“Can we keep the cat here at the firehouse?” I ask before he’s even rounded his desk.
“What?” he asks over his shoulder.
“The cat that was under your bed, Salem. Can we keep her?”
His forehead scrunches up with confusion. “Like, for good?”
“Yeah. Sienna is okay with it.”
“She is?”
I shrug. “I think she just wants her to have a safe, happy home. All the guys love her, so it kind of works.”
“I don’t want her sleeping in my room,” he grumbles.
“Then keep your door shut.”
“Watch it, Tuck.”
I hold my hands up in front of me. “Fine. Fine. I’ll be quiet.”
He buries his face in his hands. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes, you can keep her. You’re in charge of taking care of her, though.”
“Thank you,” I say, turning toward the door.
“Oh, and you need to pay for all of her stuff,” he adds.
“You got it,” I say as I practically skip out of his office.
I never knew I wanted a cat, but I guess I secretly did.
Grayson let me duck out from work this afternoon to go buy all the stuff Salem will need. She’s all set up until I’m back on shift in a couple days.
The crew that works opposite us seemed just as smitten with her as we all are. Dani said she’ll keep a close eye on her for me.
Warren and Grayson end up walking out to their cars at the same time as me. Sometimes these long shifts can be really draining, so we’re all silent.
Rounding the cars near the door, I spot a familiar redhead leaning against Grayson’s truck.
“I’m not hallucinating. Right?” Grayson asks. “She’s actually standing there?”
“She’s real,” I say quietly.
We all walk toward her until we’re only a few feet away.
She looks nervous. Her eyes roam the small parking lot. She must not see anything that gives her pause because she starts rambling, which seems like something she does frequently.
“I’ve thought about it, and I want to do it. I mean, I want to go through with your whole plan,” she says, looking at me. “I’m embracing that whole female empowerment thing. Taking the reins of my own destiny and all of that.”
Her cheeks are almost as red as her hair at this point.
“So, now you know, and I’m going to leave now,” she says, and before any of us can say anything, she bolts toward her car that’s parked along the curb.
She pulls away without a single glance back in our direction.
All three of us share a look.I guess we’re really doing this.
CHAPTER TWELVE
