AARON

I’d been called to a fire out in the county. Somehow, I stayed focused and went through all of the necessary motions, assisting the neighboring township that had been closer to the structure. It was a garage fire, and those were often unpredictable and hard to get controlled.

It was already hot outside and the flames from the fast burning building only made it hotter. Luckily, many volunteers had been available and having that many bodies on the scene helped.

I tried as much as possible not to think about Faith and what she’d said because I had a job to do. One where a stupid mistake could rapidly turn dangerous for not only me but also my crew and the others on the job. It was a challenge.

She’d never come to me before—not since we were kids.

She’d never told me that she’d thought about me before, and now knowing she had put a pressure like I’d never known between my ribs.

She hadn’t made any promises, but that was fine.

She’d given me what I needed. Reassurance that it wasn’t just me.

The fire took up most of the afternoon, and it was nearly dark when I rolled back to town. My twenty-four hour shift didn’t end until three p.m. the next day, but when it did I had one plan and one plan only.

Foxtrot.

#

THE REST OF THE NIGHT at the firehouse had been uneventful, and after the daily task work was finished, I passed the time playing darts with Will from the ambulance crew. Then I tossed and turned in a bottom bunk as my mind raced, and I only managed a few hours of sleep.

The windows finally came in for Mrs. Williamson the next morning, so when I got off I rode down to the lumberyard and picked them up. It was too late that afternoon to start the project, but on my way home I called her to see if the next day would be all right.

“It’s about time they came in. I’d begun to wonder if you even ordered them,” she claimed. Mrs. Williamson was an old battle-axe, which was probably why her sons hadn’t offered to do the job themselves. Instead, they’d hired me.

“They were on backorder, but I can get them in for you tomorrow.”

“Well, I have church in the morning at eight, Aaron. I suppose you don’t because I never see you there.”

“That’s fine. I’ll be there at seven to start.”

I pulled up at my house and my eyes roamed down the road. Faith’s car was gone and I looked at the time. She was usually home in the afternoons if she was working a shift later at the bar. I wondered if she was off that night. I’d told her I would find her, and I would.

“That’s fine,” she squawked. “Hopefully, you’re more punctual than the windows.”

“I’ll see you at seven sharp, Mrs. Williamson.”

“Goodbye then.”

I had a feeling the next day was going to be a delight. Hopefully, she went to lunch after services and I was finished up before she got back. Two windows shouldn’t take that long.

A few minutes later, I was showered and dressed. I made a sandwich and ate it while I skimmed the pool. My phone rang as I swallowed the last bite.

“Hey Dad,” I said over the line. “What’s up?”

“Oh, not much. Just haven’t talked to you in a while. I’m having a beer on the porch, so I thought I’d see what you’re up to.” I was close with my family, but we didn’t talk all that often. Still, I knew if I ever called he’d answer, and I always did the same.

“Just giving the concrete pond some attention.”

“Have you been in this summer? You should use it more. Your mom misses it.” He chuckled. “I kind of miss the damn thing too. Even though it was a huge pain in my ass.”

It was good to hear his voice. “You guys should come down and see the kitchen now that it’s done. Bring Jules, Brent, and Ian. We’ll cook out.” It was an on-the-spot suggestion, but I could make it work.

“That don’t sound too bad. When were you thinking?”

I slapped the mesh skimmer against the edge to fling the June bugs in the yard. “Maybe in a few weeks? A Sunday afternoon could work. I’m on next weekend, but off the following.”

“I’ll tell your mom. The pictures you sent her of the kitchen look great. Have you thought any more about selling?”

I sat in a chair at the table under the covered part of the patio and stretched my legs out. “I don’t know. I always say I’m going to, but then I find something else to work on.” The house was in better shape than I ever remembered it, but there wasn’t much more to update. “And it’s nice being across from the station.”

“No pressure. It’s still up to you. We know you’ve put a lot into it. So if you want it, then it’s yours. We’re still fine with the price we talked about.” He only wanted out of it what he’d paid my mom’s family for it when they moved in after my sister Julie was born. Fifty thousand. A major steal.

If I were to guess, I would have priced it around a hundred and fifty, possibly closer to two. Equity like that didn’t come around often, but neither would a buyer looking to spend that much in Wynne.

Then again, it was big and it was just me. Some family would really enjoy it like we had.

It didn’t have to be decided right then.

Besides, I hated admitting what I really wanted, because I meant what I said to Faith. I wasn’t in a hurry and didn’t want to put any pressure on her or force things to move at a pace she wasn’t comfortable with. She’d only just told me she was interested the day before. Still, there was a voice in my head reminding me of how I’d imagined living there with her. And Delaney.

It was way, way too fucking soon to think like that, but I did and I hadn’t only thought about it that day. I’d secretly dreamt of it for years.

“I’m still thinking about it.”

“Okay. So what’s going on tonight? It’s Saturday. Anything exciting?” I could almost see him rocking in the chair on their porch, wearing his worn-out house shoes, taking a long swig of his Miller High Life.

