High Heat (Hotshots 2)

Different. That was it. Not hard precisely, although it could be that too, but different. Changed. And he hated it even as he tried to ignore those feelings, the jumble of emotions better left shoved in the crawlspaces of his psyche, not strewn about for public consumption.

“I bet.” Rain’s look was sympathetic, but he didn’t press, instead backing out of the space and heading toward their neighborhood without needing further directions. He was a quick study, something Garrick appreciated in a person. Perceptive too, not continuing down that line of conversation. “Is it okay if I park in your driveway while we unload?”

“Of course.” Speaking of ignoring things, Garrick tried to squelch the weird mix of anticipation and dread at the prospect of having Rain in his space. A million years ago, he would have known exactly what to do with his Saturday, wouldn’t have had dog-proofing remotely on the agenda, and would have needed a cutie like Rain for far sexier purposes. Different. That was his life now and there was nothing served by dwelling on the less-than-fun parts. All he could do was go forward. He’d make the best of this situation with the dog, same as he did any other. And if that meant enjoying Rain’s company a little longer...well, he was only human, after all.

* * *

As they unloaded in the driveway, Garrick’s demeanor had a certain stiffness that hadn’t been there earlier—lines around his mouth, hunched shoulders—and Rain hated it. He should have known better than to bring up unhappy topics. But he’d seen how tense Garrick was around his fellow smoke jumper. Watching them, his chest had pinched in an unfamiliar way. At first he’d wondered if perhaps it was he himself who had Garrick on edge—the whole dude bro thing of not wanting to look like he was on a date or otherwise entangled with another person of the masculine variety. And Rain hadn’t missed Jimenez’s blatantly speculative gaze. But then when Garrick had easily made introductions but still been oddly stilted, he’d figured that it was probably Jimenez’s sympathy and offer of help. It had to be tough on Garrick, not being able to be out there with his crew.

If Garrick was a friend, Rain would know better what to say, how to distract him or get him to open up, and would be able to tell which he needed more. Not knowing made him want to try harder to get Garrick smiling again.

“Wait till you see the toys I picked for her. I found a clearance bin with some fun items,” he said as he positioned the wheelchair for Garrick. A couple of years prior, his parents had had a close friend who used a wheelchair, so Rain had some experience unfolding the device. However, Paula had needed more help transferring, and it was hard not to hover as Garrick completed the maneuver.

“I’m more concerned with why she needs a pink fluffy bed.”

“Everyone needs a pink fluffy bed.” He grinned as he let the dog out of the back seat. “And I know, I know, the pink undoubtedly doesn’t go with your style, but it’s part of a plan I’ve got.”

“I’m listening.” Garrick spared a pat for Cookie before heading up the ramp to his porch, leaving Rain to follow with Cookie’s new loot.

“I want to take some more pictures of her, both to find her owner, and if that doesn’t work, to get her a forever home. And I was thinking about how to make her look less scary and decided to make her a pretty, pretty pink princess. Like lean into all the gendered stuff, but in a fun way that makes her seem more approachable. Pink sparkly collar, pink bed, unicorn chew toy...”

“If it gets her a home.” Garrick didn’t seem too put out as he unlocked the door, which was nice. “And if you had fun picking it out, then that’s cool.”

“Trust me. I’m jealous of the bed. And the collar.” For a second, Rain forgot that he wasn’t in Portland, wasn’t around friends who understood him, but whatever. He wasn’t making any apologies for liking what he liked. And instead of looking disgusted, Garrick looked...speculative. And wasn’t that interesting?

“Not everyone can pull off sparkles.” With a welcome laugh, Garrick ushered them into a small living area.

“Some of us never outgrew our princess phase.” He winked at Garrick before looking around. Like at Grandma’s house, the space was an upside-down L-shape with living room and dining room in a line with a sliding glass door to the backyard beyond the dining room and a kitchen to the side. But whereas Grandma’s kitchen was walled off, art clutter on every available surface in the older house, Garrick’s home was recently remodeled with the kitchen open to the rest of the space, clean ivory walls and light wood cabinets and floors making it look far bigger than Grandma’s.