Page 85 of From the Ashes

Okay, so don’t kiss him, but surely, I can inquire as to whether or not he’s okay, for fuck’s sake.

I throw the Jeep in park and head for the door. I’m not surprised to find the door locked. If I could see inside, enoughto know Phoenix was alive, I’d look my fill then turn around and go home, but since I can’t see anything, I start pounding on the door with my fist.

It only takes a minute for the door to fly open and someone who is not Phoenix eyes me suspiciously.

“Hey man, do you need help?” the guy asks kindly.

“Oh, um, no. I mean, there’s no emergency…I don’t think.” I’m stumbling over my words now that I actually have to use them and tell this man what I’m here for. He’s patient as he looks at me with concern on his features.

“Okay. Are you thinking about harming yourself?”

The question takes me aback.

“What?No…I’m…I’m looking for Phoenix.”

“Are you thinking about harming Phoenix?”

“Absolutely not! Why would you think that?”

“Because it’s almost three in the morning, and you’re beating on our door in your underwear with a crazy look in your eye.”

I start to argue, but quickly shut my mouth when I look down.

This can’t be happening.

I’m not wearing pants. I FORGOT my fucking PANTS.

Clad in boxers and a t-shirt, I try to remain calm. “Look, I swear I don’t want trouble. Phoenix hasn’t come home yet and he left for that fire twelve hours ago. I can’t get him on the phone, and I’m just freaking out a little,” I admit.

The guy cocks a brow at me. “You live with Phoe?”

I know Phoenix had a life while we were apart, butfuck,I do not like the reminder. The way this guy casually throws Phoenix’s nickname out there irks me because he still hasn’t told me if Phoenix is okay.

“Dude, can you please just tell me if he’s alright?” I ask, growing more irritated by the second.

“Yeah, man, he’s just waiting for a shower to open up.” The tension keeping my muscles rigid flees at this news, causing me to brace myself with a hand on the doorframe so I don’t slump to the ground.

“Okay, thanks,” I finally say. True to my word, I turn to get back in the Jeep. I got my answer. If Phoenix didn’t think he needed to call and let me know he’s okay, we can talk about that later.

“You, uh, want to come in and see him?” the guy yells to my back.

I stop and flash him an embarrassed smile. “I’m not really dressed for the occasion.”

He shrugs. “I’m sure we’ve got an extra pair of sweats lying around. Come on in. I’m Paul, by the way. I ride in Phoenix’s truck as part of the A-team.” If I weren’t so exhausted from stressing the past several hours, I’d make a crack about the A-team, but I don’t have it in me, especially once Paul keeps talking. “Phoe had to be hooked up to the O2 tank in the back of the ambulance, but he saved a buddy of ours. It’s been a helluva night, so go easy on him.”

I feel the color drain from my face and I sway on my feet as images of Phoenix in the back of an ambulancewithout me, flit through my mind.

“Whoa, easy there,” the guy says, wrapping an arm around my torso to steady me. “Come have a seat and I’ll grab those sweats.”

He leads me to a couch in a room with a T.V. on the wall, a game console underneath, and a poker table. Off to the side is a kitchen, but no one is around. A minute later, Paul returns with a pair of navy sweatpants that has the fire station logo on them.

“Uh, thanks. I really appreciate this.” I still don’t know what he knows about Phoenix so I try to keep my answers short and prepare myself to fist bump Phoe when he emerges insteadof jumping into his fucking arms and slamming my mouth down on his.

I don’t have to wait long before I hear Paul’s voice and know immediately he’s talking to my boyfriend.

“Yeah, at first, I thought he was on something. Dude lookedwreckeduntil I told him you were okay. Figured if he was bad news, me, you, and Knoxy could take him…and if he wasn’t, then I thought maybe you might want to see him too?”

“Yeah, I do,” Phoenix replies, sounding hoarse. “Where’d you put him?”