“Thanks,” I said, using the gun to pour cold water into a glass. I cleared my throat.
“I know. The smoke is bad today. The winds changed. They were saying that might happen. Glad they were prepared.”
“Me, too. When do you go out again?” I took a drink, feeling the cold liquid extinguish the burning sensation in my throat.
“They’re saying tomorrow morning.”
I frowned. “Well, be careful, okay?”
He smiled. “We always are.”
“Where’ve you been lately? I haven’t seen you around.”
Zeke smiled. “Doing stuff. Same as you.”
“Same as me?” I smirked. “Trex is busier than I thought.”
Zeke chuckled. “Not Trex.”
“A girl?” I asked. When Zeke didn’t offer more, I insisted. “Oh, really? Where did you meet her?”
“Out one night.”
“So mysterious,” I teased, taking a drink. “Is she nice?”
“She’s everything,” Zeke said.
“Good. You deserve nothing less.”
He got that aw-shucks look I’d fallen for so many times. But Zeke was genuine. I was glad the mystery girl was putting a smile on his face, and I realized Trex had had the same one.
“Thanks,” Zeke said. “So, you’re feeling better? You look like you feel better.”
“I am.”
“I still feel bad…about the bar. Trex was right, I shouldn’t have taken you there.”
Stavros approached, straightening his tie before he began cleaning behind the bar. “Have you eaten?”
“Yes.” I chuckled. “Everyone acts like I’ll die if I don’t eat.”
“No, you just puke all over my lobby,” he teased. He nodded to Zeke. “What are you kids up to?”
“Just relaxing before dinner,” Zeke said. “Hitting the sack early tonight. We were told we’ll likely go out tomorrow.”
“You don’t look so happy about it,” Stavros said.
“He just met a mystery girl. I bet leaving her for ten days is bugging him,” I said.
“Darby, damn,” he said. He tried and failed to look upset.
“Mystery girl. She sounds intriguing,” Stavros said.
“Not talking about it,” Zeke said.
“You talked about it with Darby, but you can’t talk about it with your bartender? That’s not right.”
“I didn’t,” Zeke said, pointing, “talk about her to Darby.”
“It’s true, I don’t know much,” I said.
“Well, I was wondering,” Stavros said.
“What?” Zeke asked.
“You have a new distraction. Explains how you got over it so fast that Darby wasn’t interested in a relationship of any kind, and then Trexler came along and she was all for it.”
My mouth fell open, and Zeke pulled his ball cap lower on his forehead. “Don’t know anything about that.”
Stavros was more than pleased with himself, nearly giddy. “I admit it. I’m a drama whore.” His smile vanished and he became serious. “But I don’t gossip. Gossip isn’t true.”
I frowned. “I’m going to get ready for work.”
“Have a good day, sweetie,” Stavros called after me.
“I’m not speaking to you!” I hollered, hurrying to my room.
I pulled the photos from my back pocket and placed them on the nightstand, and then I slowly made my way to the shower, to wash the dried remnants of gel off my stomach and the sweat from the walk home. I wondered what Trex was doing, and if he thought about me during the day, too. We’d spent so much time together that week, it was like we’d been together twice as long. No games, no wondering if he liked me, no wondering what kind of mood he would be in. Trex listened, he had so many great stories, and there was still so much to learn about each other. It was so refreshing it almost made me miss having a cell phone so I could text him during the day. Almost. Freeing myself from my phone was the best decision I’d made in a very long time.
I dressed and played with the makeup Maya had given to me, pulled my hair into a bun, put on my freshly pressed shirt and pants, and headed down the hall. One day, when I could afford an apartment, I was going to miss the convenience of walking down the hall to work.
I greeted Maya, and she smiled at me. “Wow. You did great.”
“I um…used to do pageants. I wore a lot of makeup back then.”
“You look like a supermodel,” she said. “Don’t you just love it?”
“It’s fun when you don’t have to.”
