Page 9 of Burned By Fire
4
EMBER
Thursday, May 5th
“You’re quite fit for an old-timer,” I say as we head under the bridge in the park. It’s a beautiful morning with a cool breeze. Sol picks up the pace, and I easily match it.
“Watch your language, baby girl,” Sol says, cracking a smile, which is good to see. There haven’t been many happy moments with him lately.
“I’m twenty-one, not two. Unless you want me to start calling you Daddy, I suggest you don’t call me that again.” I pout.
He’s joking, and it’s great to see him in a better mood, but I don’t want him to think of me as a child.
He laughs. “I’m only eleven years older than you. I’m not old enough to be your parent.”
“I’m glad you see it like that.” At least he didn’t say he was like an older brother to me. The way I checked out his ass first thing would have been a crime if we were related.
“How do you mean?” His pace slows for a second and he seems distracted, but then I see what’s in front of us. He’s preparing for the change in muscle strain.
We run up the hill and my palms begin to sweat, but it isn’t from the exercise. “Next time I need a date for an event, I know who to call.” I try to sound casual, although I’m a little freaked out that I hinted at what I want. A few guys at the firehouse know about my crush, but I don’t think I’ve openly ogled him, other than on the calendar, and maybe this morning when he first arrived. A warm blush creeps over my skin.
Am I really that obvious? I hope not.
“Wouldn’t you rather take someone your own age?”
Ouch. I should’ve known that was coming. What happened to age being just a number and there’s not much difference between us? “I’d like to take a friend I can have fun with.”
“Are we still talking hypothetically?”
We reach the top of the hill and keep running down the other side. If I wasn’t already warm from the workout, my face would be burning red hot for other reasons. Sol isn’t a reliable guy at the moment, but he’s the only one I want to spend time with. Would it be so bad to try and convince him to help me out? “Actually, I’ve been invited to a high school friend’s wedding and I’m in need of a plus one.”
He slows down to look at me. I glance his way but keep going. He soon catches me back up. “I’m sorry, Ember. You’ll have to find someone else.”
My heart sinks. It might be because he feels he’s not ready for social events, but it hurts that he doesn’t see how much I want it to be him by my side. He probably doesn’t see me in that way and, thankfully, I can shrug it off and pretend it’s nothing.
“Sure. No big deal. I’m sure I can find someone who doesn’t mind free food and a hot woman on their arm,” I joke but immediately cringe at the mention of an arm and the fact I just described myself as attractive. Sol acted weird when I touched his scars yesterday, even if it was through his shirt.
“Your beauty and my stomach have nothing to do with why I can’t go with you.”
I rub my cheek. “I’m sorry. It was a dumb idea. I’ll find someone else. Do you want me to drop you off at home before I go to work?”
A change in subject is what I need. I have to leave soon anyway or I’ll be late for my shift.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll catch you later.”
He takes a sharp change in direction and I slow to a stop. Sol’s been acting strange since the accident, but I’m still wondering what sent him running. Is the idea of being my date the reason, or is he avoiding people in general?
* * *
The alarm goes off, and I race to my equipment. I dress quickly and follow my squad into the fire truck.
“There’s been a traffic collision on Maiden Street,” Dylan says, as we speed out of the firehouse.
“Do we know how many cars?” Liam asks.
“Four. There was a glitch in the traffic signals. The lights system failed to update when new data was installed,” Dylan says.
“Let’s hope everyone’s okay,” I say. Liam crosses his fingers, and I copy the gesture.