“Being the only chick in our station house makes a girl need to blow off some steam and stay fit.” She didn’t miss a damn beat, locking eyes with me as she answered so coolly.
Camden leaned back in his chair. “I keep offering to go with her but she keeps telling me she needs alone time. Whatever the fuck that means. Women.” He rolled his eyes while nudging Bryn with his elbow.
The way he looked at her made my skin crawl. She could try to convince me all damn day that they were just friends, but I knew better—Camden, at least, did not want to be friends with her. I watched as he stared down her tank top, my protective side begging to be let out of its cage.
Deep breaths.
She’s not sleeping with him.
She is at your place all the damn time.
You just face-fucked the shit out of her.
None of it was helping. I wanted to yell, I licked it so it’s mine! in Cam’s face and grab Bryn, but jealousy is not sexy.
I needed to cool my jets, so I took shots—shot after shot with as many of the group as would take them.
Bryn: Having a little bit of fun, I see.
Me: Someone has to :P
She shot me a telling glance from her seat, subtly nodding her head toward the back. “Gotta use the little girls’ room.”
I waited a couple of minutes before shoving away from the table and ducking back into the hallway that led to the restrooms.
Right as I turned the corner, Bryn grabbed me. “Hey, handsome.”
I pushed her against the wall, the whiskey egging me on as I knotted my fingers in her hair. “I thought this wasn’t allowed.”
“Shut up and kiss me,” she demanded.
I did as she wanted, let my lips sloppily crush against hers briefly.
“Cam is driving me insane,” I admitted.
She sighed, pushing me away a little. “How many times do I have to tell you he is like my brother?”
I shook my head. “Ain’t how it feels, babe. Trust me. Watch how he stares at your tits the next time he thinks you’re not looking.”
“Every fucking guy stares at my chest every chance he gets. You’ve seen them, they’re huge. You stare too. News flash, Mitch: you’re the only damn one in the entire bar that has ever seen them, and you get to on a regular basis—isn’t that enough?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I pulled her into me, kissing her forehead. “Sorry.”
“It’s kind of cute seeing you get all worked up with jealousy,” she whispered.
“We should probably get back.” I wanted to slip out the back door and get us a cab, but I knew how badly it would look.
“You go first, I actually do have to pee.” She pushed me away after kissing me one last time.
Walking back to the table, Cam raised an eyebrow at me. “Did Bryn fall in or something?
Why does he care so damn much?
“Fuck if I know.” I tried to play it off. It’s not like I was supposed to have run into her back there.
“Okay, honesty club.” Otis, another guy from A shift, leaned over to look at Camden.
“Yeah?” Cam responded.
“How many times have you hit that?” he asked without shame.
I held my breath. This was not a conversation I was prepared to hear, and I’d sure as shit had too much to drink to restrain myself if it went in any direction that was unfavorable.
Cam put his hand in the air, holding three fingers up. “Scout’s honor, never, but trust me, we’ve gotten close…if you know what I mean.”
I wanted to smack that goofy-ass, bullshit grin off his damn face.
Right as I was about to say something I would have regretted, Bryn waltzed back over. “Miss me, boys?”
“Always, little lady.” Otis flashed her a toothy smile.
“Well, I think it’s time for me to call it a night.” I had to tap out before shit got out of hand.
“So soon?” Goff turned to me and pointed at the full beer sitting on the table.
I shrugged. “Gotta know your limits, and I’ve hit mine. Have a good night everyone.”
I got up as everyone said their goodbyes and waved to me.
Right when I slid into the back of my Uber, Bryn’s name was lighting up my phone.
Bryn: You okay?
Me: Just need to head home.
Bryn: Did something happen?
Me: Nothing to worry about, babe. I’m just tired.
Bryn: Want some company?
Me: Yours? Always.
The sun was barely up yet as Bryn bounced on top of me. Her eyes slammed shut, her hair flying around, her tits bouncing. My nails gripped into her hips as I growled, “I’m about to come, babe. Fuck!”
Our bodies shook, covered in a thin layer of fresh sweat as we panted. Bryn curled up in my arms.
“I think last night went pretty well,” she blurted out, out of nowhere.
My mind tripped back to the end of the night as how fucking pissed I was when the guys started talking about my girl like she was a prize cow to win at the state fair.
“I fucking can’t do this,” I muttered as I pulled my boxers up. My come was still dripping out of Bryn’s cunt as she lay there in my bed wide-eyed, staring at me.
“Can’t do what?” she asked, pulling the white sheet up over her chest and wrapping it around her bare body.
I pointed between the two of us. “I can’t be your casual fuck buddy anymore. I want more. Last night only drove the point home for me. I don’t want to have to sneak around, have you keep lying to Cam about where you’re going all the time. I sure as shit cannot hear guys talk about you like a piece of meat in front of me again—that is for damn sure.”
“So that’s what happened. It all makes sense now.” She ran her hand over her face before propping herself up against my headboard. “Who said what?”
“It doesn’t even fucking matter. It shouldn’t have fucking happen in the first place,” I barked.
