Chapter 5
Bryn
“Who’s the new guy, Malloye?” Camden asked as Mitch walked past us and to the chief.
“Randomly met him at the tattoo shop last night, and apparently he’s going to be working here.” I shrugged it off, bee-lining for the coffee pot. I needed all the coffee I could possibly get if I was going to make it through my entire shift.
“Interesting.” Camden had his gym bag slung over his shoulder.
“Cardio day?” I asked, more teasing than anything.
Cam’s chest puffed up a bit. “Arms and back. Cardio is for pussies.”
We both laughed as Camden started to walk away to change. “Catch ya later, Malloye.”
Even though it was typical for all of us to call each other by our last names, ever since Camden and I had moved in together, it was weird when he called me anything other than Bryn.
The nectar of the gods filled my Tervis as the steam wafted the earthy aroma through the firehouse’s kitchen.
“Malloye, just the person I was looking for.” Chief Hoover came walking in, Mitch following closely behind him. “This is Mitchell Katz, mind showing him around for a bit? He’s starting on B shift tomorrow, bright and early.”
“Not a problem, sir.” I put the bright green lid on the tumbler and smiled at Mitch as the chief left us be.
“Bryn Malloye?” Mitch chuckled to himself as he said my full name.
“What’s it to you?” I playfully shoved his shoulder a bit.
“That is the most Irish name I have ever heard in my entire life, and in the middle of Missouri, it was just not what I was expecting.”
After showing Mitch all over—from the gym to the bathrooms and apparatus bay—it was time to introduce him to all the guys on my shift. My heart was pounding, my palms were clammy—I was a complete wreck.
He’s just a guy.
He’s just your friend.
Forget about his perfect ass, talented tongue and gorgeous penis.
I made myself blush as Mitch followed me to the day room where everyone was gathered around for lunch. I cleared my throat. All eyes were on me as their mindless chitchat halted.
“This is Mitch. He’s new, all the way from Florida,” I stammered.
Mitch waved like a goof and we took seats after grabbing bowls of chili and cornbread.
“Take it, it’s Connor’s day to cook,” I pestered, winking at the redheaded lieutenant at the head of the table. In all fairness, it was usually Connor’s day to cook since before finding his true calling and joining the fire academy, Fredrick Connor had gone to culinary school. He was the best damn cook I had ever met in my life, and I loved that we worked A shift together.
After making quick introductions, Mitch dove right into the hot seat with the guys all asking him tons of stuff, from personal to professional shit and everything in between.
With chili still rolling around in Camden’s mouth, he leaned over and asked, “What’s the most fucked up thing that has happened to you on a call to date?”
Mitch chuckled a little, leaning back in his chair. He tapped his finger to his mouth. “Hmmmm, fucked up as in gross or as in mind-blowing crazy?”
“Either? Both? You pick,” Cam answered with a little shoulder shrug.
I darted my gaze directly at my jerk of a roommate to shoot laser beams at him with my eyes. “What the fuck, Nash?” I immediately jumped into defensive mode, looking at Mitch. “You do not need to answer that.”
“No, it really is fine. I got a good one actually.” Mitch rubbed the back of his neck while flashing his panty-dropping smile.It is going to be so damn hard to just be his friend, I just fucking know it. Thank God he’s on a different shift than I am.
“When I was an EMT, I responded to a call where a hobo was hit by a train.” Mitch was holding his stomach and laughing so hard, tears were forming in the corners of his eyes just from starting the story. He sucked in a deep breath before continuing. “He was fucking scattered over the freaking tracks for at least two miles, probably more. It was gory in a way, but so spread out, it was weird as hell. More unbelievable and unrecognizable than anything else. As I was walking along, I came across what looked like a tattered black shirt filled full of remains. When I asked for a hand, the evil bastards I worked with gave me the guy’s dismembered arm from the elbow down, the hand flopping around at the wrist like a limp noodle.”
“Holy shit, that is crazy as hell!” Camden’s jaw was hanging open.
“I’m sure a lot of you have stories that could even beat that.” Mitch leaned back in his chair and listened as all of the guys from my shift started in on a pissing contest to see who had to most disgusting, craziest, worst call stories imaginable.
After hearing countless accounts that made my stomach do flip-flops, we all finally finished our meal, and I started to stand up.
“I should probably get out of here. I have a lot of stuff to take care of before my shift tomorrow. See you bright and early?” Mitch asked, standing a little closer than necessary to my side.
“Seven in the morning comes quick, Katz. See you then.” His last name was strange on my lips, but it was the norm and I needed to act like he was just another coworker.