Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
SAVANNAH
“Whatcha doing?” Nix pokes her head into my room, her dark hair looking glossier than ever and skimming her jaw in a sexy new cut.
“You’re back! Gorgeous hair.”
She grins, her crimson lips typically flawless. “Thanks.”
“How were the Castellans?”
“Fine. Aunt Esme booked ‘stylist to the stars’ Luca as a treat to celebrate the big news. Another of the triplets has fallen. Clara’s gotten engaged.”
“Holy shit. Two down, one to go.”
“I’m still holding out hope that Celeste won’t fold. Surely one of them will have absorbed my wise-cousin propaganda that happiness doesn’t equal settling down with a corporate suit who measures his self-worth in bonuses.”
“Let’s be honest, babe. Whether it’s an aunt-approved finance bro or Tom freakin’ Hardy, we both know that for you, happiness does not equal settling down. Period.” I allow myself a laugh. “Oh god, that feels good.”
“Glad I can be your light entertainment.” She folds her arms and looks me up and down. “What did I miss here?”
“Not much. I’m on nights. Heading back into the station in an hour.
” I don’t know what else to say. I’ve spent the past twenty-four hours waiting for Brodie to reply to my texts.
I can’t pretend I’m fine, or that I’m not feeling all the feelings.
Frustration. Anger. Hope. Love. I cringe as the last word pops into my head, a bubble floating innocently through the air ready to burst at any moment.
Nix wanders in, rolls up the sleeves of her cute cashmere knit and plonks herself onto the bed next to me. “What’s happened?”
“Don’t worry about me. Let’s talk about you instead. How many guys did Esme try setting you up with this time?”
She moves my laptop and phone to the nightstand and pulls my cozy fleece blanket over our legs. “Sav, you’re clearly dealing with something. Is it your dad?”
I shake my head. Guess that’s one silver lining. All this chaos thanks to Brodie means I’ve barely given my dad a thought these past few days.
“Okay.” She purses her lips. “Brodie then?”
I let out the smallest of sighs. It’s all she needs.
“Was he wearing his glasses again?”
“Pretty much the opposite.”
She frowns.
I allow my head to fall back against my pillow and shut my eyes. “Something happened a couple of days ago. I hadn’t heard from him since, so I texted. Yesterday. He still hasn’t replied.”
“You’re going to have to rewind all of that back to the beginning and fill in the gaps. You weren’t actually hooking up in a broom cupboard, were you?” Her eyes are wide open, brows raised, but nestled in her gaze is at least a small part that looks like she wants me to say yes.
I groan and drop my head to my hands. “No. Worse.” I search back through the events that have left me reeling ever since. The stupid drills with the hose. The moment Brodie rushed forward and took the lead. The way he defended me to the cap.
Our hug in the laundry room.
“Savannah.” Nix waves in front of my face. “What happened with Brodie?”
“Okay. Buckle up.” I turn to face her, gathering the blanket and crossing my legs.
While I offload, Nix sits spellbound. Eyes bugged. Red lips slack. When I get to the end I sit back and breathe through another sigh.
Nix just continues staring. Unblinking.
I let out an awkward chuckle. “Is that it? You’re not going to say anything?”
“You had a naked hug with Brodie.”
“Well, sort of. He was almost naked. I wasn’t though.”
“What do you think would have happened if Springer hadn’t walked in?”
“We are not going there.”
“Yes, we are.” She bites her lip. “You, Brodie, naked together right there in the fire hall. It’s hot as hell.
He could have picked you up, planted your ass on the dryer, and gotten dirty in a flash.
And don’t you dare tell me you haven’t already fantasized about that alternate ending at least a dozen times. ”
I clench everything to stop her words from setting me alight.
Nix grins. “Exactly.”
“You’re a nightmare. I should never have told you—”
“Okay, okay.” She holds up her hands. “No more messing around, I promise. What’s happened since? You haven’t spoken to him at all?”
“No. Cap came in. Sent me out and spoke to Brodie alone.”
“Oof. Do you know what about?”
“No, but I can guess. He called me down later.” I balk at the memory of my walk of shame to the cap’s office. Brodie may have helped prevent more serious repercussions, but the cap was still pissed.