“You’re right, but what do you really want? Because I thought this was working out pretty great.”
“I want to go out on dates. I want to tell people at work that I am happy in a relationship, because, news flash, I am. I want to be with you, but I need to really be with you. I need both of us to be in this, really fucking in this.”
Bryn’s jaw was on the floor as she just sat there blinking at me for a few seconds. “You pick now? Now? Of all fucking times to tell me this, you think five minutes before I have to get dressed to head in for my shift is the right time to tell me it has to be all or nothing?”
Getting up, I went into the bathroom quickly. I threw her a washcloth, which I knew she needed, before crossing my arms over my chest, standing in the middle of my room. “I couldn’t keep it in any longer.”
“We’re going to have to deal with this later.” She hastily started throwing her clothes on. “I can’t deal with this right now, Katz.” Her words were sharp and they hung heavy in the air. Bryn had never called me by my last name outside the firehouse—never.
“Bryn, wait. I don’t want you to leave here mad.” I tried to grab her arm as she made her way through my apartment, but she snapped it away from me.
“No, Mitch. This cannot happen right now. I need to think. I need to have my head on straight while I’m at work. We will deal with feelings later because they were not supposed to be fucking involved in this. Friends and coworkers first and foremost, benefits after. This is not a relationship. As much as it might feel like one to either of us, it was never supposed to come to this. Get that through that thick skull of yours while I’m working today.”
With that, she was out the door.
Bryn
“Fuck. Fuck him. Fuck this.” I repeated over and over to myself as I stormed into the station.
I knew that the guys talked. I knew that right when I had left that table the night before something was most likely going to be said. I was naïve. I talked a big game about fighting for respect and being an equal, but I fucking knew b
etter.
Otis smiled as I poured a cup of coffee next to him in the kitchen. “Morning, Malloye. Feeling all right this fine morning?”
I smiled sweetly. “Better than you are, I’m sure. I know how old timers like you can’t handle your Jameson.”
“Hey now, those are fighting words,” he teased.
“No, what are fighting words are knowing that y’all can’t keep you traps shut and talk about my like I am some damn side piece.” My words shot out of me without me really thinking about them.
“Fuck, Malloye. No one said a damn word and if someone told you otherwise, they’re a damn liar.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I fucking bet. Go eat a dick.”
Chapter 11
Mitch
Watching Bryn walk out the door was harder than I could have ever imagined. I paced. Tried to watch TV. Took a shower. Tried to calm down, but nothing worked. After a couple of hours, I made my way to the diner down the block from my place.
I took a seat at the counter, ordered pancakes, some scrambled eggs with well-done bacon on the side, and sat sipping black coffee while I waited for my breakfast to be delivered.
The voice of the young, female news anchor on the TV in the corner caught my attention. “Breaking news, an industrial warehouse went up in flames only a few hours ago. Some of the workers and one firefighter are in critical condition and have been rushed to the emergency room after the roof caved in while responders were trying to save trapped employees.”
I recognized the warehouse as they showed it up in flames from an aerial view of a news chopper. My stomach flipped and flopped as I threw a twenty down on the counter and ran out the door.
I sprinted into the parking garage on the first floor of my building, grabbing my truck’s keys out of my pocket as fast as I could. In that moment I was so thankful that my truck had finally arrived. If I had to wait on an Uber or trust someone else to get me to Bryn’s side in that moment, I would have been even more of a wreck than I already was.
“Don’t be hurt,” I muttered over and over. “You have to be all right. Please don’t be fucking hurt.”
I couldn’t get to the scene fast enough. The chief was even there by the time I showed up.
“Chief Hoover!” I called as I threw my truck’s door open, the engine still running. “Any news on who was hurt?”
I slammed the truck into park, ripped the keys out of the ignition, and trotted over to his side.
“How’d you hear?” His eyes narrowed as we quickly walked to one of the fire trucks.
“I was grabbing breakfast at a diner when the news came on.” I could see the press vans off in the distance, cameras rolling.
Camden was at the tip of the pipe and right when I saw him, I knew.
“Where’s Bryn?” I yelled.
Chief Hoover bowed his head. “There was a beam. She was carrying a lady out.”
That was all I needed to hear. I was back in my truck on autopilot, speeding toward the nearest emergency room as fast as my vehicle would let me.
I found the closest parking spot and burst into the ER bay like a bat out of hell.
“The firefighter they just brought in, Bryn Malloye—where is she?” I was yelling and panting as I rushed the nurses station.
Luckily, I was wearing my station’s shirt. As soon as the older nurse saw the logo on my chest, she checked the computer.
“She’s in the ICU.” I zoned out as she continued to explain where Bryn was. I knew where to go already—I had been there to check in on a patient I had brought in a few weeks back.
I could only get as far back as the waiting room before being stopped.
“Sir, can I help you?” a male nurse asked as I started to pace frantically in a small circle in front of him.
“The female firefighter that was brought in earlier, can I know her status?” I pleaded.
He looked at my chest, sighing. “You know I’m not supposed to tell anyone but next of kin.”
