Page 14 of Burning Up

“So you’ve been a firefighter for ten years?” Matt asked.

“Almost eleven.”

“You must have seen a lot in that time.”

Toby slapped Matt on the arm.

“Oww!” Then his eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t mean… I wasn’t thinking. Just ignore me.”

“I haven’t told anyone about that day, not even the counselor they sent me to. I’ve just never…” Bryce didn’t know why those words burst out of him, but now his throat tightened and his eyes stung. He fought to be able to finish his sentence. “Never been able to put it in words.”

“We would listen if you wanted us to,” Toby said, his caretaking instincts evident in his soft smile and gentle touch on Bryce’s arm.

Bryce hadn’t wanted to talk about the night a mom and her kids were trapped in a burning house, had sworn he never would. He’d thought that if he put it in words, it would be like reliving it. But if he shared the story, would he actually be able to let it go? Was it wrong to burden Toby and Matt like that?

“Nah, I…”

“We’d be honored,” Matt said.

If Toby and Matt hadn’t been firefighters too, he wouldn’t have considered telling them, but even though they were still green, they’d understand. They’d never mock him for how he felt. “Yeah?”

They both nodded.

He looked around the bar. It was crowded, and he couldn’t be sure if he’d make it through the story without breaking down. “Not here.”

“Come home with us.”

Home? With them? That was definitely not a good idea, especially if he was going to spill his guts, because after he did, he’d need to get really drunk. If he got drunk around Matt and Toby, he was going to say something he shouldn’t. Hell, he was probably going to do something he shouldn’t. “I’m warning you, if I get through this, I’m going to want to get shit-faced afterward.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Toby slid off his stool and tugged on Bryce’s arm. “We’ve got plenty to drink at home, and we can either drive you back to your place or you can crash on the couch.”

Of course Toby would offer Bryce what he needed, but Bryce didn’t think he’d really end up on their couch. That was what worried him. “I shouldn’t?—”

“We’re friends, right?” Matt asked.

“Well yeah, but like I said?—”

“And we put our lives in each others’ hands already.”

“Yeah but?—”

Matt gave him an assessing look. “Would it help to tell us?”

Bryce had no idea why, but he was sure it would. “Yeah, but I’ve got Rollo with me. I’d have to bring him too.”

Toby glanced at Matt. “We love dogs. Let’s go.”

Bryce heard himself say “okay,” but his voice sounded far away.

7

The buzz of the bar patrons talking battered Bryce, making him dizzy. He clung to Rollo’s leash, frozen in place.

“Walk him out, and I’ll settle up,” Matt said.

Bryce wobbled drunkenly as he followed Toby to the door. Three beers shouldn’t have done that to him. They were almost at Toby’s truck when he realized he needed to pay his own tab.

“I’ll be back in a minute. I’ve got to pay my tab.”

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