Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
I cover my mouth with my hand, choking on a cry.
There, in the middle of the dark, empty road, is a fire. Not just any fire—flaming words: I [giant heart] U Lia.
My vision blurs as I watch the flames curl and lick and then die out.
Blaze holds up a finger. Uses a bottle of lighter fluid to write something else and throws another match down.
Sorry, it says.
“Hey you!” One of my downstairs neighbors leans out her window. I can hear everything through the single glass pane windows in this old building. “What do you think you’re doing? I’m calling the cops!”
I throw my window open. “It’s okay!” I open my window and yell down. “He’s with the FDNY. He can put it out.”
Blaze straightens and pulls the hem of his FDNY shirt down to display the big white logo scrawled across his massive chest. Then he turns back to me and holds up his finger one more time.
He writes again. This time:
Happy Birthday.
I pull my head back out of the window because I don’t want him to see me cry. Somehow this has turned into the worst and best birthday of my life.
When the flames extinguish, all he does is lift a hand in my direction and walk away.
He meant it about giving me space.
I can’t help but notice the gaping hole left in my chest cavity where my heart used to be. Space from Blaze feels all wrong.
So does working at the station without him.
I hate his solution.
I shut my window but stay there, forehead pressed against the glass, remembering the beautiful flames shaping my name.
He loves me.
He said so.
And how could I not believe it? He’s willing to leave his station and his crew.
For me.
And he’s not making my pyromania wrong—he gave me gifts of fire. I laugh, suddenly realizing how fabulous it is for a fire-junkie like me to end up with a guy named Blaze. It’s like fate drew us together.
Chapter 15
Lia
I literally can’t stand being at work without Blaze. Especially knowing it’s my fault he’s gone.
The rest of the crew is as freaked out as well. No one knew his absence was coming, and everyone wants to know what the hell is going on. Especially because the new captain is a doofus.
I mean, he’s fine. Whatever. He’s just not Blaze.
“Captain MacKenzie and I swapped stations,” Captain Elmore tells us when we all show up. “He’s over at the 151st and I’m here with you all.”
“Well, why?” James demands.
Elmore says, “Personal reasons,” and trucks off for the office.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Rocket says.
I spin around and head to my room without saying anything, but I don’t last long there. Everything about this firehouse makes me ache for Blaze.
I find my way back out to the hallway where Rocket, Scott and James are still standing, discussing Blaze’s absence. “It’s because of me,” I blurt. My cheeks heat when they all stop talking and stare at me. “We, um... got involved and he figured it wasn’t a good idea for us to work together.”
If I thought they weren’t sure they wanted me on the team before, it’s clear now. Their looks make me want to sink into the ground and stay there.
I swallow. “But, um, I’m going to leave so he can come back. This is his station. He shouldn’t have to leave it.”
The guys still stare at me like I have five heads and some Medusa-like snakes spinning from them.
“Bullshit,” James spits. “That’s total bullshit.”
“I know—I’m sorry, and—”
“No, I mean why can’t you both just work here?”
Now I’m the one who goes silent. Do they actually want me to stay? And this is from James?
“Yeah, I don’t see the big deal,” Scott concurs.
Rocket bobs his head. “Me neither.”
I rub my lips together, formulating a plan. “Well, let’s go get him back. We’ll drive the truck over with Elmore and demand a swap.”
The guys relax into grins. “Sounds like a plan to me,” Scott says. “I’ll go tell the captain.”
On the way over, the guys pepper me with questions. “So are you two in a fight or something? Over who leaves here?”
I keep my eyes on the road, putting my lights on when traffic sucks and we can’t get through. “Sorta, yeah. It was more than that, but yeah.”
“So is this gonna be the make up? Like we’re all gonna witness it?” Rocket asks.
My cheeks grow warm. “Shut up. I’m not going to French kiss him in front of you or anything.”
“Well I was just thinking we should go in with the big guns. Like you should buy some roses and we can set up the ladder so you can go and get him Pretty Woman style,” Rocket says.
I laugh.
“Yes!” James says. “You have to. Captain will never live it down for the rest of his career.”