Chapter Twelve
Eric
I stepped out of my car of the gym’s parking lot, preparing to head into Angela’s ten a.m spin class. It’s been about three weeks since the disastrous dinner at my parents’ house, but I wouldn’t change any of that considering how the evening turned out. Angela and I have seen each other just about every day since that night, save for two days when I worked twenty-four-hour shifts. We were growing closer after having discussed our family history. I knew I was falling for her, or maybe I’ve already fallen and wasn’t totally willing to admit it to myself just yet. Either way, I could see this thing with us going the distance, and that was not a sentiment I took lightly. Hell, I haven’t ever thought about any other woman like that, not even ex-girlfriends.
I stored my belongings in one of the lockers in the men’s locker room, using my padlock before heading directly to the room where the spin class was held.
“Here he is, boys!” Closing my eyes, I inhaled as Don’s voice, filled with humor, washed over me. I parted my lids to see Don, Corey, and Carter standing in front of me, workout gear on and all.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Carter looked between the trio and was the first to step up. He came over to me, placing an arm around my shoulders. “We’re here to support you, Harvard. That’s the type of men we are,” he joked.
I shoved him off of me.
“Oh come on, Harvard. Don’t be like that!” Corey started.
“Yeah, if it weren't for us, that douche over there would still be trying to put the moves on your woman,” Don added.
I hated them, but at the same time, my eyes narrowed as my head pivoted toward the only other male in the class. He glanced over at us but quickly turned away when he saw us looking. I heard the cacophony of laughter from the damn goof troop and ignored them. I knew they were looking to bust my balls. Instead, I moved past them to see Angela just finishing her set up for the class. Her lips moved and those pearly whites shone when she saw me.
“I thought you decided to sleep in.”
“Caught in traffic.” I spent the night at her place again but had to run home to get my workout gear and uniform. I was heading head straight into work after the mid-morning brunch we planned to attend after this class.
Her smile grew. “Glad you made it in time.” With that, the heavy bass of the music started pumping through the speakers. I took one last glance at her before moving to an empty bike in the front row. It wasn’t directly in front of her where I usually like to sit, but it still gave me an obstruction-free view of her, which was all I needed to stay motivated during class. Not even five minutes into class I heard Corey yell from the back of the room to turn it up. His yell was followed up with grunts and whoops of agreement from his two sidekicks. I pulled my lips in, grimacing at the three of them, causing them to break out into laughter. Surprisingly—or maybe not so surprisingly―Angela took on the challenge. In fact, she turned the volume up slightly and directed us to stand as we cycled. Despite the commotion from the guys, my eyes zeroed in on her. For the next fifty minutes, I sweated and burned off the extra energy that always seemed to manifest itself when I was in her presence. When class finally ended, the smell of sweat and heat permeated the room.
“Great class!” Angela remarked, her pecan skin glistening with sweat. As if my reaction to her wasn’t already a growing problem, I felt my mouth water at the thought of licking the sweat off her. I briefly wondered if we could skip brunch and head back to her place—since it was closer—for a doubles shower.
“And we had some special guests today. They weren’t too bad themselves,” she continued, holding out her hands toward the guys who bowed at the applause they received from other participants.
“I should’ve kicked them out for you,” I told her, but I was eyeing my brothers from the station―two of which appeared to be getting two women’s phone numbers from the class. And Don seemed to be easing over toward a third woman.
Angela giggled, and my eyes zeroed in on her once again. “They were terrific. They showed up to bust your balls, huh?”
I grunted.
“They’re your family, too. You knew it’d happen sooner or later.”
I peered down at her, noting the caring tone of her voice, and I remembered the words I said to her that night after having dinner with my parents.
“You handled their antics pretty well,” I commented. Despite the rowdiness of the fellas, Angela commanded the class with ease.
“I enjoyed it. They were kinda fun.”
I frowned.
“Aww,” she started, wrapping her arms around my waist loosely, and reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss my chin, “don’t be like that. You’re still my favorite firefighter in spin class.”
In spite of myself, my lips twitched, but I refused to let out the laugh that wanted to escape. Instead, I bent down to kiss her lips.
“Cut that shit out! There are kids around for Christ’s sake!” Don’s voice boomed.
I popped my head up, glaring at him, and wanting to wipe the dumb smirk off his face.
“Thanks for coming to class, guys!” Angela interrupted, her arms still around my waist.
“Anytime. Though, we just wanted to bust this guy’s chops since he’s so mum about you two,” Carter admitted.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Angela’s head pivot back toward me, but I kept my eyes focused the three assholes in front of us.
I pointed my finger at Carter. “You don’t need to worry about my lady and I. But good for you for coming to workout. You were looking a little slow on that last call yesterday,” I returned.
Don and Corey covered their mouths and let out whoops of laughter and a round of, “Oh shit!”
