Chapter 2
TWO
brODIE
I don’t know why, but I have a hunch something bad is about to happen. It’s like I can taste it in the atmosphere. Which makes absolutely no sense when the current whispers in the office are all good news. Exactly the good news I’ve been waiting for.
Haley sidles over, leaning in to gossip. “Have you heard?”
“About Kelly? Yeah, I heard.”
“Has Simone spoken to you yet? It’s got to be you.”
“Who knows? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.” I squash the jolt of adrenaline with a shrug. I’ve learned the hard way to not tempt fate. Too many dashed career hopes scattered in my wake. “What about you, not interested?”
She rolls her eyes. “Sure, but I’ve only been here six months.
This is your promotion, Brodie. Your name’s written all over it.
” She scans my desk and grimaces. “Although, let’s hope they’re not basing their decision on tidiness.
Seriously, how do you work like this?” She digs out one of the dozen coffee cups buried under a tower of paper.
“It’s a miracle you’re able to think surrounded by this murder scene, let alone string together the genius words you conjure up. ”
“What can I say? I was born to do this job.” I play the carefree, confident role Haley expects while my insides do somersaults.
If they’re planning on replacing Kelly from within the Herald’s existing staff, Haley would be my only competition. Time served has to be a factor in their decision, meaning the job really should be mine. Should being the key word.
A flicker of movement catches my eye as Simone opens the door to her corner office at the far end of our floor. She’s a small woman with a big bark and an even mightier bite.
“Brodie.” Her clipped tone slices through the office, silencing everyone.
This is it.
I push back my chair, attempting to stand with the assurance of someone about to be offered the opportunity of their dreams, not someone walking to their execution.
Haley mouths good luck and returns to her own desk, where everything is lined up in neat rows.
She has a point about my messiness. Safe to say, I’m a mess in all ways.
Too much time spent second-guessing instead of filing.
I swallow the thought and smooth my crumpled shirt before attempting to tame my wayward hair. It doesn’t work. The hair cannot be tamed.
“Take a seat.” Simone gestures me in and closes the door before perching on the edge of her desk. “I expect you’ve already heard the news.”
I hesitate, unsure whether I’m meant to know Kelly’s leaving.
Luckily, Simone rarely waits for a response.
“Kelly Tsang in features is moving across to our new sister paper in Toronto next month, meaning there’s an opening to fill here.
” She gathers a file from her desk. My name is scrawled on the front with a Sharpie.
“I’ve assigned you a solo feature to work on.
You do well with this and the promotion’s yours. ”
Features reporter. All I have to do is deliver on one article. Like I said to Haley, this is what I was born to do.
Grasping at the folder, I flip it open. Maybe today’s the day I finally get—
I still, blinking at the document inside. Words swimming across the page. Doing everything I can to remain totally passive while my head fires into pure panic.
This is just some awful joke, right? It has to be.
I squeeze my toes against the tops of my battered Blundstones as Simone blusters on.
“You’re lined up to shadow the crew of Ladder Eight in Vancouver’s West End fire hall.
Two weeks, starting at ten tomorrow. Their comms department reached out with a request for a feature.
They’re angling for a sugary puff piece, but I want you going deeper.
A little bird tells me there’s more behind their request than they divulged.
” She taps her nose. “Play your cards right, you’ll uncover a scandal and get to ride in a fire truck.
Live out all those schoolboy fantasies.” She cackles and I swallow back bile.
She means well, I’m sure she does, but she’s so far off the mark it’s unreal.
Silencing her laugh, she fixes me with a shrewd stare. “So, what do you say?”
I close the folder, taking my time to gather my head from where it’s currently residing, torn in two.
On the one hand, I’m being given the biggest opportunity I’ve yet had.
On the other, I’m being sent to hell. Two weeks in the company of my macho, life-saving big brother.
The same brother who’s made tormenting me an art form.
All while immersed in the world I shunned by choosing a college degree instead.
Something which our former battalion chief father won’t ever let me forget.
Especially while he’s polishing his Exemplary Service Medal.
I’m what disappointment looks like in our family. Hence the chronic second-guessing.
I clear my throat and stand, clutching the folder like my life depends on it. “There is one thing you should probably be aware of, ma’am.”
Simone raises an immaculately groomed eyebrow. “Ah, yes. Your older brother. The fire hall’s lieutenant.”
Of course Simone already knows. I stand tall, countering the urge to curl into a ball. “You don’t think there’s a conflict of interest here? Me writing about my brother when you want me going for the scandal?”
“Do you think there’s a conflict of interest, Brodie?”
It’s another loaded question and I’m unsure how to answer. “Uh… maybe?”
Her eyes narrow. Hawklike.
“Or, no… No. It’s fine.” My shoulders betray me, slumping forward.
“Good. The way I see it, this makes you the perfect man for the job. Nothing like having a source to get to the roots of the story. Inside track and all that.” She steps to the door and fixes me with another impenetrable stare.
“Prove you can be clinical and it’ll go a long way to you securing the promotion. Don’t let me down.”
I stalk back to my desk on heavy legs.
Haley looks over, brows pinched. “What’s wrong? Thought you’d be buzzing.”
I sigh, landing in my seat with a thud.
By rights, this promotion should be mine without jumping through any hoops, but fine, I can jump if I have to. Just why does it have to be this hoop?
Two weeks tracking polar bears in sub-zero temperatures. Two weeks shadowing telemarketers selling life insurance. Two weeks living in the city’s sewage plant. Literally any other hoop would be a dream.
I meet Haley’s all-seeing gaze and attempt to be positive. “It’s good news. I’ve been assigned a feature to work on. If things go well, the promotion’s mine.”
“Yay. Congrats, Brodie.” She claps her hands and shimmies over. “What’s the focus?”
I hand her the folder, worried my voice will betray my panic if I describe its contents.
She peers inside, scanning the document. “Ooh, so cool. Something to really get your teeth stuck into.” She giggles. “And you’ll fit right in.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She blushes, looking away. “You know.” She gestures in the vague vicinity of my chest. “I mean, come on. You’re a Clark Kent wall of firefighter muscle under that crumpled shirt.”
Her words are like being stabbed with a pair of dull scissors. Not enough to kill, just enough to cause me acute pain.
She falters, stumbling to backtrack. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s all good. Don’t worry about it.” I push away from my desk and head to the kitchen opposite. Anything to avoid talking about this anymore.
It’s not Haley’s poor attempt at flirting that’s bugging me; it’s the fact she’s right.
I am built like a firefighter. Like both my brothers. My dad. My grandfathers. Yet instead of saving lives like them, I’m jerking around with a notepad and pen. Dad’s words. Usually hurled with so much venom I can’t help wondering if his issues run way deeper than just being about a damn notepad.
I pour a cup of coffee and gulp a mouthful down, my pulse beating ferociously against my rib cage. The coffee doesn’t placate it. The liquid’s too hot, and bitter as hell, but it does at least give me the jolt I need to gain a sliver of perspective.
And to locate my balls from wherever they’ve taken a vacation.
This promotion could be my first tangible step down the path I’ve dreamed of since choosing a notepad over a fire hose. It would be the validation that this really is the right career for me, despite the never-ending hell it puts me through.
I can’t let it slip through my fingers simply because I hate the idea of spending two weeks in a fire hall following my asshat brother like a lost puppy.
I don’t owe him or the fire department jackshit. But I do owe me.
Simone’s right. I am the perfect man for this job.
It’s time to step the fuck up and put myself first.