3. Tucker
Tucker
Walking into the gym, I’m immediately comforted by the sounds of the exercise machines and people talking. I went on another abysmal date last night and I’ve been itching to come in here and tune out the chatter in my mind.
All I think about after a terrible date, like the one I had with Allegra yesterday evening, is Baylee. I compare how much better it would’ve been had I gotten to sit across from Baylee in that bar instead.
Then my anger gets to an all-time high when I think about Rios and how I want to pull his head out of his ass for not seeing how miserable his sister is in her current relationship.
After my horrible date, my mood was made worse when I saw yet another picture of Baylee, all prim and proper, at a party with her fucknut boyfriend.
He looked like the smug bastard he is, his hand possessively on her side, while she had that strained smile, her clothes once again conservative.
Her hair pulled tight in a ponytail, not one hair out of place, no loose tendrils like she used to wear when she studied at the kitchen table back home.
No semblance of the person I knew so well.
Then my mind went to the fact she would be happier with me .
Pushing the door open to the weight-room area and grabbing a towel, I walk toward the benches, grabbing the weights I need to start my workout routine. I put my headphones on, and lose myself in the music.
After nearly an hour, I’ve punished my body enough with the weight workout I’ve put myself through, so I decide to finish off on the treadmill. I warmed up on the way over with a light jog from my place, so a walk on the machine will help bring my heart rate down before I head back home.
I’m a few minutes in when someone comes to stand next to me and taps my arm, I look over to find Kennedy and River.
Pulling my headphones off, I greet them, “Hey, didn’t expect to find you both here.”
“We just got here...” Kennedy begins.
“You just get here?” River asks me.
“Just finishing,” I say.
“Dang, I could use someone to spot me,” he says.
“Why don’t you call Clay?” I ask in return.
“He’s wiped, Ella kept him up last night. I called on my way over and he was going to stay home and maybe workout later,” he says.
I look down at my watch. “I can spot you for a bit then I’ll have to head home and get ready to help my mom before taking her to her appointment.”
“Perfect. Let me warm up,” River says, kissing Kennedy on the cheek.
She rolls her eyes, then hops on the machine next to me, pushing the buttons and starting a brisk walk of her own.
“So, how are things going? You liking the gym so far?” she asks me.
“Yeah. Thanks again for hooking me up with this spot. It’s a perfect distance from my place.”
“Of course. Jerry owed me a favor. I’m glad he extended that family discount to you.” She winks at me .
Kennedy scared me when I first met her. Her confidence is quite intimidating, even for me. She still has her moments, and when I see her interacting with River, I see why they compliment each other. They push each other’s buttons perfectly.
“How’s the team coming along this year? I watched the game last night. It was close,” I tell her.
“They’re going to give me an ulcer,” she breathes out. “But I love the thrill.” She smiles.
She’s the CEO of the Boston Gaels baseball team, and she’s in the thick of the season.
I’m amazed she has time to be at the gym right now, although there’s no game tonight.
She probably needed a moment away from the office.
Or River told her to take a break from her desk and all the emails she has to send.
“I heard you were on a date last night.” She wiggles her brows.
“How did you know—” I question then realize, “Abby told you.”
“Yep. She also said you’re wasting your time on the wrong girl.”
“Of course she did. She’s wasting her time talking about that. I’m not going to chase that girl.” I press the button to increase my speed. My light walk forgotten, and a jog now needed.
“Sorry, but Abby’s right on this, Malloy.
You’re just wasting time. I think the perfect girl is right under your nose and you’re being stubborn.
” She looks over her shoulder, then brings her gaze back to me.
“I know you care about Rios, but he needs to stop being such a baby about this and realize that you’re good for his sister.
If he cared about you, he’d realize you’re what’s best for her too. ”
“His sister is with someone else. Why doesn’t anyone realize this?” I say, a little more clipped than I had wanted to be .
“Hey, I’m on your side here,” she says, putting her hands up, “but you’re my friend. I want you to be happy.”
“Why does everyone think I’m miserable?” Fuck. Do I look like a sad puppy or something?
Kennedy stops the treadmill. She stares at me until I do the same. See, she’s fucking intimidating. She’s giving me those god damn scary eyes that make me want to cower in a corner.
“Malloy, you and I both know I won’t beat around the bush.
You’re being stupid with all this. I’m not going to sit here and act like I need to hold your hand.
You’re a grown man. Fuck, you’re older than me.
So, you do you. I’m going to say this once—I hate repeating myself—either you go chase the girl or deal with the consequences.
Make the decision now though. If you never tell her how you feel, you can’t be sad that she ended up with someone else.
Do you understand that? If you don’t go after her, you may not be the man she stands next to forever.
And, if that’s the case, you need to move the hell on. Understood?”
I nod, because what the fuck else am I going to say?
“Good. Now go spot River because I don’t need him breaking a nail and crying about it later. He gets very needy,” she says then goes back to her machine, this time bringing the speed up to a higher-paced jog.
Now that was Marissa energy.
I’ve been excused by “CEO Kennedy,” who I know commands the room.
She takes no shit and I know she’s right about Baylee.
I need to start being more receptive to these dates and being a little more aware of the fact that Baylee has moved on.
I need to do the same. I’ve made my choice to smooth things over with Rios and let Baylee live her life in Connecticut.
