Chapter 51
Nick
Apparently, Tristan and I don’t have to worry about making a scene by showing up to the birthday party holding hands, because Vinnie has shown up with a date.
A male date.
And I’m fucking proud of him.
No one makes a scene about it when Vinnie casually introduces John Michael as “the guy I’ve been seeing,” and no one asks him invasive questions about his sexuality.
John Michael seems a little unnerved to be around everyone, but Tristan, especially, does a good job of making him feel welcome—they’re the closest in age, with John Michael being in his mid twenties, ten or so years younger than Vinnie.
Captain Hyun’s birthday party is a casual affair.
Food is potluck-style; eat when you want.
Yard games are set up out back. There’s a small bar with drinks.
Music plays from a stereo in the house. Tristan and I stick together with Vinnie and John Michael.
Vinnie seems a little nervous about what others might say to him, but he quickly gains his confidence.
At one point, he leans over to me and whispers, “You know, I suspected that there was something between you and Tristan. How long have you been going out?”
“We’ve been… seeing each other for a while, pretty much since he started at the station,” I admit. “But we haven’t labeled it, or anything. Taking things slow.”
I don’t know if “slow” is the right word, but I don’t feel like getting into all the details, and Vinnie seems to respect that.
“I think they’re cute together,” Tristan says when Vinnie and John Michael peel themselves away from our sides to go talk to Mila and her wife.
(Mila, who gave me plenty of shit when she realized that “the teacher from Abbie’s school” I had a crush on was actually Tristan. Oops. Forgot about that lie.)
“They really are.” I chuckle. “I’m surprised, I never would’ve thought Vinnie was queer.”
“I’m happy for him.”
“Oh, me too. I think it’s great that he’s still able to figure things out, even in his thirties.”
“It’s good to know we don’t have to have everything figured out when we’re younger,” Tristan murmurs.
I wonder what he’s thinking, but I don’t press him to tell me what’s on his mind.
I don’t have the time to do so, anyway, because Elena Andreyevna, the Battalion Chief who oversees Station 27, marches over to us. I have a lot of respect for Andreyevna. She worked as a firefighter for years and served as captain of a busy, efficient station before becoming Battalion Chief.
“Nick, Tristan,” she says, and shakes our hands. “Good to see you.”
“You too,” I say.
I’m not surprised she knows Tristan by name. Even though he’s still relatively new to the department, he’s been a great addition, and he’s done a great job so far at work.
“I’ve been seeing great work at Station 27,” Andreyevna says. “I’m impressed.”
“I joined a good team,” Tristan says.
When Andreyevna approached, he moved slightly away from me so that we’re no longer touching.
While Andreyevna is a friend, someone that I trust, I’m not sure how good it would appear if we were obviously all over each other.
There’s no hard and fast rule against Tristan and me being together, and we’re not even dating.
Still, Andreyevna is a professional, and I don’t want her to think there’s some conflict of interest with Tristan and me working together.
“You know, Nick,” Andreyevna says, eyeing me appreciatively, “there might be some job openings in the higher ranks of the department. You’ve been with us for five years now, and it might be time for you to think about having some of those conversations.”
“Really?” I say.
Of all the things I thought Andreyevna might be coming over here to talk about, it wasn’t this. My mind races for a long second, computing everything that could mean. A higher-ranking job would mean higher pay and potentially no overnight shifts. I could be home with Abigail every night.
“Really. You should think about it.”
Captain Hyun approaches. “You trying to poach my firefighters from me? I’m not done with them yet.”
“Happy birthday, Liza,” Andreyevna says, hugging Captain Hyun. “I’m just telling Nick that there might be some positions opening up, and he should consider them.”
Captain Hyun claps me on the shoulder. “See, you’re poaching him from me. I have grand plans for this guy. He’s gonna take over from me if I ever retire.”
“You, retire?” Andreyevna says, laughing. “I always thought you’d be fighting fires until you’re using a walker.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
Andreyevna excuses herself after some more small talk, and then Captain Hyun turns to Tristan and me.
“I’m glad you could make it,” she says.
“You have a beautiful house,” Tristan says.
“Thank you.” Her voice is warm, but I sense a layer of seriousness beneath it.
“I’ll show you the back patio,” she suggests. Yep. Something serious.
The back patio is quieter than inside the house. Not as many people are out here.
Captain Hyun faces us, and I shift uncomfortably.
“So,” she says, wearing a small smile and glancing between Tristan and me. “Anything I need to know?”
Department rules don’t prohibit a relationship between firefighters of the same rank at a station. Still, they do say that said relationship needs to be disclosed, and cannot interfere with any chain of command.
Even though I’ve been with the department for years longer than Tristan, and he’s technically still a probie, I don’t have any evaluative command over him, so I’m pretty sure we’re good.
Beside me, Tristan swallows so aggressively I can almost hear the gulp.
“You’re not in trouble,” Captain Hyun says gently. “And I do not want details. I need to know, well, if there’s something I need to know.”
I glance at Tristan. He glances at me. A silent exchange passes between us. Is there something she needs to know?
Yes.
I nod at Hyun. “Tristan and I are… exercising the freedom of two consenting adults.”
“Oh, god,” Tristan says.
“Freely and safely and responsibly,” I continue, “and in ways that will not interfere with our work at the station.”
“Okay,” Hyun says. “That’s all I needed to know.” She nods at me. “This will not impact any of your anecdotal evaluation of Tristan’s performance as a probie, right?”
“That’s right, Captain.”
I haven’t been formally evaluating Tristan to begin with, so it wasn’t much of a concern of mine, but I’m glad that Captain Hyun is covering all of our bases.
“You’ll have to sign a relationship acknowledgment form of some sort,” Hyun continues. “Just a formality, to satisfy HR. We can handle that when we’re back at work.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Tristan says.
“Thanks for being here, again,” she says, smiling. “I didn’t want to spring this on you at work.”
“Wait,” I say, “you already knew before we came here together?”
“Nick, honey, I’m not blind.”
When she walks away, Tristan takes my hand. “So,” he says wryly, “does that mean we’re dating?”
I laugh. “According to the department, I guess so.”
“Do you think the paperwork will have an option for ‘consensually and consistently engaging in BDSM activities?”
“Yeah, right after ‘engaged.’”
He snorts. “I was about to shit myself when she asked us about it, to be honest.”
“Wouldn’t have known.”
He smiles up at me. “You know what I want right now?”
I pull him close. “What’s that?”
“For you to fuck me until I can’t walk.”