“I’m going to the bar in a while for a few. You guys?”

“Well, your mom doesn’t feel like cooking, so I imagine we’ll go find something to eat, and then probably stop by your sister’s.”

“Okay. Tell them I said hi and invite them over. If that works for everyone we’ll just do it.” Smokie walked up and stuck his head on my knee, and I gave him a scratch behind the ear.

“Okay. Love you, son. I’ll text later and let you know.”

“All right. Talk to you soon. Love you too. Bye.” I placed the phone on the table and gave Smokie some real attention. “I bet you’re hungry. Aren’t you?”

His tail wagged and his ass shook out of his control.

“Let’s go get you some food then.”

After feeding and waiting for him to go out, it was finally time to head uptown. Unlike the Saturday before, I had no desire to drink at home. If I was only drinking three beers that night, I wanted to drink all three of them with her.

Stopped at the four-way, I saw Dean come down the hill. His flashing lights were on so he was hauling something, and when he got closer I saw that it was Faith’s Sonata.

I changed my blinker to turn the way he was going.

Why did he have her car?

Had there been an accident? I checked my radio, turning the volume up and hearing the dead air come through the speaker. It hadn’t gone off.

I whipped into the shop sideways, and then I hopped out of my truck without even killing the engine.

“What happened?”

“She blew a tire up by the high school. She’s having me put a new one on.” Dean didn’t even try to hide his amusement at my frustration. “What’s it matter to you?”

“A tire? Just one?” All four were bald, tread-less accidents waiting to happen. I walked around to the other side, inspecting the damage.

He followed, smirking. “She wants a used tire to get her by until she buys a new set.”

“No. No. No.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Do you have four new ones that fit in stock?”

His hands came up, surrendering. “Listen. This isn’t your car. Faith said one and that’s what I’m putting on it.”

I understood where he was coming from, but he didn’t understand that I wasn’t backing down. If it meant I was putting them on myself, so be it.

“Dean, do you have four new tires that fit or not?”

He was in an awkward position, and I was kind of out-of-line, but I didn’t give a shit. Shaking his head, he walked into the garage, and a few minutes later, he came back out holding a scrap of paper.

“I’ve got the one she asked for, and I’ve also got four new Yokohamas up on the rack that’ll fit. You want me to call her at Sally’s? I just dropped her off.”

Easy decision. “Don’t call. I’m buying the new ones.”

“Aaron,” he warned, but it wasn’t any more of his business to warn me than it was my business to buy her tires.

“If you don’t want to put them on, that’s fine. Let her waste her money on that old tire. She’s your customer, and it’s your shop, but I’m buying those four tires and they’re going on that car tonight.”

She needed a safe vehicle, and I could do something about it.

He gave up. “You gonna help me put them on?”

I agreed with a nod.

“Fine. Let’s do it. I told her I’d take it up to the bar when it was done so she’d have it to get home.”

I guessed, as I walked back to my truck to turn it off, that I wasn’t going to see her as soon as I’d hoped, but this was better. Her shitty tires had been driving me fucking nuts for too damn long.

“So you and Faith, huh?” Dean asked as the Sonata rose on the lift a few minutes later.

“I don’t know.”

He let up on the button when the car was above our heads. “Bullshit. I don’t see you buying tires for anyone else. What’s with it?” Grabbing the impact drill off the cart, he plugged it into the air compressor.

I wasn’t ashamed of how I felt about her, but things were fragile. Newer than new. I hadn’t taken her out or even called her on the phone. It was hard to explain.

After he took the lugs off the first and dropped it, he rolled it to me and I pushed it to the tire changer.

“I like her.” That was true enough.

“She like you back or are you hoping Yokohamas turn her on?”

“Both, I hope.” I laughed and decided to relax. “I was on my way to see her when I saw you.”

“Didn’t you guys have a thing back in high school?”

I leaned the bald rubber tire against the wall. “No. Almost. I don’t know.”

“I can see you two together,” he said, removing the second wheel. “You cool with her having a kid?”

“She’s a great mom, and Delaney is a great kid.” After catching the second rolling wheel, I propped it against the first. Fuck, they were in bad shape. I picked at a spot where the belt was showing.

“My asshole cousin ever see them?” I’d forgotten that Dean and Chad were related. I’d say Dean must have gotten his level head from the other side of the family. Although, neither side wasn’t any good. He was the man he was because of Darrell.

I waited until he killed the impact drill to answer. “Nope.”

“Never?” He bounced the scrap rubber on the concrete.

“Nope.” I was damn sure of that.

He shook his head. “What a piece of shit.”

I couldn’t agree more.

“Well, if things work out, and she doesn’t kill you for spending this kind of money on her before you even buy her dinner, you should bring her around. She works her ass off and deserves a night out.”

Maybe Dean understood more than I thought.

“She deserves a lot more than that.”