She’s with that boyfriend who has pulled the life out of her eyes, and that’s her choice. This life I’m living is my choice.
I move over to River, finding him on the rower, he slows down when he sees me. He juts his chin, ready to start his weights. The minute we start his workout, I decide to let go the final strings of Baylee in my mind. I can't keep living my life with her in my heart when she let me go long ago.
A few days have passed since my talk with Kennedy, and it’s my shift at the firehouse.
River and Clay have reunited and the smile on River’s face is infectious.
The twins feed off each other. River is more of the clown between the two, louder and more inappropriate.
But from the stories I’ve heard, both were rambunctious as kids.
Having both in the same station is an interesting dynamic, to say the least.
The moment I walk in, I hear the laughter in the kitchen.
I know River is up to something, or most likely a bet of some sort is transpiring.
The Nichols brothers are always wagering on something.
Hell, I’m guilty of it, even outside of the firehouse.
I’ll now bet things with my mom and Eric whenever I can.
I walk in and my attention is pulled by both River and Clay.
“Malloy, please tell me you haven’t watched all of the latest season of Love is Blind ?” River pleads.
Clay looks over, a smile sliding across his face. He knows I have because I binge watch it at his place with Abby every single time it releases. It’s ritualistic at this point. We don’t miss any episodes together.
I decide to play it cool. “Um, what season is it again?”
“Ugh. The one with Derek and Shawna. The chemistry is unreal,” he says.
“I haven’t, no,” I say, scratching my beard.
Fucking right I’ve watched it. Those two were off the charts with chemistry.
It was surprising they had the ability to keep the show going the entire season, it was pretty obvious they were getting married.
But, they managed to keep us hooked. If they didn’t end up together, I would’ve been pissed.
Abby and I stayed up until the late hours to finish the season. We were committed to see it through.
“I need to make a bet those two don’t last six months,” River declares.
“Oh, you’re on,” I pull my wallet out and slap money down. Clay gives me a knowing look, my eager bet proving I’ve seen the season.
Everyone starts chiming in. The guys start yelling about the couple, passionate about the two in the relationship. We all have sides, Clay siding with me, pushing his brother’s buttons just as much as me. Soon we’re shouting about how we want to see their happily ever after written in the stars.
We hear a throat clear, and we look over to find our captain standing at the opening of the kitchen and sitting area next to another firefighter we don’t recognize.
We stand straighter, ashamed that we were just passionately arguing about a reality TV couple.
Not only that, we were putting bets on their future outcome like we knew them personally. It’s embarrassing.
“Gentlemen, I would like you to meet our new probie, Tyler Hunter.” Our captain brings his hand to the newcomer’s shoulder.
It’ll be good to have someone new and I won’t be the new guy anymore.
Although I wasn’t technically a probie, I was still new to the station.
Plus, with the tension bubbling with Rios, it made for some discomfort nonetheless.
Not to mention my beard. The captain hates it, but it meets regulations; I’m always able to form a tight seal on fit tests.
Having someone else to divert his attention will be a welcome change.
We walk over to introduce ourselves and the moment I lock eyes with our newest member to Station 10, I realize he looks familiar. I’ve seen him before. For a few beats, I can’t pinpoint where, but then it clicks.
Abby showed me his photo, although he was shirtless and his tattoos were on display last time I saw him, his face is hard to forget.
She’s going to shit a brick. Maybe I shouldn’t warn her, especially because Clay will be none too happy to know his ex-wife-now-girlfriend-soon-to-be-fiancée has been drooling over the new probie on the internet.
I put my hand out. “Nice to meet you, Hunter. Or should I call you Huntsamillion ?”
“Oh, you’re a fan.” He chuckles, not even bothered that I recognize him from his social media profile.
“What’s he talking about?” River latches on to this tidbit immediately. Of course he does.
“Our newest member is an international sensation,” I say. I can’t help it. This is too good to be true. I guess in a city full of people, I did find Abby’s little crush.
“Yeah, I’ve been outed.” Hunter runs his hands through his hair, his smile easygoing, although a blush does creep onto his cheeks. River is going to eat this shit up.
“I run a little social media account. It’s gained traction through the last couple years. I was in the military and in that time I was using it as a way to connect so I used to post videos. I guess it took off,” Hunter explains, shrugging.
“So, what? You’re like famous?” Clay asks.
“Do you mind if I take a quick selfie with you to send to a friend? She’s going to freak,” I say.
“No problem,” Hunter says.
I snap a quick picture and begin typing out my message to Abby. I’m about to send it when Clay starts to piece things together.
“She? Who are you sending that to? Who’s your friend, Malloy? How did you know about Hunter?” Clay’s no fool.
I just smile at him and Clay starts to look over at our newest probie.
“Oh, come on. Really? Abby follows this guy on social media?” Clay asks.
River starts laughing. “Don’t worry, Clay. She still loves you. She has our Ella with you.” That earns River an elbow to the gut, yet he still laughs.
River points to our newest recruit. “I like you already, probie. You’re pissing my brother off and you’ve been here five minutes. This’ll be fun. Ten bucks says Abby will be here by lunch to see you in person.”
That has us all laughing, and I have no doubt River will be richer by the end of shift.