High Heat (Hotshots 2)

“You did it.” Linc had a relieved smile as he opened the door to the house. “And you brought your friend... Ryan, was it?”

“Rain.” He gave the guy a nod, more concerned with finding a spot where Garrick could sit than shaking hands.

“Right. Rain. Jacob? Garrick and his friend are here,” Linc called as they entered the small house, which was teeming with people, several of whom turned to call greetings to Garrick. A tall blond woman plucked the food from Rain’s hands and spirited it away to the kitchen.

“Dude! You came!” Jacob bounded off a sofa where some tween boys were playing video games on tablets. He motioned for Garrick to take his place. “Sit, sit.”

“Nah, man, I’m not going to take your spot.” Garrick protested even as he was still breathing hard from the stairs.

“Take it. Please. I need to go play host, not get sucked into another round of the game. And speaking of hosting, what can I get you guys to drink?”

“Did your sister bring sparkling water like usual?” Mouth twisting like he was trying to smile and failing, Garrick settled heavily on the couch, tucking crutches in next to him. Rain asked for the same before perching on the arm of the couch.

“You didn’t want a beer?” he asked in a low voice. He’d seen Garrick have a drink on a few occasions now, and he thought maybe that might relax whatever funk he’d had going on the way to the party. “I’m driving, but you go ahead.”

“Gotta be able to navigate the steps and back to the car. Hard enough. Can’t risk a buzz and my tolerance is for shit lately.” Voice a rough whisper, he grimaced again.

“Ah. Gotcha. And a pain pill would also be a no go until later?”

“Yeah. Haven’t needed one of the heavy hitters in weeks. But maybe when we get back...” He trailed off before raising his voice and getting that almost-smile in place as a woman stopped in front of them. “Jenna. I hear you made cake. How have you been?”

“Good.” The woman, who turned out to be Jacob’s mother, made small talk with them a few minutes until a minor kitchen emergency merited her attention.

“Okay, so who else here do I need to know?” Rain kept his voice down, even though the kids on the other end of the couch were paying them no mind.

“Heck. I should introduce you around.” Garrick made like he might stand, but Rain kept a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Chill. People can come to you. And I’m having fun people watching. But I want the inside scoop before I make my way to the kitchen to find us some food.”

“Okay.” Garrick nodded, his ready agreement another sign that he’d already overdone it. He played along with Rain, though, pointing out various family members of Jacob and people he knew in the smoke jumper community. Rain could have guessed which ones were smoke jumpers on his own—they were the buffest, most confident ones in the room. The party had spilled over to a deck beyond the kitchen, but Rain had been right as various people kept drifting their way over to say hello to Garrick. Smaller kids ran through the place along with a pack of dogs that made him glad they hadn’t tried to add Cookie to this chaos. But it was fun chaos, a lot of people and food and a welcoming atmosphere.

“You ready for some food?” he asked Garrick right as Jacob arrived with drinks.

“Yes, go get food. And while you’re in the kitchen, make sure and admire the new deck. That’s my birthday present.” Jacob had a fond look for Linc, who was deep in conversation with some of the smoke jumping crew. Rain didn’t really envy him the new deck, but he did know a pang over that glance. Damn. Everyone needed someone who thought that highly of them and who wasn’t afraid to so readily show their heart.

Jacob’s mom assisted him in loading up a plate for Garrick, helpfully telling him which dishes were vegetarian for himself. She was chatty, and by the time he made it back, Jacob had stolen his perch on the couch arm and was in the middle of a conversation with Garrick about another upcoming controlled burn. Not wanting to interrupt, he handed Garrick his plate, then took a seat on the rug by the couch, close enough to contribute a little to the work talk and close enough for Garrick to tangle a hand in his hair after he was done picking at his food. He idly played with Rain’s half-bun and the escaping strands while he kept up his end of the conversation with Jacob, who kept glancing at Garrick’s roving hand with undisguised curiosity.

Nice as the contact was, not to mention being publicly claimed like that, Rain still worried because he’d never seen Garrick without an appetite before, especially given that the party food contained many of his favorites including wings. Speaking of cute affection, Linc ruffled Jacob’s hair on the way to let in more guests, a group that included the cocky smoke jumper he’d met that first day he’d known Garrick. A bunch of people called out greetings to Jimenez’s group, and they made their way over to the couch, where handshakes and backslapping bro hugs were handed out.