Page 7
“Love you too…Deanie Weenie!”
The line goes dead.
Brat.
After a quick rinse in the shower, I’m back in the kitchen pulling out the fixings for a hearty grilled turkey, bacon, and cheese sandwich. I grab the skillet from the cabinet beside the stove and crank the heat. I need this baby to warm up pronto. I am famished.
“Counter robot!” I command my smart device. “Play my Morning Music playlist.”
Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock I’ll give her that.
River pushes past me like it’s no obstacle at all, sprinting into my apartment.
“Where is it?”
“Son of a…” I chase after her.
“Where’s your ster—FIRE! Fire! Fire! Fire!”
“What?” I barely stop myself from crashing into her when the smell hits me. “Shit! Fire!”
I grab the spray hose connected to the sink and aim for the fire.
“No! Don’t! Water?—”
I spray.
And everything goes to hell in a handbasket.
Flames lick over the stove, across the towel that’s disintegrating into nothing, and up the wall. It feels like it happens in less than two seconds.
“You idiot!” River pulls on me to get back. “Water and grease do not play well together!”
“Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
“I tried! Why don’t you know that?”
“Stop arguing and go call nine-one-one!”
She races from the apartment, and I head for the couch, jerking a blanket from the back, throwing it over the fire.
It seems to work…for a moment.
Then the flames burst through the material. We need to get out of here immediately.
“We need to go now !” River shrieks as she comes barreling back in, echoing my thoughts. She yanks on me, trying to pull me out of the apartment. “Come on! Move it!”
“Wait! I need to grab Leo.”
“ Oh my gosh! HURRY UP!”
I move like lightning, scooping Leo out of his terrarium and back into his on-the-go hut. “Sorry you’re back in here, buddy. Just trying to save your life.”
“Will you quit talking to your turtle and move it already? I really don’t want to die in here with you .”
“Why are you still here?” I fire back at her. “That concerned about my safety?”
“Because I’m a good person.”
“Doubt that.” I fasten the lid. “Done. Let’s go.” I hold my hand out to her, and she scoffs at it.
“Please. I am not holding your hand, Dean.”
I ignore her and grab her hand anyway, pulling her from the apartment and away from the still growing fire.
“Wait!”
We stop, and River reaches for the fire alarm, yanking it down.
She grins up at me. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”
She tightens her grip on me, and I can already hear the sirens outside as I try to ignore the way I like how her hand feels in mine.