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Spencer

“ I ’m going as fast as I can, Justin. Nicole is already at the hospital, Blake and Cole are with her, and Hannah is with Annie and the twins. Relax.” I hear his heavy sigh from the passenger seat of the ambulance as his leg bounces with nerves.

We were across town having lunch when my best friend got the call that his wife, Nicole, was in labor with their second child. I’m breaking all the rules for him by driving lights and sirens toward the hospital to get him there as quickly as possible.

A moment before we approach an intersection, I take a deep breath as I hit the button to change the tone of the siren. I’ve become accustomed to the different pitches of each siren warble and know what to expect.

“Spencer,” Justin whines and I try to empathize with his anxiousness.

“Two minutes.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Yes. I’m sure I don’t want to watch your wife give birth.

“One of us has to work. I’m dropping you off and heading to the station to pick up Miller. Call me when he’s here, and I’ll come by and bring your bags.”

As I pull up to the Emergency Department entrance, Justin is out the door yelling goodbye before I stop the rig.

I’m excited for my best friend. He’s come so far in the eight years I’ve known him. I’ve watched him go from a broken man to a husband and father. We’ve been paramedic partners for the past six years, and he’s my rock and I’m his.

Pulling up to the fire department, Miller is already waiting for me with a smile on his stupidly handsome face. I wish Justin had never pointed out I have two men in my life vying for my attention, Miller being one of them. I never noticed how his dark, shaggy hair would fall over his eyes. Or how blue said eyes are, surrounded by skin that always looks sun-kissed.

“Hey, Smithy. Heard you were looking for someone to ride…with.” He punctuates his dirty joke with a panty-dropping smile and a wink.

“Just get in. And why do I have to continuously remind you not to call me that?”

“When you tell me why you keep a small arsenal in your house, I’ll stop reminding you of the sexy little red Smith and Wesson you showed me that day at the range.”

“I never should have taken you with me.” Miller laughs as he buckles his seatbelt and settles into a comfortable position.

“So what’s for lunch?”

“I’ve already eaten. We are stopping by Justin and Nicole’s to get their go-bags and deliver them to the hospital. Nicole was out shopping when her water broke.”

“Woo-hoo, field trip.” The corner of my lip twitches at his enthusiasm. He’s adorable when he acts like this. Shut up, Spencer . You can’t allow yourself to fall for his boyish charm. “I asked Chief if I could fill in for Justin while he’s out on paternity leave. I keep wondering when he’s going to decide to retire. We all know he doesn’t need to work.”

“He works because he wants to, and he likes the satisfaction he gets when he helps the community. Why are you a firefighter?”

“Chicks dig the uniform.” I can hear the smile in his voice without looking at him. Miller’s easygoing nature allows me to understand what he’s saying without any pretense. His tones and inflections perfectly match what he means, and I never have to play a guessing game with him. “Are you telling me you could resist me in full uniform, smelling like a fresh fire and danger?” I stop the shiver wanting to run down my spine, and once again, I want to curse Justin for pointing out Miller’s attraction to me. So no, Miller. I can’t resist you, and please don’t ask me again.

“I’ve seen it before. It was resistible.” But only because I wasn’t attracted to you then.

“I’d call you on your bullshit, but you don’t usually BS me, so maybe you don’t find me attractive. I’m wounded, Spencer. You might need to pull over and use the defibrillator to restart my heart.”

As I open my mouth to attempt a snarky comeback, the radio crackles, and my heart skips a beat. The baritone voice that stirs the butterflies in my belly bellows over the speaker.

“Unit 25, please respond to 723…” My stomach drops for a completely different reason, hearing my favorite voice recite my father’s address and use the code for a mental health crisis.

“Spencer, Spencer, what’s wrong? All the color just drained from your face.” I feel Miller’s hand on my forearm, but I’m numb to the sensation as I flip on the sirens and make the safest U-turn I can while putting my mask in place.

I quickly glance at Miller, whose pinched brows and wide eyes show his concern for me. I don’t know what could be happening with my father, and I need to give him a heads-up about where we’re going before we arrive.

“Wait. Why do I know that address? Don’t you live on that street?” I shift my eyes to look at him, and he stares at me intently.

“That’s my father’s address.”

“Oh shit. What’s going on?”

“I honestly don’t have any idea, Miller, but we’re about to find out.”

As we turn onto my street, two patrol cars are parked in front of my father’s house.

“Unit 25 on scene.”

“10-4. Subject is calm at this time.” Why was he not calm? What’s going on, Dad?

Miller shoots me uneasy glances as we pull the gear out of the rig and roll the cot to the front door. I can hear men talking inside and steal my emotions before stepping in.

“Gentleman, I need to speak to my daughter. Can you please—”

“Dad.”

“Oh, thank god. Spencer, you need to go. I saw him. There’s been a vehicle parked at the end of the block for the past week. I walked past it today, and it was him.” I walk over and grab his shoulders, leading him to sit on the couch.

“Okay, Dad. It’s okay.”

“But it’s not, honey. I’m getting too old. I can’t protect you. What if he—”

“Dad.” I cut him off with my curt tone. All eyes in the room are on us, but this is not a conversation that needs to be shared.

- Crackle - “Unit 25. Status check.” The portable radio on Miller’s hip grates on my nerves as he looks at me expectantly.

“Status, Smithy?” I want to berate him for using his nickname for me around all these people, but the momentary reminder of guns and his soothing tone help ease my rising anxiety.

“I’m good. I’m going to take him in the other room and talk to him. You can call us clear.” He shoots me a concerned look before leaving in the direction of the front door with the two officers.

Turning back to my father, I give him a weary sigh. “Okay, Detective. Tell me what you saw?”