Chapter 29
Tristan
Good. That’s what Nick said after I told him I wanted to try things with him.
Good.
And that’s it.
Nothing else.
No suggestions about what we do next. No blueprint of how this is going to work.
Just good.
When I get to work the next day, I’m all twisty with nerves.
Do I acknowledge that we texted about it? Do I pretend that everything is the same?
When really, everything has changed.
Nick is cleaning the ambulance when I arrive, and he gives me a cool, knowing smile.
“Morning,” he says.
Who knew that such a simple greeting could be so tantalizing?
“Good morning,” I whisper.
He raises a coy eyebrow. “You okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.”
“Fine,” I stammer.
His smile widens. “Cap wants to see you, by the way.”
I am immediately nervous. “What did I do?”
He winks. “Don’t worry. She wants to check in about your progress. Normal probie stuff. You’re doing great.”
“Where is she? Her office?”
He nods.
I find Captain Hyun in her office, glaring at her desktop computer.
“Come in, Tristan. Do you know how to work these things?”
“Computers?”
“Yeah. You’re Gen Z, right?”
“More or less.”
She spins the computer so I can see it. “Help.”
I squint at the screen. “What’s wrong?”
“Beats me.”
“What are you trying to do?”
“Print double-sided.”
“Ah.” I point at the screen. “You can just press this button here.”
She looks relieved, and a little embarrassed.
“Why do these things have to be so goddamn complicated? You probably don’t think they’re complicated. You’re young and lucky like that.”
“I don’t know if young equals lucky, but I’ll take it. You wanted to see me?”
“I did. Please, sit. I just wanted to check in with how you’ve been doing this first month. I’ve been very impressed, and you’ve been a huge asset to the crew.”
“Thank you!”
“How has it been working with Nick?”
Am I blushing? I hope I’m not blushing.
“Fine. He’s a good paramedic.”
“He really is. Has he said anything about Toni?”
“Not really, but I also haven’t asked.”
“She’s who you replaced. She was a great paramedic and was also a real asset to our team. Nick has told me that he’s also been very impressed with your performance, and that he thinks you’ll have no problem passing your probationary training.”
The praise, even secondhand, makes my cheeks warm.
“I think you’ll be good for Nick,” Captain Hyun continues.
I cock my head. “What do you mean?”
She sighs. “He can be a little uptight sometimes. Don’t tell him I said that—it’ll embarrass him. Toni didn’t help. She was all business. I think you might inspire Nick to loosen up a little.”
“If anything, he’s inspired me to loosen up a little.”
“Really?” She seems surprised.
“I mean, yeah. I freaked out after my first call, and he calmed me down.”
She nods gravely. “The car accident. I’m sorry that was your first call.”
I look down. “I was an ER nurse. I’m used to it.”
She smiles. “I know. But it can still be difficult.”
“I—”
The tones cut me off. Captain Hyun jumps to her feet as the dispatcher starts reciting the emergency: elevator entrapment. A local hotel, the Hotel Frost.
“That’s us,” Captain Hyun says. “You ready?”
“Always.”
“That’s the spirit. Let’s go.”
? ? ?
Elevator entrapments aren’t the worst calls to respond to. As long as you can pry the doors open and access the car from there, it’s pretty simple.
Once we get to Hotel Frost, we move methodically and carefully. Charlie and Vinnie handle the business about getting the doors open, Mila monitors the elevator’s mechanisms, and Nick and I are on standby, ready to provide medical care if necessary.
He stands very close to me. Our shoulders don’t quite touch, but it’s close.
Then, he leans closer to me and whispers, without moving his lips, “What are you thinking about right now?”
Charlie and Vinnie grunt as they reach into the elevator to help out the businessman who’s trapped inside.
“Mostly about the call,” I whisper back.
I don’t look at Nick. I don’t trust myself to look.
“Interesting. Know what I’m thinking about?”
I shiver. “What?”
“That message you sent me.”
Breathe, Tristan, breathe. Remember how to do that? In. Out. In. Out. It’s very simple and necessary to stay alive.
“Oh.”
“Mmhmm. And, you know what else?”
My mouth is very dry. “What else?”
He smiles devilishly. “I’m thinking about everything I want to do, now that you’ve agreed to try with me.”
Be still, my beating member.
“Like what?”
His grin widens. “Oh, I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
He focuses on the gasping businessman now lying on his back outside the elevator.
“You okay, sir?” Nick asks, instantly switching from “seductive dom” to “professional firefighter-paramedic.”
I’m impressed.
And horny.
The man offers a wobbly thumbs-up.
“Need anything?” Nick asks, dropping into a crouch.
“Do you have a Xanax?” the man asks desperately.
Nick stands, smiles at me.
“I think he’s good,” he whispers. “Let’s go.”