I checked in a line of hotshots, and between breaks I chatted with Zeke, Watts, Sugar, and Kasen and Sweets, hotshots from two other crews. They were buzzing around me, seeming intrigued by the products on my face.
“Hi,” a man said in a thick Australian accent. He towered over me, as did the other blond-haired, ocean-eyed man he was with. They were standing with Maddox. “Checkin’ in, sweetheart. We should have a room reserved.”
“Name?” I asked.
“Liam Walker. Unless it’s under this bloke’s name.”
As I checked the men in, another from the back snapped something just loud enough for me to hear.
“All right, we don’t have all day,” Maddox said.
“Hi, Taylor,” I said. “Everything okay?”
“It’s Tyler,” he grumbled.
“Pardon?”
He sighed. “I’m Tyler. Yes, we’re twins. Yes, we’re identical. Yes, the resemblance is uncanny. It’s been a long day. Can I please check the fuck in?”
“It’s my fault, darl. I made him cranky on the ride over,” Liam said.
I typed in Tyler’s name, trying to keep a smile on my face. I was half pissed, half intimidated, and then pissed for feeling intimidated. Tyler wasn’t Shawn. He wasn’t going to come over the desk at me and squeeze my neck until I thought I might pass out. But still, a man speaking so gruffly to me had me on edge.
“Just one key?” I asked.
“No, two.”
His answer gave me pause. “One adult, correct?”
He looked over his shoulder at the dark-haired woman a few feet behind him. “No, she’s with me. Ellison Edson.”
I tapped the mouse and moved it around. “I have her in a king room, booked by…MountainEar Magazine.”
Tyler glanced over his shoulder at Liam and Jack. They were having a conversation between them, not paying attention. “Just the one room.”
“You want me to cancel hers? I’ll have to confirm with her.”
“No…no,” he sighed, frustrated. “Fuck it, never mind. Just…put hers on my card.”
“I can do that.” I processed his card, created his key, and set them aside. “Just need you to sign here for yours, and then I’ll start hers.” By the time he’d finished signing, I was already running his card again. He sighed a second time, and he leaned closer.
I tried not to lean back, so I held my breath and stood still instead.
“Can you make sure she has a nice view?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Maddox, it’s our last room. It’s a parking lot view, but it’s on the third floor, and—”
“Christ, forget it.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Have a better day…sir.”
Tyler cringed. I could tell he felt bad, but I wasn’t going to forgive him until he was sorry. He turned to hand Ellison her room key, and I watched them have a hushed conversation for a few seconds.
“Fuck you,” she said, snatching the key card from his hand. She marched to the elevator, and Tyler chased after her. He didn’t quite make it before the doors closed, though, and looked relieved when the next one opened seconds after he pushed the button.
Liam stepped forward. “He’s really not a bad guy. They’re just…”
“Dysfunctional,” I said.
“Pretty much.”
“Is she going to be okay?” I asked.
“Ellie? Shit yeah. She’ll knock him into next week.”
“Bloody likely,” J
ack said, nodding.
I sighed with relief. “Good. That’s good. You gentlemen have a nice night.”
“I’m gonna have a beer. Want one?” Liam asked.
“I’m…working,” I said.
“Damn,” Liam said, peering into the meeting room. The Alpines’ head guy, Chief, looked unhappy. Liam tapped Jack on the shoulder. “We should see what’s going on.”
The hotshots in the lobby made a beeline for the meeting room, standing behind Chief as he gave the Forestry Department heads a stern speech. I wondered why Trex wasn’t in on the meeting. If Chief was losing his temper, maybe Trex was up on the mountain. That made me nervous. I pulled out a pen and pad, drawing the forest. It wasn’t on fire; everyone was safe. That’s how I would imagine Trex.
“Hi,” Ellison said, standing in front of me.
I smiled, pushing away the notepad.
“That’s pretty good,” Ellison said.
“Thanks. What can I do for you?”
Ellison placed her credit card on the front desk. “Can I change the card on my room?”