“He’s convinced there’s something going on between Brodie and me.
Delivered a dad lecture to rival all dad lectures about me needing to put the ladder over my feelings.
Reminded me of the clause in my contract that dictates I mustn’t get involved with anyone at work and how, as far as he’s concerned, that includes Brodie until his feature is published.
He doesn’t want us risking the authenticity of the story when the whole point is to shine Hall Eight in the best light possible.
” I swallow and meet Nix’s chocolate-brown eyes, mortified.
“All my efforts to be strong and seen as an equal on the team, and in one fell swoop I’ve made myself look like a silly girl who can’t control her feelings over some guy. ”
“Oh, Sav.” Nix squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
My heart warms with wholesome love for my best friend. “Nix, babe, you aren’t my carer. I have to be able to handle stuff like this.” I glance over at my phone. Still dead silent. “Handling Brodie not texting back, however, is absolutely something that requires your help.”
She grabs my phone. “So you messaged him yesterday?”
“Yep.”
“And he hasn’t replied?”
“Nope. Total agonizing radio silence.”
Nix takes out her own phone and starts tapping away.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking everything’s in working order.”
Three notifications ring. A WhatsApp. A text.
An Insta DM. All from Nix. My phone’s working just fine.
I shrink into myself with a sigh, my head instantly going to the worst-case scenario.
Brodie’s gone and won’t be coming back. Maybe because the cap scared him away.
Or worse, I scared him away. It doesn’t matter which. He’s gone.
Nix cocks her head, watching me closely. “Look, it’s no surprise Brodie’s quiet. He’s probably terrified of putting a foot wrong after his dance with the hose.”
I cringe through another hit of embarrassment. “Why did I let myself cry in front of him, Nix? Nothing good ever comes when I cry.” Extra frustratingly, voicing that thought makes me want to cry all over again.
“Sav, crying isn’t a bad thing.”
“Says the woman who never cries.”
“Okay, fine. Crying isn’t a bad thing for you. And as for Brodie, I think you just need to give him time. He’s going to reply, I know he is.”
“But how do you know that?”
“Because Brodie clearly remains totally and utterly in love with you.”
“What? No he isn’t.”
“Why else would he do something as stupid as get all jealous over his brother and go to war with a hose? He’s desperate to impress you.”
Much to my annoyance, a burst of butterflies takes flight in my tummy.
“And you crying in his arms is confirmation that you’re also still totally and utterly in love with him.”
The butterflies crash and burn. “I never said that.”
She chuckles. “You didn’t need to. Look at you twisted up over whether or not he’s going to message you back. Be patient. He’s not gone anywhere. I know it.”
I give my head a furious shake, lifting my chin.
“Enough. Even I’m annoyed at how pathetic I sound.
” Tossing back the blanket, I stand. “I’m getting ready for work.
The place I go to save lives. Where I’m fierce and capable.
And where Brodie Holt is utterly insignificant.
” I take a step to the door just as a ding rings out.
Both Nix and I fling ourselves at my phone.
She reaches it first, peering at the screen. “Your dad. Sorry.” She hands it over.
Lunch reservation made at Five Sails. Next Tuesday, 1pm. Looking forward to seeing you, darling.
Brief. To the point. Life-altering.
I drop my phone to the bed. “Dad’s booked his flight.”
Nix jumps up opposite me, clasping at my arms. “This is good, Sav. It’s what you need to focus on. How you’re owning your decisions. Taking control.”
My chin wobbles, tears threatening all over again.
“Hey, you’ve got this. And I’m right here by your side through all of it.” She draws me into her arms and squeezes me tight as my phone dings again.
This time she allows me to pick it up first. Like me, she’s also probably expecting it to be my dad with a follow-up message.
My heart stops when I see the name at the top of the screen.
“What? What is it?”
The butterflies make a return, going bananas against my ribs. “It’s him.”
“Your dad?”
“No. Brodie!” I keep blinking at the screen, trying to stop the words from swimming.
“And?” Nix practically screams the question.
I look over, unable to contain my grin. “He wants to meet up. Away from the station.”
She matches my grin with one of her own. “See? Totally and utterly in love with you.”