“Won’t he need to go to a hospital?”
“Let’s hope not. It wasn’t as bad as it could be, but he should have taken care of it right when it happened so he wouldn’t have to deal with it now.” She’s done packing up and takes a seat on the chair. “I’ll wait until his fever is down.”
“Yeah, a good idea. Do you want anything? I mean, I know where the water is.” I stop myself before I reveal too much. For example, that I’ve spent two nights here. “Or I can go and grab something for you from my place.”
“Nah, you chill.” She waves me off. “I have a hot meal waiting for me at home. My hubby will have a fit if I eat somewhere else when he cooked dinner for us.” She looks at her wristwatch. “Though, I’ll be late.”
Interesting. So it’s not like something is going on between her and Mark. Even though she mentioned that he’s got no one, she’s too… I don’t know, caring. Plus, I don’t feel jealousy from her. I’d be super jealous if I found another woman in my man’s bed. Or on his couch. Semantics.
I take the other chair and ask her, “How did he get hurt?”
“We went to this huge-ass fire in Copeland.”
“Why? It’s like twenty minutes away. Don’t they have their own units?”
“The fire was huge,” she tells me. “We get called sometimes here and there if they need our help. Small towns.” She shrugs. “We were called to this fire, and Mark got stuck in the building.” Her eyes cloud at the memory, and I sense genuine worry toward Mark. They might be close, probably even good friends. I’ve heard people at the station are like family. I mean, it makes sense. They must trust each other to stay safe, so no wonder they grow close.
“How did he get stuck in there?” I try to imagine a person stuck in a fire with no escape. It must be terrifying.
“We got info that two kids were on the third floor, and he was the last to leave the building, so he went back.” She says it with such affection, for a moment I again wonder if she doesn’t harbor anyextrafeelings toward him. At the mention of him running into a burning building to save kids, even my frozen heart gives an extra beat, and I’m pretty sure my ovaries just ovulated.
“Are the kids—” I’m scared to finish.
“They’re fine.” Her face lights up with a huge smile. “Back with their family, thanks to Mark.”
“But he got burned.” I look at the real-life hero currently laying on the couch, nearly delirious.
“But he got burned.” She confirms with a nod. “I told him the burn was nasty.”
“How did he get burned on his back?” I ask.
“Took off his coat to wrap the kiddos in it.” She delivers this piece of information like it’s nothing. I switch my attention back from Mark to her and see a devious smile on her face. She’s up to no good. She’s painting him as a hero, which he is. No doubt. But she’s loving what she’s doing.
How do I tell her it’s all wasted on me? “Plus, this flu the whole station has?” She forcefully blows air out her mouth. “Yeah, it’s nasty. I had it too and was out of commission for a week, I swear.” A light shudder runs through her body at the memory. “So yeah, I don’t think it’s helping the infection either.”
“Poor thing.” I look at Mark, my head tilted.
“You have no idea,” she replies quietly, and I look up. Rachel’s face instantly changes, and she smacks her knees with her open palms. “All right. Time for a check, because this mama is hungry.” She grabs the thermometer from the table and shoves it into Mark’s mouth. It beeps a few seconds later. “One oh one. Good.” She puts it back on the table and grabs her bag. “It will go down more. He’ll be sweating like a pig, but he should be fine. Tomorrow, I’ll give him another set of antibiotics. Just clean the wound.” She must have seen my face because she adds with a chuckle: “If you can, before me. Use this ointment”—she points a finger at the little tube she left on the table—“when the wound is dry. Call me if you need me.”
“I don’t have your phone number.”
“Right. Give me your phone.”
I pass her my phone, and she puts her digits in and returns it.
“Call me day or night. Got it?”
I nod.
“Good. I’ll let Austin know he’ll be out for a few days.”
I nod again. I don’t know why. I’m just his neighbor. Why is she giving me all this information? “Can you stay for tonight maybe?”
“Why?” She quirks a brow.
“Because, I mean…” I look around. “I’m his neighbor. I’m not even supposed to be here.”
Her eyes narrow. “Are you?” She looks around. “Where is Ghost, by the way?”
