He wrapped his arm around me. “He’s okay. A little scared, but he’s okay.”
Stepping back, I took the cat and wrapped him in my arms. I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I turned around and watched my house going up in flames.
My lungs burned as I coughed.
“Mitch, are you sure you’re okay?” Travis asked, looking at me with a concerned expression.
“Just breathed a little smoke. I’ll be fine.”
Before I knew it, an oxygen mask was being pushed on my face. I took it only because my lungs felt like they were on fire. I glanced to Corina talking to Tripp and Captain Smith, the fire chief.
“Damn shame about the house,” Lane said. His voice was like nails down a chalkboard.
With a yank, I took the oxygen mask off. “Yeah, well, it can be fixed. Looks like it’s mostly the top floor.”
He stared at the house. I couldn’t shake the feeling I got. “Why in the fuck are you smiling?” I asked.
Looking my way, he shrugged. “I didn’t realize I was. Maybe I’m happy that Corina was with me tonight and not home when the fire broke out.”
My blood boiled as I tossed the oxygen mask down. As I walked past him, I made sure to bump his shoulder…hard. “Asshole.”
“What was that, Parker?”
“You heard me,” I replied with a smile of my own.
As I approached her, I heard Corina ask, “Where am I supposed to live now? I have nothing. All of my clothes, everything I owned was on the second story of that house.”
My heart ached for her.
“Can you stay with friends?” the Captain asked.
Corina’s body slumped.
“You can stay with me if you want,” Lane said. A part of me wanted to grab him by the T-shirt and knock the hell out of him. He didn’t even know Corina that well, and he was asking her to move in with him.
Tripp stepped in front of Lane. “I’d say you could stay with me, but honestly, Corina, it wouldn’t look right. Especially with me running for mayor soon.”
She nodded and held onto Milo tighter. “You could stay with my parents,” I suggested.
Clearing his throat, Tripp added, “Our folks love Corina, but they did mention how happy they were that the house would soon be empty.”
My head pulled back as I gave Tripp a what-in-the-hell look. I knew for a fact they would love to have Corina at the house.
“Oh,” Corina said with tears building in her eyes.
Tripp cleared his throat. “I think it’s best if you stay with Mitchell.”
“Mitchell?”
“Me?”
Corina and I had spoken at the same time.
“It makes sense,” Tripp said. “You have three bedrooms, Mitch, and you’re only a few blocks from Corina’s place. When they start fixing it back up, she’ll want to be close by.” The way Tripp looked at me, I knew exactly what he was doing.
“It would probably be the most convenient, Corina,” I added.
Her eyes dashed back and forth between Tripp and me.
“Well, I live close by too.” Lane added.
Corina turned to him. “Lane, I hardly know you. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to live together.”
He frowned. “But it would with you and Mitchell?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. It looked like she was actually thinking about this asshole’s proposition.
I went to speak, but Tripp beat me to it. “Seriously, Lewis, how long have you been gone? You want the kindergarten teacher and the first grade teacher living together? Mitchell’s a cop and has earned respect in the community. Plus, he’s Corina’s friend. People won’t think twice that he’s offered her a place to stay.”
Corina looked at Milo, then back up at me. “I guess it makes the most sense to stay with Mitchell. I mean, Lane you said you were in a small, one-bedroom place.”
When I glanced over to Lane, he looked furious.
Finally, he grinned. “Hey, I’m renting out a place at the old Riley house. You could look at getting something there.”
Tripp nodded. “Oh, yeah, I heard they converted it into a bed and breakfast. Shame they don’t take pets,” he said, nodding at Milo in Corina’s arms. Lane’s face dropped; he knew what was happening too.
With a clap of hands, Tripp added, “Well, that settles it. No way you two can stay in a one-room together without the cat. Tongues would be wagging, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want that for Corina.”
“No, not at all. Staying with Mitchell until she can make other arrangements is probably for the best.”
I wanted to laugh. Other arrangements? I don’t think so.
One quick glance to Corina showed her eyes bouncing back and forth amongst the three of us. I was a bit surprised she didn’t speak up. After all, we were basically deciding where she would live, and she wasn’t uttering a word.
I reached for Milo. “I had them call the Oak Springs shelter. They brought a cage for Milo.”