“If you say so, Harvard.” Carter turned those blue eyes toward Angela. “Angela, you might wanna give this guy a little break at night, if you know what I mean. I had to practically toss him out of his bunk the other day when we got a call. Sleeping like a baby and I doubt it’s from spin class.” Carter’s eyebrows wiggled up and down at the same time I took a step toward him, my possessive side coming out. But before I could complete my first step, I was stopped by Angela’s arms tightening around my waist.
“My guy doesn’t need any breaks. Not in class or anywhere else,” she saucily retorted. The feel of her soft lips on my cheek after that comment soothed my rising temper. By then all the guys were laughing.
“Guys, we had plans to go to brunch after class, before the big guy has to head into the station. Want to join us?”
I turned to give her an incredulous look. She returned it with one of her own.
“I’m in.”
“I’m always fucking hungry!”
“Grub time!”
I sighed as all three agreed to join us. My Angel reached up again, giving me a quick peck, and whispered, “It’ll be fun.” Looking down into those eyes, I doubted I’d ever be able to refuse her anything.
****
“Since you bums decided to crash my alone time with my woman, brunch is on you,” I told the guys as we sat down at one of the tables of an American-style diner only a couple of blocks from the gym.
“Bullshit!” Don countered. “Let Richie Money Bags over there take the tab,” Don grunted, jutting his head in Carter’s direction.
“Richie Money Bags?” Angela asked, gaze bouncing between the four of us with confused eyes.
Carter dipped his head, obviously not wanting to speak up. That problem was solved when Corey, who sat directly across from Angela, intervened.
“Carter’s last name is Townsend.” He paused, giving Angela time to let the name register. A few seconds later she gasped as it came together.
“You’re a Townsend? Like of Townsend Industries?”
“The one and only, toots,” Don spoke up.
“Don’t call my woman toots, asshole.” I pointed a finger at him.
All three of the guys chuckled.
“This one’s grown a possessive streak around you, Angela,” Don laughed.
I looked down to my left, to see her grinning back at me. “I kinda have, too,” she stated.
That funny feeling in my chest started happening again.
“Anyway,” Carter interrupted our moment, “to answer your question, yes. I am a Townsend of Townsend Industries.”
“Wow. Wait, isn’t your dad a high-level executive there?” she asked me, the fingers of her right hand curling, as she gripped my workout shorts on my thigh.
“He is.” I nodded.
“Did you two know each other before joining the department?”
I shook my head. “No. Young Rebel over here has probably never stepped foot in a Townsend Industries’ office.”
Corey and Don snickered.
“Let’s just say, I made my own way.” His voice had a heavy note to it, and it was obvious there was more to the story, but his response made it clear he didn’t intend to give up any more information than what was already said.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to as the waitress returned with the food we ordered. A plate with an omelet stuffed with chorizo sausage, red and green peppers, mozzarella cheese topped with salsa, and potatoes was placed in front of me. A plate of three fluffy, stacked pancakes topped with melting butter and a jar of syrup was placed next to it. My stomach began grumbling when the scent of the food hit my nostrils. We all dug into our meals.
“How is it?” Angela asked. A habit of hers, even if she didn’t cook the food herself.
I leaned in, after swallowing a mouthful of pancakes. “They’re pretty good, but your pancakes are better.” Her eyes lit up. She genuinely got a kick out of making people happy by feeding them. And I got a kick out of seeing her happy. She could serve me sardines for breakfast, and I’d probably say they were delicious just to make her smile like that.
“Angela, I know I didn’t hear you’re cooking this fool pancakes!” Corey’s voice intruded on our little moment.
“From scratch. With real buttermilk and everything,” she answered proudly, popping another forkful of her vegetable omelet into her mouth.
“You think you co―”
“No! Hell no!” I pointed the knife I was using to cut my pancakes at Don.
“What? I was gonna ask if she could pass the recipe along to one of my lady friends. And throw in some cooking tips while she was at it.”
“I’m sure.” I gave him a disbelieving look. “You want your lady friend to learn to cook, pay for some cooking classes your own fucking self.”
The table went up in laughter.
“Don’t be like that, Harvard. Tabitha just needs a little bit of TLC when it comes to matters of the kitchen.”
“Tabitha?” I questioned.
“Yeah. I’ve mentioned her, unlike you.” His dark eyes shifted between Angela and I.
“Is it serious between this Tabitha and you?” Angela innocently asked. All of the men, except for Don, laughed loudly at that question.
“Oh no, doll. Donnie over here doesn’t do serious,” Corey added.
“Watch it with the terms of endearment,” I supplied, glaring in his direction. He smirked but held his hands up in a surrendering manner. I heard Carter and Don snicker but ignored them.
“Why don’t you do serious?” Angela asked.
