Page 10 of Burn It Down

“Come on...” he pushes, and I roll my eyes with a huff.

“Goodbye, Mr. Mitchell. I’ll see you later.”

He just cackles at that—totally unbothered because I don’t think anything has ever bothered Bowen in his life—and then goes to collect his nephew.

Elijah gives me a sweet little wave, and I wave goodbye back to him before I bump into Janelle heading back to my classroom. “Okay, who the hell was that? Because good lord.”

“Are you forgetting you’re a married woman?”

“Married. Not dead,” she singsongs as we walk into the building together.

“It’s Bowen Mitchell.”

Her eyes light up, and she stops, grabbing my arm and spinning me to face her. “Mitchell. As in Kade Mitchell?”

See, this is why you shouldn’t have a ton of margaritas at the Mexican restaurant with your best friend—you end up confessing your life story. Even a stupid little crush from high school. “Bowen is his older brother.”

“Oh my God,” she says, her eyes wide and scandalized.

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes, it is. If his brother looks like that—phew.” She waves her hand over her face, and I can’t hide my smile, even though I’m trying to be annoyed. “Kade must be just as gorgeous.”

Even more so. But I don’t say that out loud, thank God. “They’re fine,” I say, wiggling away from her and walking toward my classroom again.

“Fine?” she scoffs as she follows me into my classroom. “Fine? That boy is so much more than fine. I mean, I guess he’sfiiiiiine.” She emphasizes the word, and I snort a laugh.

“Should I call your husband?”

She laughs and sits down in one of the chairs as I busy myself cleaning up the room. “I think he’d agree.”

“Yeah, well this may be a shocker, but Bowen didn’t remember me at all and did remind me that Kade thought I was a total nerd.”

She shrugs, waving that off. “Youarea nerd.” I cock my head to the side, and she cackles. “A totally hot, adorable nerd. Nerds are in.”

I roll my eyes at that, but she does make me smile. “It doesn’t matter. I’m a teacher. That’s the only relationship I have to the Mitchell brothers now—as Elijah’s teacher.”

“Whatever you say, dear,” she mocks me, and I toss an eraser at her.

She laughs it off, and I’m grateful for the banter with her—it keeps my mind off my stupid high-school crush, the fact that I was a nerdy, sad kid in school, and the little boy who’s going through more pain than I could ever even imagine.

Though that last one is something I don’t want to ever totally forget. I want to help him heal however I can, and I’m determined to do it.

CHAPTER FIVE

My first shift is over, and I’d be lying if I said it was anything but uneventful—which, yeah, is a good thing. At least I kept my promise to Elijah. I smile to myself as I walk out of the fire station. I can’t wait to tell him about the cow-crossing incident I assisted with last night. It was exactly what it sounds like—a cow on the road.

We helped get it across with the assistance of the police officers, who were also eager to have something to do, I think. This first shift was a far cry from working my first shift in Kansas City.

I was terrified that day when my very first call was an apartment fire—but my adrenaline was pumping, and I felt so damn accomplished by the end after pulling numerous people to safety—like I had a purpose.

I think about my son’s sweet face and smile again. That kid never fails to make me smile. That’s for sure. He’s my purpose too.

I bump into someone. I guess I wasn’t paying attention, but I recognize the voice instantly when he says, “Hey, watch it, Mitchell.”

I grin at Will—happy to see him after so long. I think the last time I saw him was at his wedding. Shit, was that five or six years ago? Elijah was a baby. “You on duty?”

“Heading that way,” he says, pulling me into a hug. “Good to see you.”

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