“Sure,” I said, sliding the silver rectangle off the desk. I clicked my mouse a few times, swiped the card. “For incidentals, too?”
“Yes. Everything.”
“Got it,” I said, handing the card back to her once the screen confirmed approval. The receipt printed, and I placed it in front of her. “Just sign here.”
There was something about Ellison that just made her likable. She refused to take crap from anyone and seemed like she’d been telling people no and saying what was on her mind since birth. I envied that about her. Her short, razored hair was fuss free, and she wasn’t wearing much makeup, but she was stunning. Exotic. Wild. I was none of those things.
“Thanks, Darby.”
“No problem, MountainEar,” I said. It was meant to be a joke, but I realized how lame it was the moment Ellison didn’t even attempt to laugh. She left me to sit at the bar in front of Stavros, unconcerned about making me feel better about my socially awkward moment. That was freedom I’d never experienced.
“She’s sex on a stick, that one,” Jack said, crossing his arms and lifting his chin as if he were proud just to know her. “We’ve already seen her naked.”
“Meeting over?” I asked.
“We’re not invited for another fifteen minutes,” Liam said, standing with Zeke.
“Nice lipstick,” Trex said as he made his way from the elevator bay to the front desk.
I smiled. I’d tried one of the reds Maya had given me. “Hey, handsome. I didn’t see you come in.”
“Welp,” Zeke said, saluting before heading toward the meeting room.
“It’s called Fly Girl. You like it?” I asked.
“I like you,” he said, leaning his elbows on the desk. “Get called in early?”
I nodded. “You’re off early.”
“Just stopping by for a second. On my way back. How’s your day been?”
“I had an appointment. It went well.”
“An appointment? Like with the…”
“Obstetrician,” I said quietly.
“Oh.” Trex was making a strange expression, a mixture of surprise and disappointment.
“What is that face?”
“I just thought…I don’t know, I guess it’s stupid to think I’d be invited.”
“To my appointment?”
“Well…yeah.”
He seemed embarrassed to admit it, but part of me found it endearing. The other part thought about how disastrous that could be. I thought about Trex being in the doctor’s office with me, looking like every other couple who waited in the lobby. The bigger my belly grew, the more of a relief that would be, but having to explain to the doctor who he was this soon into my pregnancy wasn’t something I was prepared to do.
“Trex—”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain. I get it. It’s weird.”
“It’s a little weird.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pressure you.”
I laughed. “You’re not. I don’t feel pressured.”
“Good,” he said, standing up. “Gotta run back to work for a bit. Are you getting off early?”
“Nope, I’m here until seven a.m. You’re not going up on the mountain, right?” I asked.
“Yes, but not anywhere near the fire.”
I smiled, relieved. “Good.”
His lips formed a hard line. “I wish you weren’t at work. I have an uncontrollable urge to kiss you.”
I leaned in, stopping just short of his mouth. “Come back soon, then.”
He groaned, but smiled as he turned on his heels and breezed through the sliding doors. He looked around before climbing into his truck and backing out, his engine growling as he drove out of the parking lot.
I made my way to Stavros, trying to pretend I didn’t already miss Trex.
“Hanging in there?” I asked, leaning on the bar.
“Some of the hotshots don’t tip,” he grumbled. “And, so far, all of them are straight.”
“It’s been like this all week,” I said, resting my chin in my hand. It was that time of day I wished I could have caffeine. Coffee or a soda would have made the rest of the night more manageable. Ellison leaned away from me and fidgeted. “Are you all right?”
“Who was that guy who just left?” Ellison asked. “The one who talked to you before rushing out the door?”
“Trex?” I asked, feeling an uncontrollable smile stretch across my mouth. I was surprised she didn’t already know him, between being a reporter for MountainEar Magazine, running with the Alpines, and dating a Maddox boy.
“Yeah,” Ellison said, shifting on her bar stool. She readjusted the large black sunglasses on top of her head, making a few strands of dark hair poke out in different directions like a black firecracker.
