817 Fireman Ln. (Cherry Falls)

Kent

I’m staring at my phone and have been for the last ten minutes. I’m sitting in the bay trying not to look conspicuous, but I’m waiting for Ava to get back. When Porter dinged the station’s group text, I expected some goofy photo of him and Andrew but was surprised when it was a picture of Ava holding Astor. Everyone has been initiated with Astor, and it looks like Ava has found a buddy by the way she’s smiling. I save the image to my photos, and instantly I’m ticked off about it. I don’t want to like her... but it’s hard not to.

I sit on the chair looking up Alpha Avenue, just waiting to see the red fire truck. I try to look relaxed, but it’s easier said than done. I’ve been a knotted mess since the day Ava started, and it’s only gotten worse since she’s gone out of her way to avoid me. As soon as the truck comes into sight, I sit up straight and wait for them to pull in. They park outside the garage bay doors, and Porter and Andrew are laughing. “Did you get the text, man?”

I nod and search Ava’s face, but again she’s going out of her way to avoid me. I follow in behind them and stand to the side while they put their gear up. They’re laughing and talking the whole time, and for the first time, it’s bothering me that I’m more of an outsider.

“We’re going to Fireside for a beer. You want to join us?”

She chances a look at me but turns away quickly when she sees me staring at her. “Who’s all going?”

Porter shuts his locker with a slam. “Andrew and I. And a few of the others that are off will meet us there. C’mon, you have to come and meet people if you’re going to stay in Cherry Falls.”

I hold my breath and wait for her to respond. I don’t want her to go, but I definitely don’t have a say in it, and if I even tried to voice my opinion, she’s definitely going to do the opposite.

“Sure, I’m in. But I won’t stay long. I’m still getting used to these twenty-four hour shifts.”

They start to walk to the exit, and I catch up to them as they each get to their cars. Porter and Andrew are fighting over who’s going to drive Ava since she rode her bike into town. I don’t leave it up for discussion. I grab her bike and put it into the back of my truck. Ava’s the only one that notices. “What are you doing with my bike?”

I walk over to her, and Andrew and Porter stare at me open-mouthed. “I’m going with y’all.”

Silence. None of them say a word; they just all stare up at me with their eyes round and mouths hanging open. “I mean if that’s okay?”

Porter is the first one to say it. “Yes, sure man, we’d love to have you.”

I reach for Ava. “Great, I’m going to drive Ava.”

She takes a step back. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I put both hands in my pockets. “Please. Let me give you a lift to the bar. I’m just trying to apologize to you.”

“I don’t think...” she starts, but I don’t let her finish.

“Please, Ava. If we’re going to work together, we need to clear the air.”

She doesn’t want to go with me. It’s obvious by the stern way she holds her body and the way her jaw is clenched tight. But finally she nods.

I don’t give her time to change her mind. “See you over there, guys,” I tell Porter and Andrew as I walk toward my truck and hold the passenger door open for her.

As soon as she’s in, I run around to the driver’s side. Fireside Bar and Grill is across town, but I take the long way to get there. Down Alpha Avenue, onto For Keeps Way and up Bittersweet.

“Wouldn’t it be faster to just take Main Street?”

I slow the truck down even more. “Yeah, it would, but I’m not in a hurry to get there.”

I look over at her, and she has her hands grasping each other in her lap. She’s nervous to be with me, and it’s a sickening feeling to know that. “Look, I’m sorry for what I said to you the other day.”

She lets out a long, steady breath. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

She nods, but she still won’t look at me.

“I shouldn’t have treated you like that. I know I ruined your first day, and I’m sorry. If I could take it back, I would.”

I wait for her to respond or to ask me why I acted the way I did, but she doesn’t. “Okay,” she says.

I grip the steering wheel even tighter. I want her to yell at me... fuck, I want her to forgive me.