“Look, we’re going to fight sometimes,” Athena said. “It’s normal. Let’s just make sure it’s over something actionable, not because we’re misreading each other.”
“I’m all for that,” Flash agreed.
“Now.” Athena leaned back in the booth, sipped her water, and eyed Flash intuitively. “What happened on shift yesterday before you called?”
Damn, she’s good,Flash thought.Could’ve been a profiler.
With a sigh, she relayed the entire story. Midway through, the waiter brought the appetizers.
“Honey, I’m so sorry.” Athena reached for her hand. Flash took it with gratitude.
“And we were just talking about how we can’t save everybody,” Flash said quietly. She shook her head and nibbled a bite of dim sum.
“But because you didn’t hesitate, didn’t wait for orders, you rescued one of them,” Athena reminded her. “And, my God, Flash, the stairwell fell out from under you? Thank heavens you weren’t hurt.”
“Oh, that kind of thing happens often,” she replied, brushing it off. “It isn’t often I have to watch a kid’s body recovered afterward—again, thank God.” Gritting her teeth, she added, “I just can’t get over that jerk videoing it.”
Flash detected a fleeting look in Athena’s eyes, as if she’d suddenly thought of something important. Then it was gone.
Cocking her head, Athena posed a question. “What would you have done differently if you had been in charge?”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Flash said. “Hindsight is 20/20. I’m not blaming Edwards. He couldn’t have known what room the children were in.”
“I’m not casting blame, Flash.” Athena slowly reiterated her question. “What wouldyouhave done?”
Flash rolled her eyes. She had already replayed every step. Even amid the fire, her brain had ticked off ideas of how she thought it should have been handled.
“I would have split squad, sent half of them upstairs and the other half down,” she confessed, “but Edwards’ logic wasn’t faulty. If they had found the kids downstairs, there would have been no need to send firefighters up, where the fire was fully blown and conditions more hazardous.”
“Then, upon what do you base your plan?”
“Instinct. Kids’ rooms are usually upstairs, and, if they had been downstairs, why not just run out the front or back doors? They were kids, but not itty-bitties. The mom had the baby. Neither option was wrong.”
“It’s just that your strategy might have saved both children.”
Flash let Athena’s statement hang in the air. She had sworn she didn’t want the responsibility of calling the shots, the weight of life and death decisions. However, in her eight years as a firefighter, Flash had seldom been wrong.
The waiter set their plates in front of them. “Can I get you something else? More water? Tea?”
“How about some to-go boxes?” Flash said, shooting a glance at Athena.
Athena patted her mouth daintily with a cloth napkin. “And the check.”
“I’m buying.” Flash’s challenging gaze met Athena’s, and her girlfriend held up her hands in surrender. When the waiter walked away, Flash smirked. “I hope you’re that cooperative when I get you back to my loft.”
“If you want, I’ll bring the handcuffs,” Athena teased.
Athena’s pulse quickened as she drove the short distance to Flash’s apartment, a warm ache of anticipation blooming in her chest. Her heart seemed to beat in time with every memory of Flash’s touch.
“Shame there’s no elevator,” Flash said, her hand sliding to the small of Athena’s back. “We might’ve made better use of the ride up.”
Taking the railing, with chivalrous Flash at her other side, she started up the stairs. “That would have been nice indeed. Then again, five flights can get the blood pumping as well.” A tingle of exhilaration flitted through her like a spark of electricity. There was so much about Flash to admire, and she intended to show her personal first responder exactly how treasured she was.
Flash escorted her inside, where a bounding ball of fur barked excitedly, running rings around their feet until Athena picked her up. “And hello to you too.”
Snuffles wiggled and whined with joyful energy, then licked Athena’s nose, making her laugh.
“See?” Flash said as she put the boxes of leftovers in the refrigerator. “She missed you. We’ll probably want to finish this later tonight, but, you know, shrimp. Can’t take any chances.”
