Page 11 of Light My Fire Three Times
“Yeah,” I finally reply tightly. “Fine. We don’t talk about it.”
It’s the only thing I can think of saying. What else is there to say? We’re both pretending this was some random, meaningless thing, and I don’t know which of us is fooling the other more. Maybe we both are.
He turns back toward the window, nodding. “Good. So, we’re clear?”
I nod, but the knot in my stomach tightens. I’m trying to hold on to some sense of control, some sense of normalcy. This… whatever this was, can’t change anything.
It shouldn’t.
CHAPTER FOUR
Leo
OCTOBER 27TH
The rhythmic humof the fire station is oddly comforting this time of morning.
It’s quiet for the most part. Just the clink of metal and the occasional whir of the coffee machine.
I’m halfway through my third cup of coffee when Jesse walks in, and I can tell by the set of his shoulders that something’s bothering him. Jesse rarely walks in here lookingtoocheerful, but when he’s not smiling, it’s usually because something’s weighing on him.
He spots me by the counter, pours himself a cup of coffee, and leans against the counter with a sigh.
“Anything interesting happen while I was gone?” Jesse asks lightly, but with a slight edge to his words.
He’s trying to hide it, but I can tell.
“Not much,” I grunt, giving him a sidelong glance. “Same old, same old. Karl almost set the kitchen on fire trying to make toast.”
Jesse chuckles, and for a second, the tension breaks. “What else is new?”
“I told him to get the fire extinguisher ready,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “I knew it wasn’t gonna end well.”
“You’re just mad you didn’t get to eat his cookies.”
I stop mid-sip and glance at him, eyebrow raised. “I can’t believe you actually remember that.”
“Hey, you eat your feelings, Leo. I’m just saying, you’ve got an entire stash of cookies hidden behind the fridge. Don’t pretend like I don’t know.”
Riley chuckles from the corner of the room. I didn’t even realize he was there. “True, Leo. We all know shit’s gone wrong when you’re carrying around a bag of chips like they’re a lifeline.”
I roll my eyes and throw my hands in the air in mock surrender. “Alright, that might be true. But don’t act like you guys are so much better than me.”
Just as Jesse is about to shoot back, Karl walks in with his usual swagger, practically rolling up his sleeves in the doorway as if he’s already done something heroic.
“Man, you guys look serious as hell,” he says, plopping himself down at the table, grinning wildly. “What’s going on?”
Jesse snorts, taking a sip of his coffee. “I heard about the fireman who nearly set his kitchen on fire…”
Karl shrugs, looking perfectly unbothered. “Whatever. At least I’d be able to put it out.”
I raise an eyebrow at my cousin. “Yeah, you’re really good at that, Karl. Almost like you’ve had some practice.”
“More than you know,” Karl replies with a grin, tapping his fingers on the table.
His cocky attitude doesn’t faze me, but it’s hard not to appreciate the way he can lighten the mood even when things are a bit tense. His presence is a shot of adrenaline… chaotic, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore.
Riley snorts. “Man, Karl, I think the only thing you’ve been practicing is how to burn toast without actually setting off the fire alarms. That’s some next-level talent.”
