Page 24 of Give Me a Reason

Anne practically ran to the garage, tugging her cousin along. They needed to get to the fire station. Once she stowed the food in the back of her white sedan, she dove into the driver’s seat and turned on the ignition. Coraline buckled up in a rush as Anne skidded out of the driveway.

“Can you put the address for the fire station in the navigation system?” Anne glanced at her side mirror before changing lanes. The car in front of them was barely driving at the speed limit. “I want to make sure we take the fastest route.”

Her cousin did as requested, seeming calmer now that they were on the road. Taking action did that for people. It gave you something to focus on other than your own panic. Staying idle during a crisis only made you feel more helpless. In that sense, Anne was glad she had her family to take care of when her mom died.

As they neared the fire station, Anne felt her stomach knotting. She wasn’t at all certain she was taking the right sort ofaction in this instance. Maybe she should have gone on a jog instead.

Frederick definitely wouldn’t be happy to see her. And she might even be intruding on the team as a whole at a difficult time. Anne couldn’t decide what to do even after she parked in front of the station. She worried her bottom lip, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel.

“Anne, can you bring the food inside?” Her cousin glanced at her, reaching for the door handle. “I need to find Joe.”

“Of course.” Anne smiled, relieved to have the decision made for her. “You go in. I’ll take care of the food.”

After a bracing breath, she grabbed the take-out bags and walked into the station bay. She took hesitant steps toward the family room, trying to recall the layout of the station from her last visit. It was close to eight o’clock, so the crew would be on standby. According to Sandy, they usually hung out in the family room after they wrapped up their regular workday.

During Thanksgiving dinner, Sandy had patiently answered her many questions about a day in the life of a firefighter. Anne thought she wanted a glimpse into the life Frederick had built to remind herself that she’d made the right decision to leave him. But she had actually been greedy for every precious insight into him so she could tuck them away like treasure.

A low murmur of voices guided her to the right room, but Anne stopped just outside the door. Her heart sank at how subdued the crew sounded—so unlike the raucous chatter of Thanksgiving night. With a determined smile, she stepped into the family room, raising the take-out bags high.

“Knock, knock,” she announced herself. “Is anyone interested in some fish tacos?”

“Hell yeah.” Nick jumped up from the large sectional in the center of the room and bounded up to her. “Thanks, Anne. Oh, and hello, Anne.”

“Hey, Nick.” Anne smiled warmly at him, placing her hand on his giant arm. “How are you doing?”

“It’s my first time dealing with a fatality. Of course, I knew it happened sometimes, but I wasn’t prepared for how it would make me feel.” His big hazel eyes glistened with unshed tears, but he hurriedly blinked them away. “So yeah. I really appreciate the tacos.”

“I wish I could tell you it gets easier, big guy.” Michelle joined them and patted Nick on the back. “But it isn’t one of those things that you get used to even with time and experience. All we can do is be here for one another.”

“Hi, Michelle,” Anne said softly. “Do you need some tacos, too?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The driver operator turned around and addressed everyone in the room. “That cereal we had for dinner was pretty pathetic, B Shift. Let’s do some damage to these tacos.”

Anne held up a finger with a cheeky grin. “Andchips and guac.”

The rest of the crew gathered around the sofa as Anne set out the food on the coffee table. Joe joined them, too, with Coraline tucked close by his side. Everyone except Frederick answered the call of tacos.

Anne’s worried eyes scanned the family room, but he was nowhere in sight. She should’ve known. She would have spotted him the moment she’d entered the room if he’d been there.

“Let me get you guys some extra napkins,” she said to no one in particular and went in search of her missing ex.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Frederick stood gripping the edge of the kitchen sink like it was a lifeline, the water running unheeded down the drain. With an annoyed grunt, he shut the water off and resumed gripping the sink. No one had been up for cooking—or eating—dinner, but he’d insisted on everyone having some cereal at least. He’d ignored his own advice and volunteered to do the dishes, but all he could do was stare down at the sad, bloated Cheerios floating in the murky water of the bowls.

“Frederick?”

He went stock-still, his breath frozen in his chest. He slowly loosened his death grip on the sink. What if he turned around and she wasn’t there? What if he’d imagined Anne calling his name, her voice soft and sweet?

Relief coursed through him when he turned around to find her standing a few feet away. Only because it would be worrisome for him to have imagined her.

Frederick didn’t want her to see him like this, but he needed… What did he need? What could he possibly need fromher? The answer came much too quickly. He needed her in his arms. He wanted to see if she still fit him perfectly with her head tucked under his chin, her soft curves melting against the hard planes of his body. God, he didn’t know if he had the strength not to touch her.

He swallowed and forced himself to meet her gaze. Her eyes were kind but wary, as though she didn’t know how he would react to seeing her.Certainly not like this, trembling with the need to hold her and soak up her warmth.He must be losing his mind. He clenched his fists at his sides to stop himself from reaching out for her. It might’ve been less worrisome if he’d imagined hearing her voice.

“What are you doing here?” he rasped in a voice rough with conflict. The barest hint of a flinch darted across her face. He hated that he noticed. He hated that he’d put it there.

“I drove Coraline here,” Anne said, her expression a serene mask once more. “She wanted to be with Joe, but I couldn’t let her drive while she was so upset.”

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