Page 90 of From Nowhere

Ozzy: See you tonight!

Maren: I’m headed to my plane. CU tonight!

Ozzy: Your properly inspected plane?

Maren: Check. Double check. Triple check. And then some

Ozzy: Be safe

Maren: That’s the plan xo

After watching reports on fires, waiting for a call, playing cards, twiddling thumbs, and fine-tuning our equipment more times than I can count all day Friday, Saturday brings a spark of unknown origin, and we’re headed to something new.

Thirty-five minutes later, I’m working the north flank. There are no ground crews on site yet, which makes things easier, and in my ear, I get the “line is clear to drop.”

“Roger, 274 clear to drop,” I say, releasing the retardant. It’s the first of many on what could be a long day if the wind continues to pick up speed.

As hard as I try to stay entirely focused on the task at hand, the job I love, I can’t help but think of Tia and her assumption that I wouldn’t do this job if I had a family.

She’s wrong.

I think.

Maren: Do u want me to bring board games? I’m good at Scrabble

It takes Ozzy a few minutes to reply as I fill my water bottle and Will eats his dinner while scrolling on his phone.

Ozzy: I’m good at oral

My face flushes, so I angle my body away from Will.

Maren: I think the FedEx Cup is this weekend. Do you watch golf?

Ozzy: I’m good at driving things into a hole.

I snort, covering my mouth.

“Everything okay?” Will asks.

“Men are perverts.” I screw on the lid to my bottle.

He finishes chewing his bite of steak. “Are you waiting for me to dispute your claim? Sorry. I can’t.”

“I didn’t figure you could.” I shake my head.

Will grins, and it’s so familiar and comforting. I think of all the conversations we’ve had in this kitchen—the laughter, banter, and even a few tears.

“What will you do when all of your roommates move out?”

He shrugs. “I’m going to host more orgies.”

I laugh. “More? Are you implying you’ve hosted any? Why was I not invited?”

He smirks while chewing another bite, but it fades as soon as he swallows. “I’m going to feel abandoned.”

My heart suffocates beneath the weight of his confession. He’ll feel abandoned, and I’ll feel a little lost. Will and Fitz have felt like home more than the walls around me. Home is not awhere; it’s awho. I still see my brother napping on the sofa or gazing into the fridge at nothing in particular until I yell at him to save a little energy.

I clear my throat before my emotions reach the surface. “Are you getting new roommates?”

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