I wasn’t sure how to answer that, and knowing she was a reporter, I blurted out the first thing I could think of. “He’s a firefighter staying here until the fire is out. He’s like…some kind of special crew. He’s not a hotshot or ground crew. He doesn’t really talk about it.” It wasn’t technically a lie. He didn’t talk about it, and he was a special…something. And he was looking for a place. He would be moved out by the time the fire was over. Probably.
“Like fire secret service?” Ellison asked.
I giggled. “Probably. He’s about that uptight.”
“So, don’t you know him?” she asked.
I was beginning to wonder what her interest in Trex was about. “A little.”
“Just a little?” Stavros asked with a smirk.
“What about you?” I asked Ellison. I combed through my ponytail with my fingers, hoping Ellison would see it as a sign of me just wanting a casual conversation. I did, but now I was feeling the tiniest bit territorial. Ellison was beautiful and wild and not pregnant. She had the respect of the Alpines…she had a lot going for her. If she turned her attention to Trex, I wasn’t sure I could compete with that. I felt my eyes water and willed the tears away. The vomiting and dizziness might have gone away, but the mood swings were still obnoxiously present. “I’m guessing you’re a reporter from your credit card?”
“Photographer. I’m following the Alpines around.”
“Oh. I’ve met Taylor Maddox and Zeke Lund. They’re sweethearts. They’ve been hanging out with Trex.” Maybe mentioning her boyfriend’s twin is a friend will deter her? I felt like a child, but Trex was finally something good in my life. I had to protect it.
“They have?” Ellison asked, surprised.
“Yeah, been up in his room almost every night since they got here.”
“How long has Trex been here?”
Stavros looked suspicious, and I was glad I wasn’t the only one who found Ellison’s line of questioning…aggressive.
I shrugged. Something told me not to answer any more of her questions. “Two weeks.” Ish. “He got here before the fire started.” Damn it, Darby, shut up.
&nb
sp; Ellison frowned. “That’s weird.”
I smiled, trying to play it off. “Maybe it’s not the fire secret service. Maybe it’s the fire secret psychic.”
A family walked into the lobby, looking hot and exhausted. I returned to the front desk to greet them before they got there, grateful for the distraction. I was failing at protecting anything.
“We have a reservation,” the father said. “Last name’s Snow.” The kids were whining and fighting, the mother too tired to intercede. I typed in their name, stopping when I heard Ellison yell across the lobby.
“Maddox!”
Taylor was walking away from her, looking angry. Ellison turned to Stavros, and he smiled at her.
I tried my best to get the Snows checked in as quickly as possible, giving them their cards, and showing them to the elevator bay as a segue to find my way to the bar.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
Stavros put another drink in front of her. “She has vodka now. She’s fine.”
A sudden collection of walking, shuffling, and rattling grabbed my attention, and I watched the Alpine hotshots walk across the lobby from the elevator bay to the parking lot, outfitted and gear in hand. I waited for Ellison to turn around, but she pounded back her drink. Tyler didn’t even turn to look in her direction.
“Wow, he’s really pissed,” Stavros said. “He didn’t even look back.”
“Stavros,” I scolded. I sat next to Ellie. “He needs to concentrate. I’m sure he’s just trying to focus.”
“I’m sure,” Ellison said, pushing her glass forward. She wasn’t turning it in, she was asking for another. “Let’s save us all time and make it a double,” Ellison said.
“The girl can drink,” Stavros said, impressed.
“This is over Maddox?” I asked.
“Actually,” Ellie said, taking two big gulps until the clear liquid was gone. She pushed the empty glass toward Stavros. “This is not over Maddox. This is my stand against the patriarchy.”
“This will get ’em good,” Stavros said, pouring another double.
“I mean, I like him. He’s a good guy. But let’s be honest. A ball sack would get me a ride to fire camp.”
Stavros spit out a laugh and looked at me, thoroughly amused.
“Are you originally from Estes Park?” I asked.
“My family has a house there.”
From Here to You Page 17