Page 121 of Firecracker

“Hold on,” Ronda said. “Not just guys.”

Everyone laughed. “Okay menand womenwho couldn’t pass the police exam,” Dody replied.

“Well,” Tremon said. “Everyone knows police are the people too out of shape to be firefighters.”

“What do cops and firefighters have in common?” Tyler asked. “They both want to be firefighters.”

More laugher rose around them and Arden leaned into him. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer still.

* * *

“I have to stop at my mom’s place on the way home,” he told Arden when they were in the truck again. Her cheeks were pink from sitting in the fresh air, her eyes sparkling. “Her toilet won’t stop running, and I need to have a look at it.”

“Sure, no problem.”

He drove to North Center and parked in front of the house. Arden made no move to get out of the truck when he opened her door. “Coming in?”

“I thought I’d just wait here.”

“Come in. I won’t be long, but you may as well say hi.”

She hesitated, but slid out. “Okay.”

“You’ve met my mom, right?”

“Oh yeah. Long time ago, though.”

He used his key to open the door and stepped in. Mom appeared from the living room. “That you, Tyler?”

“It’s me, Mom. Me and Arden.” He drew her forward. “You remember Arden Lennox, right?” He knew that wasn’t her name now, but Lennox was how Mom would remember her.

“Of course! Hello Arden, how are you?” Tyler read the interest and curiosity on Mom’s face. Uh-oh.

“Very well, thanks. It’s so nice to see you again.”

“Come in. I was just watching a Netflix show.” She led the way into the living room. “Have a seat. Who’d like something to drink? Coffee? Iced tea? Beer or wine?”

“We just had a couple of beers so I better not have more,” Tyler said. “We’re good. Won’t stay long. I’m just gonna have a look at the toilet.”

“I already called a plumber,” Mom said. “He’s coming tomorrow.”

“What?” he frowned. “I told you I’d come by.”

“You had a baseball game. I know you’re busy.”

“Mom.” He swallowed his frustration. “I can do things like this for you.”

“You have your own life,” she protested, as she always did.

He wanted to look after her. She was his mom and she was on her own now. “Well, I might as well look at it while I’m here.” He blew out a breath as he turned away.

As he left, Mom said to Arden, “I’m sorry he dragged you here.”

“It’s fine!” Arden protested.

Damn. Hehaddragged Arden here, and it turned out he probably didn’t even have to come.

He jogged upstairs to the bathroom, lifted the lid of the tank and peered in, then flushed the toilet. Water spilled into the overflow tube. Should be easy to fix. He just needed a screwdriver.

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