“Don’t listen to these schmucks, swee—” Don paused, looking at my stern face, before turning back to Angela. “Angela. I can do serious. I just like to have my pick of the litter. And anyway, Tabitha has the potential to be something serious. She is seriously stacked.” He sat back and held his hands out in front of his chest, indicating the largeness of this Tabitha’s breasts.
I rolled my eyes. “Fucking seriously?”
Don gave me an innocent, questioning look.
“We’re in the presence of a woman. Not at the fire station. Tone it down a little, Don,” Carter spoke up.
“I’m sorry, Angela.”
She waved her hand around. “No offense taken. Who doesn’t appreciate a good stack?” She quickly reached over me, forked some of my pancakes, and popped them into her mouth. “Right?” she mumbled.
The tabled erupted into laughter and agreement. I threw my arm around her, laughing myself. She might be the only woman I’d let eat off my plate with zero complaints.
“Anyway,” she began after swallowing the pancakes, “if your Tabitha is interested in cooking, I wouldn’t mind helping her out a little.”
“Oh no, you don’t want to meet his Tabitha or any of his ladies.”
She turned to me, a wrinkled in her forehead. “Why not?”
“Just trust me. The women he entertains are a couple of fries short of a Happy Meal.”
“That’s fucked up, Harvard.”
“No, you’re fucked up,” I countered.
“Oh shit!” Carter and Corey interjected at the same time.
“Is that any way for a lieutenant to talk to one of his subordinates?”
Angela inhaled loudly. “You made lieutenant?”
I eyed Don before turning to Angela. “No, he's just a fool.”
“Fuck no I ain’t. Harvard’s taking the lieutenant’s exam in a few months. And with his brains, we all know he’s going to pass. Rescue Four has only had one lieutenant for two years now, and each station is supposed to have three.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Angela accused.
“It’s no big deal. I’m just taking the test.”
“It is a big deal. I remember how happy my father was when he made lieutenant. I was still young, but I remember his giddiness and my mama laughing as he kissed her all over her face. And Sean, he was so excited when he passed.”
“Sean?” Carter questioned.
Angela turned her still star-filled gaze to Carter. “Of Rescue Two. He’s my older brother.” She turned back to me. “Oh my goodness! We have to make you some study cards. They always helped me in college. You’ll be able to carry them with you wherever and study at the station, at home, at my place. Wherever.” She waved her hands around animatedly.
I couldn’t help the amusement I felt at seeing how excited she was over this. Pulling a pen out of the workout bag she carried, she jotted some notes down on a napkin on the table of things to pick up from Staples to help me study.
“I think you’ve got a winner there,” Carter leaned over and stated, low in my ear.
I didn’t even look at him to acknowledge the truth of his words. I was too busy staring down at the giddy Angel to the left of me.
****
“I thought we were stopping for food. Come on, Harvard. I’m fucking starving,” Don grumbled as he dismounted from the rig.
“We are,” I answered, glancing at him over my shoulder.
“Then what the fuck are we doing at a community center?” he asked, just as we reached the door.
I held it open for him.
“If there’s not a large pepperoni and sausage pizza waiting inside for us, I’m setting your boots on fire.” He pointed at me.
I laughed, not because I didn’t think he was serious, but because I believed he would light my boots on fire.
“Come on, man. I’ll spring for extra garlic knots later.”
“You better,” he grumbled, brushing past me.
I entered the center behind Don.
“Welcome, gentlemen. Can I help you?” the young receptionist asked.
“Yeah, we’re here to see Marshall Jacobs.” I leaned on the counter, noticing the young brunette eyeing both Don and I. We were dressed in department dark blue T-shirts, displaying the department’s emblem, and our bright orange-yellow coveralls from the waist down with the standard red suspenders to hold them up. We were returning from a call. I’d dropped off the other guys and told them we were heading out to pick up a pizza. Since there was another rig at the station, it was customary that one or two of us would take one out to pick up food for the station.
Her head leaned over the counter, and she saw the huge fire rig that I parked in the lot.
“Are you gentlemen here to do a presentation for the students?”
“No, doll. But if you give me your number, I’d be more than happy to give you a call to set that up,” Don responded, his voice dipping low.
The girl lowered her head as she blushed.
I just shook my head at Don’s way with the women. How someone could be as crude as he was sometimes and still beat women off with a stick was beyond me.
“We just need Marshall for a moment.” I gave her a smile I knew would charm the pants off most women.
“Thanks, doll,” Don added before she even moved to pick up the phone.
Her blush revealed her intentions before her movements. Seconds later she was hanging up the phone and telling us that Marshall was on his lunch break but would be right out.
I straightened and moved closer to the glass doors that led toward the rest of the community center. Moments later, I saw a figure emerge, and I immediately recognized the man from the night of my first date with Angela. As soon as he stepped past the glass doors, his eyes landed on me, and a confused expression followed.
