Page 5

Zoe sighed. Her father was “settled” somewhere on a Montana ranch, vacationing with her mom. She was in a new town, unsure if she would ever settle in.

Her thumbs hovered over the keypad, thinking of how best to reply.

She heaved and looked around.

The room was sparsely furnished. A desk was pushed against the far wall, a chair tucked neatly under it. A stack of unopened boxes leaned against the wall beside a file cabinet.

The fluorescent lights above hummed quietly, casting a stark white light over the space. The walls were painted a dull beige, and a single window offered a view of the parking lot.

Her thoughts were riveted to the woman she had seen when she arrived at the station. Their eyes danced together in unison for what felt like an eternity. How long did she stand there, staring?

Not now, Zoey,she warned herself.

It was way too early to be attracted to anyone. She wasn’t even sure she was attracted just yet. It didn’t work that way, right? She hadn’t come down to Phoenix Ridge only to find solace in the arms of the next woman who smiled at her.

Lisa, her older sister, would tease her for always having fickle emotions and craving a life forever with anyone who smiled at her. She liked to argue that she wasn’t a hopeless romantic, but then she knew, as did Lisa, that she was.

At least, she used to be. Romance was not necessary anymore.

She ran her fingers over the smooth desk surface then glanced at the empty shelves on the wall. The office felt sterile, impersonal. A place that didn’t yet feel like home.

Her phone buzzed to life. The caller ID was one she didn’t expect. Jamie.She smiled. Jamie was her younger brother and favorite sibling.

“Hello, Jamie.” She pressed the phone against her ear.

“Hey, Z. How’s my little big sister doing?”

“Holding up, I guess,” she said. “Dad just texted.”

“You must be the only middle child in the country who gets this much attention.”

Zoey laughed, even though she’d argue that they only cared this much because they feared she’d fall apart if left alone. At thirty-one, one would think their family would cut her some slack.

“I guess so,” she said. “How’s the army treating you?”

“Not bad,” Jamie replied. “Snuck off just to check up on you.”

“That’s sweet.”

“I’ll be heading back out now. You’re fine, right?”

Zoey rolled her eyes. She hated being asked that. It’s been three months, and she still gets asked this. “I’m fine.”

“You know it wasn’t your fault, right?”

Zoey paused. “If you believe that, you don’t have to say it.”

Jamie chuckled. “Typical Zoey. You always have to be a?—”

“Say ‘wise ass,’ and I’ll whip yours from over here.”

“I was gonna say ‘loving older sister,’ but you took the words right out of my mouth.” Jamie chuckled. “Take care, Z.”

“You, too, Jamie.”

The line clicked. She smiled, but it only survived the next few seconds.

There was a knock on the door. Zoey turned as the door creaked open and Fire Chief Becky Thompson stepped inside, holding a thick folder.