“She’s my wife,” I lied without even thinking about it because in my heart that was actually how I felt about Bryn. It took me until that very moment, but I had never cared about someone the way I did for Bryn—not even Cali.
“I’m sorry, it wasn’t listed on the chart.” He put a reassuring hand on my shoulder as he continued, “Your wife is stabile but sedated. Let me get the doctor for you. Give me a few.”
Within minutes, a young doctor came walking up to me, holding Bryn’s chart. “Mr. Malloye?” he asked.
“Yes.” I didn’t even think twice about confirming the name.
“Your wife is one tough lady. Her burns are extensive and she will need skin grafts at the very least, but she’s hanging in there.”
Relief washed over me. “Thank you so much, doctor.”
I sat by Bryn’s side for hours, silently praying for her to wake up though I knew how selfish it was because she would be in unthinkable pain once she awoke. I just hated how we’d left things. I hated that our last conversation had been so volatile. It was awful to think those might be the last words we ever spoke to each other.
Most of her was covered by blankets, and I was so thankful for our protective gear. I knew that even though her leg and arm had been badly burned, it could have been a lot worse. I played out every scenario possible for her rescue situation. I wanted to know everything—who found her, how they got the beam off of her, if they were able to get everyone else out of the building. None of the details really mattered, it just was the only thing I had to think about. It was all I had to hold on to.
“Hey.” Her low raspy voice broke through my racing thoughts.
“Hey there, beautiful.” I leaned closer, gripping the side of her bed.
“How bad is it?” she asked, tears filling her soft eyes.
“It could have been so much worse, baby. You did such a good job. I am so proud of you.” I brushed hair away from her smoke-stained forehead, trying to find a way to really comfort her. I had never felt more helpless or useless in my entire life.
“All I could think about was that the last words I spoke to you were so angry and I would never get to tell you the truth.” She started sobbing, and all I wanted to do was take her into my arms and never let her go.
“Shhhh, don’t worry about it, babe. You’re going to be fine, and we can fight again and this time make up like we should have this morning.” I kissed her forehead gently.
Putting her hand on my cheek, she whispered, “I love you.” Her words were barely audible. I stared into her eyes, ready to say it back to her, relieved that we were finally on the same page and admitting it, but I was rudely interrupted by the last person that I wanted to see.
“Is that just the morphine talking?” Camden’s voice came from behind us and I wanted to deck him on the spot. Way to kill a perfect moment, douche canoe!
Bryn shook her head, staring at me, completely ignoring her roommate. “Mitch, I mean it. I truly do love you so much and I am so sorry for everything I said this morning.”
I looked over at Camden before turning back to Bryn. “That’s all I needed to know. I love you too. So much, baby.” I kissed her deeply, smelling all the smoke and ash on her.
“What the fuck just happened?” Camden was apparently not going to leave this alone.
“Cam? Can I have a minute?” I stood up, ushering him away from Bryn.
“I think I need to talk to my best friend actually.” Camden tried to push around me to get back into Bryn’s bay.
“I wasn’t really asking, Cam.” I put my hand on his chest. The next words that came out of my mouth coated my lips like honey as I triumphantly squashed Camden’s crush on the woman that I was madly in love with. “We’ve been seeing each other ever since I moved here. That’s how Bryn knew who I was when I first came to the fire station. She told you the truth, that we met at the tattoo shop, but she left out some juicy details. But here’s the difference between you and me—I would never tell a damn sole about what happens bet
ween that woman and myself because it’s no ones’ fucking business what we do behind closed doors.”
Camden nodded a few times, his lips pulling into an odd smile. Without warning, he pulled back and punched me right in the jaw.
I staggered back a few steps, holding my cheek with one hand, the other in the air. “I am not going to fight you, man. At the end of the day, Bryn thinks of you as a brother, and that’s enough for me to forget about this little outburst of yours.”
“Little outburst? That’s what you think this was?” He spat at my feet. “You’re a fucking piece of shit.”
“Cam!” Bryn’s raspy voice called out as loudly as she could.
I followed on his heels as he went behind the curtain of her bay.
“Cam,” she cooed as he took the seat next to her.
“Yes?” I could see him melting as he looked at her. Right then I saw the heartbreak—he was in love with her too.
“Don’t be a dick to Mitch. I should have told you about him but you getting mad isn’t going to stop me from being with him.” Her eyes were locked with mine as she spoke to Cam.
Camden sneered at me as he got up. “I don’t have to like this.”
I shrugged. “And I don’t have to like that she lives with a dude that wants to fuck my girl. We’re all making sacrifices here.”
Camden huffed off, throwing a hissy fit all the way down the hall. Once I knew he was good and gone, I went back to Bryn’s bedside.
“I could get used to hearing you say that,” she said as she smiled over at me.
“Saying what?”
“That’s I’m your girl.”
I leaned over Bryn, kissing her cheek softly. “Does this mean we can actually be in a relationship?”
“Once I get out of this damn place, I will scream it from the rooftops.” She coughed a little as she spoke.
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