“Remember me?” I smirked. “I’m Eric. Angela’s man. Let’s talk, just you and me.” I stepped closer, towering over him for a brief second.
“Donna, what’s this about?” He turned toward the receptionist’s desk.
My eyes remain trained on him, but the receptionist must have given him an unsatisfactory look because he soon frowned and planted his gaze back on me.
“It’ll only be a minute,” I added, stepping to his side, placing my arm around his shoulders. “Let’s take this outside.” I felt some reluctance when I pulled Marshall along, but eventually, he conceded.
“You stay here,” I said over my shoulder to Don who’d begun walking behind us. He hesitated but then shrugged and went back to the front desk.
“Why are you here? How did you even know where I worked?” Marshall asked as soon as the doors closed.
“A man who gets straight to the point.” I nodded, arms folded across my chest and planted my feet. “I like that. I’m here about Angela, obviously.”
“She told you where I worked?” he questioned, accusation in his voice.
I stepped forward, crowding his personal space. “She doesn’t know I’m here. And we’re going to keep it that way.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“I’m here because of an encounter I heard occurred between the two of you. She was reluctant to go into much detail, but I got the sense you insulted her.”
“Now wait. If she’s telling you I threatened―”
His rant was cut short by my chuckle and a firm hand on his shoulder. He glanced at my hand on him and then back to my hard face.
“Marshall, let me make one thing clear right now. If you would’ve threatened her, this would be an entirely different conversation. No words would be exchanged. You get what I’m sayin’?” I clamped my teeth together, causing the muscles of my jaw to flex at the same time my hand squeezed his shoulder. The thought of him threatening Angela had me on edge. I didn’t take a step back until I saw him wince in pain from my contact. Marshall visibly exhaled.
“I don’t like the implications of your actions. You berated her, and that’s not something I take lightly.”
“I didn’t berate her.”
“So you’re calling Angela a liar?” My eyebrow spiked, daring him to lie.
“N-no. I just said what I felt.”
“And you felt that she was stupid for seeing me, correct? Last time I checked calling someone stupid is an insult. Has the definition changed since the last time I checked Webster’s?” I gave him a serious look.
His gaze casting downward was his only response.
“Didn’t think so.”
“Okay, I’m sorry for insulting her. I didn’t mean it like that. I was just disappointed and I―”
I held my hand up. “Disappointment is understandable. She’s beautiful, vivacious, and caring. Any man would be lucky to have her. I’m that man. And I don’t like what belongs to me being disrespected. An apology is a good start―”
“Start? Start of what?”
A sideways tilt of my head revealed I didn’t appreciate his tone at the moment.
“An apology is a good start, but also, you’re going to find another gym. Cancel your membership and find another place to work out. Delete Angela’s number, email, and all memory of her from your mind.”
His jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious? I paid for the year for my membership.”
I shrugged. “There’s only four and a half months left in the year. Workout at home, go to a park, take up yoga somewhere.” I stepped closer. “I don’t give a shit where you workout just don’t do it in the same gym as Angela. And don’t even think of taking a step inside of Charlie’s. Whether she’s there or not. We clear?”
He began shaking his head, and my already present frown turned into a scowl. His eyes widened when I bent down lower to get in his face.
“This isn’t a request. I don’t take trips like this during my work shift for shits and giggles. You had your chance with her, you blew it, and another man stepped in and did what you couldn’t. You acted like a spoiled child who didn’t get his milk and cookies by insulting her and by proxy insulting me. Typically, I’d blow off any insults directed at me, but not those directed at my woman. Do yourself a favor, heed this warning and make yourself scarce.” I pulled back a little and watched the pensive expression on his face.
His eyes trained on me and he nodded ever so slightly. I tapped him on the shoulder and then moved to the door. Opening it and sticking my head in, I called for Don. With one last glance at Marshall, I turned and headed for the rig.
“We better be getting pizza now,” Don grumbled as we climbed into the rig.
I peered over him. He wore a sour expression, and I began laughing. “She didn’t give you her number, did she?”
“Fuck are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about. The receptionist. Despite all her blushing, she saw through your bullshit.”
He turned dark brown eyes on me. “She’s a fucking psych student in grad school at the university. Says I got some fucking issues and I mask it by using women. You fucking believe that?” he roared, pulling the seatbelt across his chest. “Fucking ridiculous!” he mumbled, intensifying my laughter as I started the rig.
“You said what you needed to say?” he asked after a moment of silence. His head was turned, watching Marshall as he entered the building and we pulled out of the community center’s parking lot.
“Sure did.”
“Still don’t wanna tell me what it was about? What if Captain asks where we been?”
“What’re you talking about? We’re on a pizza run.”
He grinned. “As long as you add my fucking garlic knots, mum’s the word from me.”
“Consider it done.” I held out my fist and Don responded by giving me the fist bump.