Page 8 of Written in the Stars
ZANDER
“Fuck, we’re out of drinks.”
I see Matt, head first, inside of the fridge at the firehouse as I enter at seven fifteen in the morning. I chuckle as he savagely scavenges the refrigerator for beverages.
He slams the door shut and meets my gaze for the first time. “You’d think someone would have gone to the store to restock this bitch? No, of course not. I’m always the one to do it,” he grumbles. He then walks over to the sofa against the wall and plops down onto it.
I can’t help but chuckle. He’s seriously mad and frustrated that no one took the time to pick up some beverages for the firehouse. I get it. It’s annoying to always have to be the one to restock items. I’ve done it plenty of times, too, but I don’t take his remark personally. I know he’s just venting.
“Morning, precious,” I joke, walking over to the Keurig machine and then brew myself a cup.
He doesn’t find me funny, nor did I expect he would. But he’s got to know this is not that big of a deal. He seems so uptight about it, and if I weren’t in a worse situation than him, I’d say he needs to get laid. But he’s gotten laid more times than I have in the last three years. His one hundred fifty plus to my zero and counting. Still, I don’t have any desire, but I know if I mention it, he won’t let me off so easily.
Once I turn around and take my first sip, I meet his gaze again. Mmm, that first piping hot sip. Nothing compares to it. “All jokes aside, I’ll head to the store and grab some drinks so we have something to drink for the weekend.” We’ll be spending some of our weekend at the firehouse since it’s our turn. Twenty-four hours on shift, then two days off.
He finally relaxes as a small smile slowly forms on his face. “You’re my angel, do you know that?” He kids and bats his eyes at me like a flirtatious woman.
You’d think I’d be used to his sense of humor by now, but it still gets me sometimes. Today, I almost spit out my coffee. “And you, mine.”
The two of us break out in laughter. We always have this type of banter between the two of us. It makes the difficult days a little easier to deal with. Okay, I’m lying. It makes them a lot easier to deal with. They come in waves. Some days I’m fine. Some days I’m not. Some days begin great and end horribly, and vice versa. Matt has just always been there for me through them all, and if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know how I would get through them. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have drunken myself into a black hole, unable to pull myself out.
I take another sip and then decide to offer a cup to Matt. “Want me to grab you a cup of coffee? It’s really good.”
He shakes his head. “Thanks, but I’m good for now. I had some before I left the house this morning.”
I smirk. “One cup’s never enough.”
He chuckles and thinks for a moment. “True. Maybe I’ll take you up on that offer just for the hell of it.”
“Cool,” I smile. “What flavor do you want?” I spin around, then open the K cup bin. We have a ton of different flavors, ranging from regular to mocha to French vanilla and more.
He thinks over my question for a moment and then asks, “Do we have any more hazelnut?”
I look in the bin and confirm that we’re out. I turn back around to face him with a cringe. I know he’s going to bitch. “Sorry… we’re out.”
He throws his arms up. “I give up today.”
I stifle a laugh so he doesn’t kill me this time. “I guess I’ll pick that up too while I’m out later. Know of anything else that we might need?”
He smirks, not bothering to answer.
Chief Calloway passes by and waves without stopping into the lounge area. Before he’s too far to be heard, he says, “Drills in fifteen, boys.”
“Great, I’d better down this,” I say, swallowing a large gulp. At least it’s not too hot to where it’s burning my throat. On the contrary, it is very soothing on this wintry day.
“I’m thinking she’s the one, Zander,” Matt’s statement makes me snap my head up to look at him. His frustrated expression from just moments ago is gone. Anytime he brings up Valerie, he’s always in a good mood. This time is no different, and his confession to me is serious.
He met Valerie almost immediately after the demise of Maddie and me. I’m happy for him. He deserves to be happy and find the one. He’s a good guy and I wish him nothing but the best.
Still, it’s kind of hard when every year they celebrate their anniversary as a couple, it’s a reminder of exactly how long I’ve lost my wife. But I refuse to be bitter and not let him enjoy one of the many good things in his life.
“Wow, really? That’s great, man.” I finish my coffee, placing the cup into the sink and start heading toward the opposite end of the room.
Matt goes up off the couch and meets me, then we walk out of the lounge area together, heading straight for drills. “Yeah, for real. I mean, I’ve known it for a long time now, but I didn’t say anything because I wanted to be sure. But I’ve already purchased a ring, and I’m ready to ask her to be my w—”
He halts. He was about to say wife, and I’m guessing he didn’t because of me and what that word represents for me.
I offer him a small smile, shake my head, and then finish his sentence for him. “Wife. It’s okay, man. You can say it.”
