ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟜𝟡
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"How's that burn gotten?"
Ryan asked, knocking on the door lightly. I was in my office signing off a few paperworks.
I look down at the side of my stomach. It wasn't the biggest worry as of right now, so I didn't really feel anything.
I kept replaying what happened last night.
Why'd she have to leave?
"Hey, Ryan." I smile at him. "It's alright. I mean, I haven't thought about it much, actually."
"Good to hear." He nodded, leaning against the doorframe.
"Oh, by the way- did you hear about that big case Dixie won?"
I turned around again.
"What?"
Ryan pulled out his phone from his side pocket, pressing a few things before flipping the screen.
I saw Dixie and her client in court. Her client was crying, giving her a big hug. This must've been one of those big things she won.
I never thought I'd see her on the news. That was very unlikely.
It was great for her, honestly. It makes me wonder about the other big things she won but never told me about. It was nice of her to tell me about this one.
I looked back at Ryan. "It was a big case?"
"Pretty big, man." He nodded. "How'd you not know?"
The truth was, I did know she won her case considering what she told me yesterday, but that was something normal for her.
I glanced at the phone again.
She looked really happy. I hadn't seen that expression on her face in a while.
Well, not around me, anyway.
Ryan lowered his phone. "She was all over the local news this morning."
"Good for her."
I meant it. I was proud of her.
Ryan gave me a worried look. "You okay?"
"Yeah." I nodded.
He didn't move. I looked up from the paperwork, a bit confused.
"What?"
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
He gave me a look. I finally sighed. "Okay, I'm a little tired- I didn't sleep much. That's it."
Ryan nodded slowly. He then walked farther into my office. "You've been weird all morning. Almost sluggish."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's a pretty insulting word to describe me."
"I'm concerned about you."
"I appreciate the concern." I nod.
"You're welcome." He pulled the chair in front of my desk out and sat.
"You're staying?" I stared at him.
"Yep, you're obviously not okay."
"I am okay."
"Cam."
I sighed. "Ryan."
He crossed his arms. Finally, I looked away.
"You know, Molly's still missing."
"I know."
"And now..." I stopped. Did I really want to say anything further?
Ryan waited patiently.
I rubbed my hands over my face, groaning. "Now I've lost two people."
"What do you mean?"
I didn't really want to say it.
Ryan leaned forward. "Cameron."
"Dixie left last night." I looked at him.
"What?"
"She left."
"Left where?"
"That's the thing. I don't know."
Ryan stared at me. "She just left?"
I nodded. "She needed space."
"Why?"
I looked down at my paperwork. "We fought."
Ryan ooh'ed. "How bad?"
I sighed. "Bad. Bad enough that she packed a bag."
"She packed a bag and just left?" Ryan's mouth opened slightly.
"Yes."
He stared at me. "You're serious?"
I nodded.
"Holy shit." Ryan leaned back in the chair.
I gave him a tired look. "Thanks. That really helped."
"No, I mean..." He shook his head. "I didn't know."
"I didn't want anyone to know."
"Why?"
"Because it's our business."
"Okay...Are you two getting divorced?"
"No." The answer came immediately. "No..no way. Never."
Ryan nodded. "I mean, she said she needed space."
"That doesn't mean divorce." I looked at him.
"Have you called her?"
I looked at him. "No."
"Why not?"
"She asked for space."
Ryan nodded slowly. "Right. Space."
I stared down at the documents on my desk. I wasn't even reading them anymore.
My mind kept going back to Dixie walking out.
I hated that I'd let her leave- that I'd been too angry to stop her. But I'd been angry too.
And tired. Gee, was I tired.
"Do you love her?"
I looked up, chuckling lightly. "What kind of question is that?"
"I'm trying to understand."
"Yes. Why?"
"Cameron, you look like someone just punched you in the chest."
I gave him a dry smile. "Feels about right."
"So what happened?"
A lot happened that night, actually. But I didn't say that.
"I don't want to talk about it." I shook my head.
"Fine." He stood.
I thought he was leaving, but he walked toward the door, then abruptly stopped.
"You know I'm here, right?"
I looked at him. "Yeah."
He nodded, then left.
I stared at the paperwork again.
Around ten seconds later, I heard another voice outside. "Why are you standing outside his office?"
Hunter.
I closed my eyes. Perfect.
Please don't let the whole team come inside my office.
Ryan answered. "Nothing."
"Nothing? Really?" Hunter walked into view.
Ryan glanced at me, Hunter followed his gaze.
"What's wrong with Cam?"
"Nothing."
I looked up. "I'm fine."
"Why do you look like you haven't slept in three days?" Hunter stared at me.
"I slept," I rubbed my forehead. "I'm just tired."
Hunter narrowed his eyes. "What happened, man?"
"Nothing."
Hunter stepped inside. "Something definitely happened."
I looked at Ryan, but Ryan looked away. Hunter caught on quickly.
