Chapter 7 Mayson “Trucker” Calhoune
MAYSON “TRUCKER” CALHOUNE
“You have to get the basics.” I called to the cadets. “Afterward, you will all have my contact if you need anything else from me.”
For a moment, I glanced around.
“Even at my age and level, I’m still learning. Your training never stops.” I continued. “There is always more to learn, new skills, new findings, new technology. If that’s not something you’re open to, you shouldn’t be here.”
“Yes, Sir!” They chorused.
“Stop that.” I flushed. “Take tomorrow off for a long weekend to rest. I can see that your bodies need the break.”
“We can do this.” Andi called.
“I know.” I told them. “But it’s not a shame to ask for some time off—to take that time off. Your team will suffer if you don’t take care of yourselves. Trust me, your team will be stronger for it.”
Though they looked sad, they nodded.
After dismissing the cadets for the day, I watched them go. Their heads were down their shoulders were hunched as if they were carrying the world.
Still, I was proud of them.
They were exhausted but all through that, I saw how hard they worked. I saw it in their eyes every day they came in and geared up.
They were fighting more for this town, ignoring their pain and pushing through.
They were soaking in what I was teaching them. They needed all the practical knowledge they could get to ensure their team went home intact at the end of the day.
It was never easy having to haul someone you cared about out of a fire. It was especially worse losing someone on a call. I wanted to protect them from all of that—though death in our line of business wasn’t an if.
It was a when.
I needed them to be prepared for those moments too.
But I knew—deep down—I knew I couldn’t save them from it all—the nightmares, the burnout, the stress.
This job was going to kill some of them—literally.
But it was the risk we took.
The risks we accepted.
Even though it breaks my heart, they needed to understand that too.
Usually, they would clean up after themselves. But I had nothing else doing and after the week they’d had, I set to work.
After cleaning up as best I could, I locked up and left the firehouse.
Remembering that I’d promised Taji to bring dinner home, the only place I could find was the diner. When I entered, everyone turned to stare.
Ignoring them, I sat on one of the stools by the bar and the creepy woman who’d insisted I take her number walked over with a menu.
The name tag on her chest said her name was Esther—fitting, I suppose.
It was as if she hadn’t gotten the picture from before, because she ensured that her fingers brushed mine when she handed me the menu.
“You’re telling me that out of all the women in the town, you chose that one?” She asked. “Out of all the women here, throwing themselves at you.”
“I beg your pardon?” I glared at her.
“She’s unclean, you know?” Esther asked. “No good.”
I looked up.
“Why do you think she lives all the way out there?” Esther pushed. “And why do you think she volunteered to host you? No man in this town will touch her.”
I scoffed. “You’re assuming she wants the men in this town to touch her. Now, if you have a problem minding your business, I’d like another waitress, please.”
She frowned and walked away.
Another waitress hurried over and took my order.
Due to the size, I had to wait a few extra minutes. I ensured I was very sweet to her, gave her a large tip then was on my way.
Esther’s words were rolling around in my head.
She’s unclean, you know?
What did that even mean?
Was this town always like this to her?
Had she stayed because of her loyalty to her grandfather and that land?
There was no smoke without fire—and even if fire yet, there would soon be a spark and she would suffer.
Frowning, I parked next to her car and carried things into the house.
I found her asleep on the sofa.
Instead of waking her, I put the food in the kitchen then carried my dirty clothes up the stairs. I showered then reported back to the living room where I woke her by gently shaking her.
“You’re back.” Taji rubbed her eyes. “You look tired—are you sure—”
“Hungry? I brought dinner as promised.”
Though I was curious about what she’d been going though with the people of this town, I didn’t ask. If they found the need to warn him off her, and talk behind her back, it couldn’t be anything good.
Talking about it could open old wounds—hurt her.
For the moment, I swallowed my curiosities.
Helping her off the sofa, she set the table while I unboxed the food I’d bought.
Since I wasn’t sure what she liked, I ensured there was pasta, chicken wings, a side of ribs and French fries. She was seated at the table while I carried two glasses with ice and two cans of cola back to the table.
“This all smells so good.” Taji inhaled while dishing herself a plate. “There is this Italian restaurant just north of here—the best thing you’ll ever put in your mouth will be their shrimp scampi.”
“I can guarantee that’s not the most delicious thing I’d ever put in my mouth.”
She eyed me.
I winked at her.
Her cheeks grew red.
“Are you always like this?” Taji asked.
