Page 22 of Last First Date
I know, I know. I had it coming.
I was an asshole to her on the phone, all because I couldn’t stand the way that she flirted with that slime ball Garretson. Or maybe because she wants to use me to flirt her way into bed with that other slime ball Kotner. Whatever.
I shouldn’t get mad at her about that kind of thing, but I hate the thought of her even looking at another guy, let alone using me to get with him.
I know that’s stupid, obviously, and it’s never going to go anywhere because she’s all about that high-end lifestyle, and I’m just that guy from the wrong side of the tracks who somehow clawed his way into the upper middle class.
I don’t even have that high dollar status to show off now that I lost my job due to stupid firm politics. That asshole partner of mine is the worst kind of man. I may not be able to talk shit about Al Romig in public, but everyone in Valentine is going to be able to do the math on how he chose to fuck over the First Impressions Foundation in favor of a business contract.
And why am I working at the fire station instead of toiling away in an office somewhere? Because Romig is a lying, bullying piece of trash.
Yes, I’d solicited funds from one of the firm’s big clients in order to support the nonprofit I’d founded. When Romig found out, he’d screamed at me that I was a nobody and then accused me of poaching his client.
Get the fuck out of here with that nonsense. I was well within my rights to ask our firm’s biggest client to make a donation to my charity. There is nothing wrong with trying to help other kids get a better start than what I had in life. Plus, when I got walked out the door, I got to follow my lifelong dreams. So there.
And that’s how I came to be out in front of the station trying to push start the K-12 saw on the ground.
Krantz nods at me. “You really need to learn how to do it, rookie. You won’t always have this kind of time when we’re out on a call and being able to start the saw like this could make all the difference between someone living or dying.”
The way he says it sends an ice cold shiver down my spine. I like William Krantz. I mean sure, he’s got a two-tone mullet, which is a tragic thing for anyone to ever do to his hair, but he thinks it gives him a rock star look. I’m willing to let that go because he’s always been kind to me even though I’m the new guy, almost like a big brother.
“Okay. I got this, Will.” I look down at the big saw that’s used to cut metal during emergencies and rescues. I take a deep breath and think about someone needing me to save them. Like Darcy did during the attack of the slimy slut-man, tossing her hair over her shoulder all pretty like.
Nope. No good at all. Now I’m just thinking about Darcy and her long, dark hair. I bet it would look amazing spread out all over my pillows. Or clenched in one of my fists while I slide inside her, feeling her body so hot and tight and wet, gripping me, then throbbing with her orgasm.
Who taught that girl her sex voice anyway? I should either thank that person or fight them, depending on who it was. God, her voice earlier when she begged me to say yes to her made me want to do so many dirty things to her and videotape them all.
Well shit. Now that’s even worse. I’m definitely going to get an awkward boner when I should be focusing on the job. And if that’s not grounds for teasing by the other guys, then I don’t know what is.
Besides, having an erection right now would make it unreasonably difficult to run, especially with me all bent over holding this heavy ass saw.
Okay, back to thinking about danger and saws and rescues. Definitely not Darcy Albrecht’s lips, her hips, and all the rest of her made for sin body.
Krantz makes a gesture that can only mean that I’m supposed to hurry up. Okay, okay. No more daydreaming.
I put the saw against the ground and press gently and look up at him for more instructions. “You’ve got to go as fast as you can, Abernathy. Otherwise it won’t start.”
I nod once and then run with the saw pressed down, willing it to kick to life.
At the end of the driveway I pause, completely winded, but the saw isn’t even showing vague signs of turning on.
“Get your dumb ass back here and try it again. We don’t have all night for you to learn this, and you’re not even staying in a straight line.” Krantz looks disgusted with me, and I droop a little under his disapproval.
Daniels is beside Krantz now, shaking his head with his mouth pressed into a tight, disapproving frown. “I don’t think the boy has it in him, Will.”
“Bullshit,” I say and head back to where the truck is parked at the head of the drive, lugging over twenty pounds of rescue saw with me. “I’ll get it this time.”
I lean down again, sweat dripping down my neck, determined to do it right. I’ll show all these guys that I’m capable, that I can do everything they can do.
Daniels frowns at me, all the playfulness gone from his demeanor. “Now listen to me, rookie. You have to go as fast as you can in a straight line and then lift it up just a little at the end so the motor will catch.” Daniels leans closer. “Did you understand me this time or do I need to use smaller words?”
“I’ve got this,” I mutter to him. What an asshole he is, lurking around out here like he’s wanting to see me fail at this.
I take a deep breath and take off running like some wild animal is chasing me. But when I lift the saw a little at the end of the drive, I almost lose my balance and end up flailing forward awkwardly, the momentum of the heavy saw dragging me off balance.
“Don’t trip,” hollers out Daniels.
I regain my footing and turn to flip him off, but then I see the entire station is outside now, clapping and cheering.
