Page 18 of Burned By Love

Chapter Six

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WEST WAS PRETTY SUREhe’d be making a massive mistake if he visited Jonathan at work without warning him that he was coming, but that wouldn’t stop him from doing it.

The two of them had been texting since the hospital.Jonathan hadn’t told West he could visit, but he also hadn’t said he couldn’t, and West wanted to see him.He knew that Jonathan was recuperating and that he felt fine now, but he needed to see it with his own two eyes.

He was still thinking about asking him on a date.He understood everything Austin had said, and he did like Jonathan, but he wasn’t willing to push the man into something he wasn’t ready for or didn’t want.Maybe Jonathan would feel like he should say yes because West had saved his life or something.It wouldn’t be the first time someone was so grateful they tried to date him.It happened to every firefighter and paramedic he knew, which was one of the reasons they all tried to stay away from people they met on calls.

West had failed miserably this time.Jonathan hadn’t been his patient, so he hoped things would be different with him, but he wouldn’t know until he saw the man again.

“You’ve been texting a lot,” Lisa said as she slid into an empty chair at the table.

For once, West’s phone wasn’t in his hand.It was in his pocket, and he knew it wouldn’t vibrate because Jonathan was working.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lisa didn’t look impressed.“You can try to talk around Jeremy and Austin, but I know better.Is it the cute tattoo artist?”

West was going to regret this, but that was a problem for future West.“How do you know it’s about Jonathan?”

“You were focused on him that day, and I heard you and Austin talk about the fact that he wasn’t technically our patient.I’d still be careful if I were you.He didn’t look too impressed, but you never know.”

“I just want to check on him after he was caught in that grocery store fire.”

“Ah, yes, I’m sure that’s all there is to it.”

They both knew it wasn’t, but it looked like Lisa wasn’t going to call West out on it, and West was perfectly happy with that.

They answered a few more calls before the end of their shift, but as soon as he could, West made a beeline for his truck.He wasn’t sticking around and answering Austin’s questions.The man was nosy, and he’d been glancing at West as if he was waiting for the right moment to corner him.West wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.He loved his best friend, but sometimes, Austin could be a lot.

West was nervous as he drove to the tattoo shop.What was he going to say to Jonathan?At the very least, he could ask him how he felt.He wasn’t a doctor, but he’d do in a pinch if Jonathan didn’t feel right.

Or West could ask him on a date.He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about doing just that since Austin had mentioned it again, but he had no idea what Jonathan would do if he tried.He supposed he was about to find out.

He’d never been to the shop when everything was normal, but he knew what to expect.Christy was behind the counter when he walked in, and she beamed at him as if he was her long-lost best friend or something.

“West.Jonathan didn’t say you were coming by.”

“That’s because he doesn’t know I am.I just wanted to check in on him.”

“I see.Well, you’ll be happy to know that he’s doing fine.He's probably pushing himself too hard, but that’s Jonathan for you.He’s with a customer right now, but I can call him for you.”

“I wouldn’t want to bother him.”

“It’s time for a break, anyway.We’ve been making sure he takes enough of those.”

Christie spoke as if she wasn’t the only one doing all of that, and West realized that she wasn’t as soon as she disappeared down the hallway.A woman and a man rushed into the waiting area, almost colliding with each other in their haste to get to West.

“That’s him?”the woman asked.“It’s you?”

West had no idea what was happening.“I don’t know.”

“Obviously it’s him,” the man said.He stuck his hand out.“I’m Ethan, and this is Daniela.You’re Jonathan’s West, right?The firefighter.”

West liked hearing himself calledJonathan’smore than he should.“That’s right.I’m a firefighter.”

Ethan looked him up and down.“I can see that.Damn, Jonathan’s lucky.”

Daniela snorted.“You know he won’t allow himself to go there.”

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