re looking for some help.”
“You’re transferring me?” I tilted my head.
“Trucker—”
“To some ass-backward town?” I paused. “Don’t I get a say in any of this. You couldn’t have even put me in a place in the city—you’re kicking me to—I’ll quit.”
“Calm down.” Zoom shook her head while holding up her palms. “No one is transferring anywhere. And you’re not quitting.”
“I don’t wan a transfer.” I told her defiantly. “And since that’s not your call, I’ll walk away.”
“Trucker—”
She handed me the paper.
“They’re looking to get a few guys trained to run the place. Your name came across their desks, that’s all.” Zoom explained.
“I’m sorry—what?”
“They want you to train their guys.” Zoom pointed. “With your military firefighting background, plus your work here. They think you’re the perfect person for this and I think so too. I wouldn’t agree to a transfer of the people who’ve been here for ages—transferring you—unless you want—”
“I don’t.”
“Come on, Trucker.” Zoom eyed me seriously. “If this was a transfer, it could be a good new start. A fast track to running your own house—”
“Without asking me what I want?”
She hung her head.
“Bottom line is, I’m not transferring you.” Zoom told me. “And I would never make that decision without speaking with you and the people around us about it. You’re the heart of this crew.”
I scoffed.
“I’m not the best person for this.” I looked up at her. “They’re far more experienced people.”
“But they requested you.” Zoom explained.
“Why?”
“Despite what you think, Trucker, you’re a good firefighter.” Zoom leaned forward.
It was hard to not notice the rock on her ring finger.
Kaos had gone all out, but it wasn’t a diamond like most women would want. Zoom had never cared for material things—probably the only reason why she was even wearing a ring was because Kaos liked looking over and seeing it on her finger—a ring he’d placed there.
I blinked at her.
“One of the best.” Zoom was going on. “You’re the only one I want at my back when I run into those fires.”
“You’re my best friend.” I arched a brow. “You have to say that.”
“You know better.” Zoom sighed. “Think about it, huh? You’ll get a chance to be away from the city for a while. Use it as a reset.”
Nodding, I sighed.
The truth as, the city had been getting on my nerves lately.
It’d been a while since I’d gone on any real vacation.
Sure, I took time off, but I used it to sleep in, work out and laze around. But this break would give me a chance to exhale—somewhat—get some fresh air.
“I’ll go.” I told her.
“You sure you don’t need more time to think about it?” Zoom wanted to know. “I mean, I just dropped it on you. And to be honest, it’s kinda heavy.”
“I’m sure.” I replied. “I’ve been feeling lost lately. Maybe this will give me a chance to get some clarity.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Between work, the wedding, the honeymoon, getting used to being mother to a teenage girl—my shit didn’t seem as important.”
Zoom climbed from where she’d been sitting to flopped beside me. She said nothing but took one of my hands in hers.
“What can I do?”
Smiling, I leaned in to kiss her head.
“It’s fine.” I assured her. “Sometimes you just feel down and just need a little pick-me-up. Moose calls it the burnout and honestly, I feel burnt out.”
“There’s always something to be done—what do you think you need?”
For a moment, I thought about her question. But as much as I desperately needed something, no solution came to me.
I shrugged.
“That’s not an answer.” Zoom told me.
“And I’m aware.” I lifted my eyes to her. “If I had the answers to this, I wouldn’t feel like shit. I figured I need a vacation but—”
I lifted the papers at her then dropped them in my lap.
“You can do this after a little break.”
“Zoom, you and I both know that time is of the essence with these things.” I pointed out. “These people have been waiting for a house for god knows how long. Anything can happen between now, my mental breakdown and this.”
“It’s not a—”
“Let me do this training thing—when it’s over, I’ll come back your same, loveable asshole.”
Zoom laughed out loud and squeezed my hand before hugging me tightly.
“I know my life gets crazy.” Zoom told me as we released each other. “But sometimes you’re going to have to just barge in and tell me to stop and pay attention to you.”
“You know me better than that.”
“That’s why I’m telling you.” Zoom tapped the tip of my nose with a gentle finger. “I get too focused on things sometimes—other things pass me by. Kaos hates it when that happens. But he’s learned that sometimes he just has to put a hand on my shoulder and—”
“I’m sure it isn’t your shoulder he puts a hand on.” I muttered.
She went silent.
I looked up to find her blushing and pressing her palms to her cheeks.
“So, when do I get exiled?” I changed the subject.
“Don’t be dramatic.” She smacked my shoulder.
I blinked at her.
“You’re not being exiled,” she said. “You can come back any time you want. And this is your home.”
“Then I’ll be disappointing more people. No thanks.”
I crinkled my nose at her, looked down at the paperwork again, then sighed.
It took me a little time to get over the idea of leaving to train others. I never once thought of myself as a teacher in anything. Over the years I rose through the ranks, but it never occurred to me I’d be good enough for anything but the grunt work.
Even as I sat in the changing room that night, lacing up my boots, leaving sat heavily on my shoulders.
This is your home.
Maybe that was the issue.
“Hey, I was looking for you.” Kaos’ voice was baritone yet light from the door.
Glancing up, I smiled
“What are you doing here?” I asked, walking over to bump fists with him before a hug.
“Here to see my girl.” Kaos replied, leaning against the wall. “Brought her some food and a few kisses—you alright?”
I nodded.
“Have a lot on my mind lately.” I admitted to him. “But enough about me—it’s all very depressing.”
As the day progressed, Zoom worked on getting me the information I needed.
Strange, because I found myself asking a ton of questions about everything. When I thought back to it all, there weren’t many answers and for the most part I was still questioning things.
But like a good little soldier, I had to do what I had to do.
It turned out I would be staying with one of the town’s folks as the town was so small, it didn’t even have a boarding house. If I’d stayed in the county next door, the commute would be hell. During the summer, motorists used the town as a shortcut to get back to the city.
And with only a two lane road, traffic became somewhat of an issue.
I rolled my eyes.
I wasn’t a fan of staying at someone’s home, a stranger. It especially didn’t sit well with me when I found out my host would be a woman.
Still, I spent the next few days gathering all the resources I was told they didn’t have and had them shipped to the station in Albright.
I had room for some stuff in my truck but not all of it.
The night before leaving, Zoom and the others got together and surprised me with a party. I was fine leaving without any big deal being made about it.
I’d been so busy, I hadn’t suspected a thing.
“Be safe, Uncle Mayson.” Lena told me before kissing my cheek and hugging me.
“You’re coming back, right?” Bishop asked, leaning in.
“Yeah—it’s just training.” I scoffed. “As usual, Zoom is making a mountain out of a mole hill.”
Bishop scrunched his nose after a hug. “And Lena.”
“Small towns creep me out.” Lena pressed her face to his neck making us laugh. “I mean—all those scary movie plots? There has to be some truth in them, right? That can’t all be fiction.”
I smiled and shook my head.
I couldn’t explain to anyone how desperately I adored this child.
Though I sat through the gathering, I wasn’t feeling it. That worried me because parties used to be my thing.
But the older I became, the less I wanted to be in crowds.
The more time passed, the more I felt out of place in a group of people I should be comfortable around. It’d been a worsening sensation, and I wasn’t sure what to do about it.
I wasn’t sure what it all meant and if I was to be honest, I’d admit it worried me.