Jake nodded. “Get the wet stuff on the red stuff. Or the could-be red stuff,” he amended. The saying was a common phrase around the station. Everything got better once you had water on the fire and knocked it down.
“Get some sleep,” I said.
He disappeared to the bunk room, and I sat in the quiet rec room. Shift was over in three hours. Later today, I had a meeting with Krystal. Apparently, Sharon had broken the news about the Spring Sparks Auction. Krystal‘s text message hadn’t sounded excited. But she hadn’t sounded annoyed either. I flipped my phone to reread it.
KD: I guess we have some work to do on the auction. Want to get together tomorrow?
Look at me, analyzing the tone of a text message. This was just work. I knew when I took the captain position that it would mean additional duties beyond running calls on my shift.
I just never expected it to mean working with Krystal.
Would I be able to work closely with her and spend so much time with her and keep my distance? We hadn’t spent any significant time together since she left fifteen years ago. And while I really was fine with how things had worked out, I was aware of how easy it would be to fall into my old feelings.
I couldn’t let that happen. It hurt too much when she left.
I knew how to protect people—it was my job. I just prayed I would be able to protect myself.