"Oh. You guys are definitely hiding something."
I leaned back. "I hate both of you."
Hunter laughed. "Sure you do. What's going on?"
Ryan hesitated. I shook my head, glaring at him. "Don't tell him."
"Tell me what?" Hunter's eyebrows lifted.
Ryan looked at me, then turned to Hunter. "Cam..."
"No. Ryan, actually."
Hunter looked confused. "What?"
"Dixie left." Ryan finally sighed.
Well that was just great. I should've known better than to tell Ryan my business.
"What?" Hunter yelled.
I immediately closed my eyes out of embarrassment.
Ryan immediately looked guilty. "Sorry."
"Dixie left?" Hunter stared at me.
I opened my eyes.
"She just needed some space. That's all."
Hunter's mouth fell open. "Wait."
"Like..." He made a vague gesture with his hands. "Left left?"
I stared at him. "What does that mean?"
"She left the house? So she's gone?"
"Yes."
"So you're divorced now?"
"No, Hunter." I said, sighing.
"Separated, then."
"I don't know." I shrug.
"Did she say divorce?"
I hesitated.
Hunter saw it, then began to cackle. "Oh, shit."
"She only mentioned it." I rubbed my forehead.
Did I have a bad problem with oversharing? Yes. Did I care as of this moment when Ryan practically brought the whole world here?
No.
Hunter's eyes widened. "Dixie threatened divorce?"
"She was angry." I defended.
"But she said it."
"Yes." I closed my eyes.
Hunter whistled quietly. I gave him a look.
I didn't really want to put up with anyone's nonsense today. Unfortunately, the fire station wasn't a good place for that.
"Can you not?" I asked, opening my eyes.
"Sorry."
He wasn't sorry. I could tell.
Hunter sat down in the chair Ryan had abandoned. "So what happened?"
"Nothing you need to know."
"Clearly something happened."
"I said we fought."
"How bad?"
I stared at him. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"Because you look terrible."
"Thank you, Hunter. Means a lot." I say, smiling sarcastically.
"You're welcome."
I sighed. "She needed space."
"Okay." Hunter nodded.
He was quiet for about three seconds before he stood. Those three seconds were about the quietest I've gotten all morning.
"Brody needs to hear this." He said.
"No!"
Hunter stopped. I looked at him.
"Don't do that."
"But-"
"Hunter, seriously. I barely even wanted to tell Ryan in the first place."
"This is important, Cam." Hunter dropped his shoulders.
"Exactly why I don't want everyone knowing."
He pointed toward himself. "This is what bros are for."
"No, it isn't."
Hunter was already walking toward the door.
"Hunter!"
He turned. "What?"
"Don't call Brody."
"I'm not calling him. I'll go get him."
"Hunter!"
He laughed as he disappeared. I looked at Ryan.
"You were the cause of all this." I pointed at him.
Ryan shrugged. "I'm sorry, man! You know how much I like to include everybody. Plus, you get more opinions too.
I shook my head. "This is exactly why I didn't want anyone to know."
"It's better than sitting alone with it."
I didn't answer. A few minutes later, Hunter came back, Brody followed him.
Brody took one look at me. What happened?"
"Dixie left him." Hunter pointed toward me.
Brody froze, then his eyes immediately widened.
"Wait." He looked at me. "Dixie left?"
"She just needed space." I said for about the millionth time.
Brody stared. "Oh fuck! Are you two divorced? Did she file?"
"No."
"Did you?"
"No. Why on earth would I do that?"
Brody nodded. "Okay."
Surprisingly, a small smile appeared on his face.
My expression hardened. "Why are you smiling?"
"I'm not." He immediately tried to hide it.
"You are."
Brody shrugged. "I mean, maybe it's not the worst thing."
I stared at him. "What?"
"Cam," He looked at me seriously. "You two have been miserable."
"Yeah, well, that doesn't mean I want her gone."
"I didn't say that."
"It sounds like you're happy about it." I scoffed.
"No, I just think maybe you both need time away from each other."
Hunter nodded. "Yeah. Listen to Brody. He's married."
"I'm married too." I said.
Brody smiled at me. "Yeah, but the difference is my wife didn't leave me."
Well that was just great.
Ryan leaned against the wall, nodding at whatever nonsense Brody just spewed out his mouth.
I stared at all three of them. "So suddenly everyone's an expert on my marriage?"
"No," Brody said. "We're just your friends."
"Great."
Hunter crossed his arms. "And friends are supposed to tell you when you're being stupid."
I gave him a blank look.
The room became quiet.
I could still feel anger about the situation.
At the fact that I'd spent months trying to hold onto everything and somehow ended up losing pieces of my life anyway.
I looked down at my hands. "She'll come back eventually."
Ryan looked at me. "You think so?"
"I know her." I nodded.
Everyone went quiet for a moment.
I swallowed. "She just needs time."