“No—there’s just something about you.” I shrugged. “Don’t mind me. I figured you wanted me to be honest with you. Lies or pretence take too much energy and I’m fresh out right now.”
“Maybe you should eat then rest.”
“I’m fine.”
Taji stuck a shrimp into her mouth while shaking her head.
“Let me ask you this.” I chewed and swallowed. “Have you never had a man flirt with you before?”
“Do you see where I live?” Taji wanted to know. “There aren’t any worthy men here—hence the vagina train staring at you through a chain link fence at the firehouse.”
I said nothing to that.
Instead, I picked up a French fry and extended it to her. She accepted it with her mouth, blushed then averted her eyes.
“One day you’re going to have to look me in the eyes.” I told her, my voice soft. “It’s sexier when you do.”
“Don’t joke about that.”
“Who’s joking?” I wanted to know. “Like I told you earlier, I love a woman who fights back.”
“Everywhere?”
I tilted my head, confused as to what she meant by that.
“Do you like her fighting back in the office but give you control in the bedroom?”
I hid a smile with my glass as I sipped.
“I like strong women, Taji.” I admitted, shamelessly. “No matter where we are. She must know what she wants, what turns her on.”
“Wow.” She chuckled nervously. “Men never seem to like that. If I say things a certain way, I’m a bitch. If I say no to them, I’m a prude. And don’t get me started on the women.”
I smiled.
“I have my own mind. If you’re a bitch, then that’s what it is. If you’re a prude, that’s none of my business.” I leaned back. “I’m very easy—I thought you would know that by now.”
“Good to know.” She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
After cleaning up for dinner, Taji all but ran away from me. I was pretty sure that had been a very intimate conversation for her.
While I was tempted to go after her, I relegated myself to sitting on the front porch, enjoying the cool night air, staring down at my cell. I had called up Zoom’s number, wanting to talk to her about what was happening between myself and Taji.
Sure, I’d only known her for a short time.
But I wanted her.
And I could keep playing games or be a grown up about things.
I wanted to have her smile at me with fire in her eyes, that body wrapped around me. I wanted to feel her palm against my bare chest as she slept.
I knew, deep down, she was the kind of woman I’d love to have in my arms—the kind of woman who would hold me after a long day.
Weak, I called Zoom.
“Hey, Trucker. What’s good, man?” Kaos answered his wife’s phone.
“It’s all good.” I replied, rising and descending the front steps. “I wanted to talk to Zoom but since I got you, can I ask you something?”
“Sounds serious.”
“It kind of is—but it’s also kind of personal.”
“We’ve been friends long enough now for you to know you can ask me anything.” Kaos replied.
“I—”
I paused because though Kaos and I were friends, he was that friend that I had inherited from Zoom. We were close but this was something else.
“What’s on your mind?” Kaos pushed.
“This is personal—”
Kaos sighed loudly. “You’ve said that already. Spit it out.”
“When you and Zoom started dating—was your attraction for her at first sexual?”
“Well, wasn’t expecting that.” Kaos laughed. “Not at first. We were friends for a while. Then things shifted.”
“Okay—how?”
“When I started looking at her as a woman and not just my best friend—yes. We did best friend things. We talked like best friends.”
“Mm.”
“Then one day, it was more. Then came the sexual attraction that hit me in the chest like a baseball bat. I remember the day I realized what was happening. I couldn’t breathe right for a bit.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah—and that grew into more.”
“More?” I blinked. “Jesus Christ, Kaos! How could you handle more?”
“For her—anything.”
The sound of that made me happy for Zoom.
For years, she believed she wouldn’t be good enough. And that fire that nearly took her life leaving her with scars hadn’t helped the situation or her self-esteem.
Neither of us saw this soldier, brute force of a man coming. Kaos had been a surprise—a very sweet surprise for Zoom.
“So, I’m not a complete dog in wanting this woman before wanting something more?” I finally asked.
“No.” Kaos told me. “The first thing you know about a perspective partner is what they look like. That usually is the thing to draw you in. Then you can learn other things about them. There is no shame in that—have you met someone?”
I continued along one of the lit trails.
“My hostess.”
Kaos chuckled.
“I think I have a crush.”
“That’s a good place to start.” Kaos advised.
“Aren’t I a little too old for those?” I wanted to know. “They’re kinda like pimples—you grow out of them.”
“You’re never too old for pimples.”
“Bite your tongue!” I pressed a hand to my cheek.
Kaos laughed.