Collins
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
I walk out of the bathroom to an empty bed and noises coming from the kitchen. The smell of bacon fills the bedroom.
I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s been three days since I have been staying with Caleb, and even though he doesn’t drive me to work anymore, he still gets up to prepare my lunch bag.
I shake my head as I join him in the kitchen.
The lights are on softly as he zips up the big red bag he bought me the day before.
The old bag wasn’t good enough since it wasn’t insulated, he said.
This bag has a section where I can put an ice pack, so it can keep my fruit cool.
“I made you a breakfast sandwich.” He pushes the plate on the island. “Do you have time to eat it now, or do you have to go?”
I look at my watch. I have about ten minutes before I have to leave. “I have time.” I walk around the island to stand beside him, and he bends his head to kiss me. “Good morning.”
“Morning, baby.” The softness of his voice makes his eyes go a light blue. “Did you sleep well?”
“So good. That bed is like sleeping on a cloud.” I pick up the English muffin, which has a fried egg in the middle, with a slice of cheese and two pieces of bacon.
I take a bite of the sandwich and then look at him.
“I’m going to tell the captain today”—he cocks his hip and leans against the counter—“and then I’ll tell Roman. ”
“Just those two?”
I nod my head. “I’m going to wait another month before I tell everyone.
” I know the minute people start to hear the news, my parents will find out and will come looking for me.
It’s their MO. They steer clear for a while after they steal from me, probably thinking I’ll forget about it.
I take another bite of the sandwich. “But at least the main people will know.”
“That sounds good.”
I finish the sandwich I didn’t know that I was hungry for. He walks me out of the house and down the steps, opening the door to my car for me. “You’ll text me later?” he asks.
“You know I’ll text you when I can. Just like I’ve done the last couple of days when you text me good morning number two.” He laughs, and I kiss his neck. “I have to go.”
“Be safe,” he says as I sit behind the steering wheel. “See you tonight.” He bends to kiss me once more before closing the door.
I make my way to the station, the streets deserted.
At work, I find Scooter making a coffee for himself.
“Hey,” I say quietly, looking around. The other shift sits on the couch watching television on low.
They both lift their hands to say hello to me.
“I was wondering if I could have a minute of your time?” Scooter smiles and nods.
“Privately?” His eyes widen, curiosity in them, as he turns and heads to his office.
I step in, feeling so nervous. I hope I don’t throw up the breakfast sandwich I just ate.
“Everything okay?” he asks, walking around the desk.
“Yes,” I say, “and no.”
“Are you leaving us?” he asks softly, and I shake my head. “Then whatever it is, it’s going to be fine.”
“I hope so,” I say, wringing my fingers together. “I’m pregnant,” I say the two words I’ve only said one other time, and that was to Theo.
The shock registers on his face. “I didn’t know . . .” He trails off, and I smile at him.
“It’s fairly new.”
“Is it Theo?” I’m shocked he knows. “He comes to see you every day,” he points out, chuckling. “People figured out something was up with you two after the fourth time he just dropped by.”
“Yeah.”
“How far along are you?”
“Just over sixteen weeks. I wanted to wait until I was over the twelve-week mark. But then I just kept dragging my feet. Now it’s almost time that I can’t keep it a secret anymore.”
He shakes his head. “I wish you had told me. I would not have approved those extra shifts.”
“I was fine except for that one day,” I start nervously. “If it’s not too much to ask, can we keep this to ourselves until—”
“I won’t say a word.” He smiles at me. “But I would share it with Roman.” He picks up his cup of coffee. “If you need help . . .”
“I will be sharing it with him today.”
“I’ll be keeping an eye on you to make sure you aren’t overdoing it,” he warns in a stern tone. “Just so you know.”
I chuckle. “Noted. I’m going to go and get ready for my shift.” I start to open the door.
“I’m happy for you, Collins,” he states, and the words hit me in the gut. “You are going to be a great mom.”
I smile as the tears form in my eyes and I blink them away. “Thank you.”
I walk out smack into Roman. “You in trouble?” he asks me, his chin motioning to the office door.
“No,” I say, glancing around. “I was just telling him that—” I lean in, and his eyebrows pinch together, probably wondering what the fuck I’m doing. “I’m pregnant.”
“Shut the fuck up.” He laughs. “No way.”
“Way.” I return as we walk toward the locker. “I’m telling you and Captain and, well, I want to wait a bit before I tell everyone else.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” he assures. “This answers why you’ve been eating so much.” I push his shoulder. “You brought seven snacks with you yesterday for one run.” I stop in front of my locker. “You let me know if you need anything, yeah?”
