Chapter 7
7
SUMMER
I moved to the front of the line in Taste of Destiny and greeted Eden, the young woman behind the counter, with a smile.Hopefully, she could help me make up for putting my foot in my mouth last night.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
“A box of assorted bakery items, please,” I said. “Perhaps some slices, some donuts, and cookies.”
“Sure thing,” she replied. “How many, and what’s the occasion?”
“Let’s say ten.” I wasn’t certain how many people would be at the station. Most likely, at least four in the fire crew, plus two paramedics, and the captain, but there might be a few others hanging around too. “It’s for the fire station.”
Eden winced. “I heard about the accident yesterday. Let me give you the local hero discount.”
“There’s no need for that,” I protested. I could afford to pay the full cost. The veterinary practice did well, and I was entitled to fifty percent of our profits in addition to my salary, so while I wasn’t rich, I was never short of cash when I needed it.
“I insist.” Eden took my payment, grabbed a box from beneath the counter and filled it with treats. When it was full, she closed the lid and passed it to me. “Tell them thank you for what they do, from all of us here.”
“I will.” I took the box and carried it down a couple of blocks to the turn off to the fire station. The morning was still dim, and as I left the sidewalk and moved onto the grass, it crunched beneath my feet, stiff with frost.
The doors into the fire station were all closed, but the main entrance opened when I pushed it. I made my way along the corridor and into the staff room. The bitter scent of coffee permeated the air, and several empty cups showed that many of the people on duty had already enjoyed their first coffee of the day.
“Morning, Summer,” Liam called from a sofa in the corner.
Darcy, who was sprawled beside him, tipped his chin at me. “Hey.”
Asher and Maia, who were both in the connected kitchen area, nodded in greeting.
I put the box on the center of the table. “I come with goodies.”
Darcy immediately perked up. “What have you got?”
“A selection from Taste of Destiny.” I opened the box. “For you guys from me and Eden. I know you lost someone yesterday, and we wanted to remind you that the community appreciates everything you do.”
Liam rose from the sofa, walked straight over and hugged me. “Thanks for being sweet.”
“No problem.” I hugged him back and pulled away.
Maia, a tall, lean Māori woman, squeezed my shoulder. “Thanks, Summer. Those callouts are always hard.”
“I can’t even imagine.” I moved aside so they could help themselves.
Liam chose a muffin while Maia grabbed a chocolate caramel slice. I watched her delicately break off a piece from the end and nibble on it. Back when she’d started working with Asher, I’d been jealous of her, but I’d quickly realized there was nothing between them.Now, she was married with a kid, and I found myself jealous of her in a whole other way.
I wanted that. But I wanted it with Asher, and he’d made his position clear.
I checked the time. “I’d better get to work. I have patients arriving soon.”
“Let me walk you out,” Asher said.
I hesitated, but he hadn’t tried to raise the subject of our dates last night, so hopefully he wouldn’t now.
“Okay, thanks.”
He grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and brought it with him as he followed me out of the staff room. I glanced at him while we walked down the corridor. His eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed. Dark circles marred the skin beneath them, and the lines on his forehead were more pronounced than usual.
He looked tired.
No, more than that: He seemed weary on a bone-deep level.
But after telling him he looked like crap last night, I could hardly double down on that this morning.
“Thanks for the treats from Taste of Destiny,” Asher said as we exited the building. “It means a lot to the guys. Calls like the one yesterday are never easy.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know how to help in a more meaningful way, so it seemed like the least I could do.”
He smiled tightly. “You’ve always got to help, don’t you?”
Why did he make that sound like a bad thing?
“I try.”
He shook his head, then dragged his fingers through his hair. “Anyway, thanks. And, uh, about the other night… I’m sorry if my being there made your date un—”
“It’s fine,” I interrupted, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Apparently, I hadn’t escaped the awkward conversation after all. “You’re allowed to date whomever and whenever you like.”
If I had to listen to him reference my feelings for him, I might go up in flames.
“But if—”
“Seriously, Ash.”
“I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” He looked so adorably uncertain that I didn’t point out how he was doing exactly that, right this instant.
Instead, I forced a laugh. “I had an adolescent crush on you almost ten years ago. I’m over it. The other night was just too weird for my liking.”
His lips formed a thin line. “Right. I guess if you’re sure?”
“I am. I moved on from that stupid crush on you ages ago.”
And I was a lying liar who lied.