I felt like I’d been encased in concrete, my careful movements sending cracks snaking across the surface. I was going to feel this tomorrow. Shifting a little, I pulled the edge of the shelter out from under me and looked.
Everything was black and red.
The air was still thick with ash and smoke, and glowing embers peppered the landscape. It was hot, but not deadly hot. Just I-don’t-want-to-be-down-here-too-long hot. The air I’d trapped in my shelter now seemed fresh and clean compared to the thick post-burn atmosphere. But I could breathe.
I got to my feet and let the fire shelter fall. It looked like the end of the fucking world. Trees blackened, debris everywhere. I turned around and saw that the side of the hill was scorched clean.
I grabbed my radio. “Chief, it’s Gavin. You wanna get me out of here now?”
“Holy shit, Gav,” he said, a rare burst of emotion coming through in his tone. “They’re coming for you. Are you injured?”
“Don’t think so. Did everyone get out in time?”
“Yeah, everyone’s fine, including the kid you saved. They’re transporting him to the hospital. Crews are on their way to the command post.”
I closed my eyes for a second and let out a breath. Fuck yes. “Awesome.”
A helicopter whirred overhead. Thank fuck I didn’t have to climb out of this hell hole.
“I see the chopper. Get some beer on ice for me. I could really use a cold one.”
“You and me both, son. Don’t jump out of the helicopter on your way back.”
I cracked a smile. “No intention of that, Chief.”
The helicopter hovered above, the wind kicking up ash and dust. I pulled my bandana up to keep the worst of it out of my lungs and shielded my face with my arm. The crew lowered a rescue line and it was the best thing I’d seen all day.
They took me to the landing pad near the command post. Eric, one of TFD’s paramedics, was there to meet me. Obviously I could walk under my own power, but he insisted on bringing me to the aid station to get checked out. I complied.
No injuries. My skin felt a little tender, but the mild burns didn’t require any treatment. Mostly I was just dirty, tired, and dehydrated. Eric made me down a bottle of pink shit—an electrolyte drink—before he’d let me go, then gave me strict instructions on my hydration protocol for the next twenty-four hours.
I assured him I’d be a good boy and drink my liquids. I didn’t tell him a lot of that was going to be beer as soon as I got back to town.
Levi stalked over to the aid station, looking like he was ready to do what the fire hadn’t—kill me.
“Holy shit, you scared the fuck out of me.” He grabbed me and hauled me into a bear hug.
I hugged him, slapping his back a few times. “I’m fine, bro.”
“That was stupid.” He pulled away to look at me. “Really fucking stupid.”
“What part was stupid? The part where I saved a guy’s life?”
His brow creased and he shook his head. “You almost died today. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“No, I lived today.” I took another swig of the pink shit. “And so did Robby.”
“You keep taking chances like that and one of these days your gamble won’t fucking pay off. Nobody wins every time.”
I grinned at him. “I do.”
That only made him angrier. “You were reckless, Gav. You can’t be reckless in this job.”
I stepped closer. “That kid would have died if I hadn’t gone down there. We both know that. I had my PPE. The fire shelter did its job.”
His jaw hitched.
“Come on.” I slung an arm around his shoulder. “I need to go check in with Chief.”
An hour later, and after a similar lecture from Chief, Levi and I headed back to town for a mandatory forty-eight-hour rest period. I didn’t want it—one night with a few beers and a shower, and I’d be good to go tomorrow. But regulations were regulations, and as everyone kept pointing out, a fire shelter deployment was a big deal.
I texted Logan on the way to the station, sending him a covert selfie of me and Levi. We were on different shifts, so he’d be heading out to the fire front in the morning.
We got to the station and I decided I wanted that beer now. And yeah, I kinda wanted to go hang out and brag about my near miss. The grime left on my face would just make the story more exciting.
“Bro, we can shower later,” I said. “Let’s go get a beer. Come on, I almost died today.”
Levi glared at me.
My phone binged with a text from Logan. He and some of the guys were already at the Caboose.
“I’m walking over to the Caboose. You can do what you want.”
“Whatever,” Levi said. “I’m taking a fucking shower.”
“Suit yourself, bro. I’ll buy you a beer when you get there.”
The Caboose was only a few blocks from the station. Still a little high on adrenaline, I walked to the restaurant and bar that had been our prime hangout for years. Logan and a few more guys were in the parking lot.
“There’s the baked brotato,” Logan called.
He and the other guys gave me a round of applause. I paused at the curb to bow before crossing the street.
“Just a day at the office,” I called, grinning as I stepped off the sidewalk. “You guys—”
BAM!
I hit the pavement, blinding pain shooting through me, and my head swam with confusion. The weirdest thought went through my mind.
Did I just survive a forest fire only to get hit by a fucking car?
3
Skylar
Oh my god.
I wasn’t breathing. Air rushed into my lungs in a gasp and I pried my hands off the steering wheel.
I’d just hit someone.
With my car.
Move, Skylar. Call 911. Do something.
I flew out and rushed to where he lay on the pavement a few feet from my front bumper. He lifted his head and blinked at me. And then he did the strangest thing.
He smiled.
The corners of his mouth turned upward, and through the dirt on his face, I could see a very cute set of dimples.
Why was I thinking about how cute his dimples were? I’d just hit this man.
“Hey,” he said.
I crouched next to him. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Of course you’re not okay. I’ll call 911.”
Our gazes met, and for a second, I was frozen. His soft brown eyes held mine captive and warmth filled me. Butterflies in my stomach suddenly took flight, flapping their tiny wings. Unable to stop myself, I reached out and gently smoothed his hair back from his forehead.
God, he was gorgeous.
He opened his mouth as if to say something else, but several men ran over from the adjacent parking lot, breaking the spell.
“Holy shit, Gavin.”
“Are you okay?”
“Can you move?”
I stood and fumbled for my phone, but one of them put a hand on my arm.
“It’s okay, I’m already on with dispatch.” He had a phone to his ear. “We’re TFD.”
TFD. Tilikum Fire Department. These guys were firefighters? That was lucky.
“Hang in there, broller coaster,” one of the guys said. He was kneeling next to the victim. My victim. “You’re all right.”