“If you treat me differently, I’m going to hurt you, and you’ll need an ice pack for days.” He cups his junk and turns away.
I have enough time to change and put my lunch bag away before we get our first call. We’re in the middle of breakfast when we get news of a fire, and everyone is out the door.
At the scene, Roman and I wait while the firemen do their thing. A fireman carries out a little girl, and we both spring into action. She’s coughing as Roman places her on the gurney, and I grab the oxygen mask.
“Hey there.” I smile at the girl, who looks scared out of her mind. “Are you hurt anywhere?” She shakes her head side to side. “What’s your name?”
“Amaya,” she says in a small voice. “Where’s my mom?” I look over at the apartment complex, where flames are coming out of the middle-floor windows.
“She’s coming,” I tell her, even though I don’t know. I look up at Roman, who moves out to look for her mother.
Amaya coughs again. “How about we get you some air?” I put the elastic portion of the mask around her head.
“This is going to make you feel better.” I sit beside her.
Her eyes are fixed on the building, then scanning the crowd.
Two more firemen come out, and the rig next to us moves toward them. A woman is in their arms, unconscious.
“Mommy!” Amaya cries, pointing to the woman.
“They’re going to help her,” I assure her as I hold her hand.
It takes a bit, but her mom finally wakes up, and I let out a huge sigh of relief. Amaya is reunited with her mother, and both of them go to the hospital in the other rig.
“We need a medic!” Burke shouts. “Roman, Collins!”
We both run.
“I think I broke my foot,” an older lady says. “I was rushing down the steps, and I twisted it and fell.”
“We’ll take care of you,” Roman tells her, and she smiles at him. When she sees me, a familiar sneer spreads across her lips. I don’t know her, but I know this look all too well. Roman speaks up: “If you don’t treat my partner with respect, I’m not going to be happy.”
“It’s fine,” I mumble as we load her on the gurney. “I’m driving.”
He nods his head, getting in the back of the ambulance with her.
At the hospital, we wait for the triage nurse to take her. “I’ll do the paperwork,” Roman offers, and I wheel our gurney back to the ambulance to disinfect it.
I’m jumping out of the rig when I run smack into my father. “Well, well, well,” he says. “We’ve been looking for you.” He’s wearing a pair of jeans that look like they’ve been washed a month ago and a black T-shirt.
“Yeah? Have you?” I spray down the gurney, not willing to have a confrontation in the middle of the emergency room for everyone to talk about.
“You’re never home.” He snickers, folding his arms over his chest. The hair on the back of my neck stands up. “Who’s the guy?”
“No guy.”
“You know you aren’t supposed to lie to your parents.” He looks around. “Word on the street is you’re dating this guy named Theo.” I avoid looking at him. I want him to know nothing, to keep them as far away from Theo as I possibly can.
“Followed him home the other night.” My head flies up to meet my father’s blue eyes. “He has one of those big houses in that new neighborhood.”
“He’s no one,” I say, checking to make sure no one can hear us. I hate that I’m lying, but I have no choice. I will protect Theo at all costs.
“You sure about that? He was at your house a couple of times in the middle of the night.” I don’t know why I’m surprised he knows this.
“So are you the reason my electricity got cut?”
He shrugs one shoulder. “Maybe, maybe not. What difference does it make?”
“It makes a huge difference,” I hiss at him. “If they think I did it, they’re going to charge me.”
“Oh, please, they can’t do shit. Besides, it looks like this guy can take care of you.”
“Stop following him,” I snap, and he leers at me. “He’s just a friend.”
My father is about to say something else when Roman comes out. “Everything okay here?” He looks at me and then at my father.
“Everything is just peachy,” my father replies. “Paying a visit to my daughter is all.”
“Well, we have to get going,” Roman declares, even though we haven’t gotten a call out yet. He moves with me to get the gurney into the ambulance, and when I look up, my father is gone.
I let out a sigh, but there’s no time for more than that because we get another call.
By the time we pull into the station at the end of our shift, it’s after two-thirty, and I’m ready for a fucking nap.
I undress and grab my lunch box from the fridge, excited to eat the food once I get home. “Thanks for today,” I tell Roman.
“I got your back, Collins,” he assures, and no other words are spoken, because what words can be said to describe my parents?
I walk to my car and am opening the door when I notice the front tire. “What the fuck?” I swear. I look up at the sky and put my hand to my head, fighting off the headache that feels like it’s coming on.
“What’s going on?” I see Hudson coming my way.
“I got a flat,” I tell him.
“You’ve got more than one flat,” he nods to the back tire, then the front. Frowning, he bends down for a closer look. “Collins, someone slashed your tires.”