817 Fireman Ln. (Cherry Falls)

1

Kent

I pull in with my truck and stare through the front windshield at the Cherry Falls Firehouse. The place is technically my second home, especially the last few years. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t have the station and all my brothers.

I get out and pocket my keys and can’t help but notice that Andrew and Porter are obviously up to their same ole antics. Usually, I just bypass them and let them have their fun, but today I stop next to Porter. “Andrew challenge the new guy?”

Porter looks up at me, and it’s obvious he’s up to something with the smirk on his face. “Yeah, something like that. We have to break Catlett in the right way.”

I shake my head, and instantly Porter throws his hands up. “What? Y’all did that to us when we started.”

I nod in agreement. He’s right. Anytime there’s a new person, there’s always a challenge. Not a hazing or anything, but definitely an obstacle challenge. Bascially, just a way to break in the new kid.

Porter puts his hands on his hips. “Yeah, Catlett bet a whole month of cleanup.”

“He’s smart at least. He didn’t take the challenge for just for show.”

Porter nods.

I cross my arms over my chest. “Did you tell him that Andrew is the reigning champion? No one has beat him on the course yet?”

Porter starts laughing and throws his head back. “No!”

I roll my eyes. Poor kid, he’s new and not only will have to do his own cleanup, he’ll have to do Andrew’s too. Tough break.

Porter grabs the microphone off the truck behind us. “Ready?”

From across the yard, first Andrew and then Catlett give a thumbs up. Porter giggles like a schoolgirl and mumbles to me, “Man, this is going to be good.” He puts his mouth to the megaphone. “On the count of three. One. Two. Three.”

They both take off, and I’m instantly surprised when Catlett takes off and is several feet ahead of Andrew. I follow them both as they run in their full gear. They climb the ladder and repel off the other side. Catlett pulls even farther ahead when he starts flipping the tire across the lot. Once there, he grabs the two hundred pound dummy –Andrew has the one hundred fifty pound dummy – and they both drag them back across the parking lot. Soon they’re both running full speed toward Porter and me, and all we can do is stand there in shock. Andrew is about to lose his title. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes. Andrew trains every day; he has the schedule of an elite athlete.

When Catlett stops in front of us, he bends over as if trying to catch his breath, and mere seconds later, Andrew stops too. Porter is shocked and seems to be embarrassed. I pat Catlett on the back. “Good job. Welcome aboard.”

Catlett stands up and pulls the helmet off his head, giving me another shock. Catlett isn’t a man... Catlett’s a woman.

“Uh...” I stammer.

The woman is beaming. I can’t look away. Her hair is sweaty, and even in the ponytail holder, it’s still going in every direction with loose blond hairs falling from the band. She has the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and the way she’s smiling, it’s showing off her full pink lips. She’s breathtaking... and I need to look away, but I can’t. “You beat Andrew,” I say, and not until the words are out do I realize how dumb that sounds. “I mean, congratulations.”

The woman pulls her gloves off and holds her hand out. “Hi. I’m Ava Catlett.”

I look at her small hand with the pink tips. Don’t do it, Graves, I tell myself. But I don’t listen. I reach out and wrap my hand around hers. “Kent. Kent Graves,” I say almost huskily. The difference is obvious between the two of us. I’m big, dark, and rough. She’s petite, light, and soft. I release her hand, and for the first time, I notice Porter and Andrew staring between Ava and me. Fuck.

I address Andrew first. “Is this what you thought you should be doing with your time? I’m sure there’s plenty to be done on any one of the trucks or the gear inside to be ready for the next call. Instead you’re out here goofing off.”

Andrew turns red and nods his head before walking away with a still smiling Porter behind him. Yeah, Andrew’s definitely not going to live this down. I should feel guilty for bossing them around, but I don’t. I’ve been at the station way longer than the two of them, and even though I’m not a higher-ranked fireman, people still listen when I say what to do. Plus, if my life hadn’t been so fucked up, I would have taken the many promotions that have been offered to me.