page45 (1/1)
“If you can’t save the office, at least go get my computer!” he said
“Get back Civilians need to be back at least thirty feet I don’t care if it’s your building It’sone of my men for your coot to make sure this doesn’t spread to any other businesses Go!”
Jake escorted Johnny back behind the barricade the cops were putting up for us He tried to argue, but Jake just laughed at hiet I’d seen people try to run back inside a burning building for things they wanted to save Not people Not pets Just stuff Their baseball cards or wedding china or yearbooks—soo Stuff that isn’t worth a human life I respected the chief for the way he handled it He put a premium on the lives of his crew, and he was matter-of-fact about it with the residents or owners
Once we knew there were no occupants at risk, we moved in expert
for to his orders We all knew the protocol on an unoccupied structure Secure the preuish the source I was focused, one with my teale- other than the job that lay ahead ofto slip into the familiar routine, to take my place in the lineup and do what had to be done
It was easy to let ht out in the open That I’d run to her, embraced her, kissed her in front of dozens of people All of whom knew both our families, who knew Ryan and would make sure he heard all about it before the sun went down
21
Sarah Jo
The cops had dispersed the crowd not long after the blaze was contained I was cleared to enter the office long enough to get my stuff and close the place for the rest of the day I headed ho to get the residue and s had been preserved Even Johnny’s precious office had been saved The store would be closed for a feeeks for cleanup and repairs I made a note after my shower to order heavy on the hardware supplies this week I’d need to keep a small stock of hand tools and a selection of ho parts to make up for the absence of the local hardware store’s inventory We could see a boost in sales as a result, and I’d pass so to the chili supper that the Methodist church was arranging as a benefit for them God knew Lucy Mason could use the help, with a new baby and a stupid husband whose store burned partly down I didn’t envy her thatorse, a newborn’s or Johnny Mason’s
I toweled off my hair and added items to my list I had already reassured my dad that the yard hadn’t been harmed at all So when I heard the back screen door open with the force of ales, I knew it had to be my brother No one else made an entrance quite like hi to be pissed off I threw a robe on over my pj’s and braced myself as I went downstairs
“Hey, Ryan You’re off work early What is it? Four?” I said with fake cheerfulness
“How could you do this to me?” he demanded much too loudly for the confines of the small kitchen
“Do what to you?” I said as if I didn’t know
“You’re fucking my best friend”
“I should slap yourthat word in my mama’s kitchen,” I said hotly “She’d feed you a bar of Ivory soap if she was here”
“What do you think she’d do to you to know you’re screwing Luke?” he countered
“Excuse me, Ryan Christopher Winters,” I said, hands on my hips “Don’t you even try that bullshit on me”
“Noho’s cussing in Mama’s kitchen?” he taunted, “You come in here and move into the house You take over the business You take over everything with Dad I’ Take my best friend while you’re at it Maybe you’ll rob the bank where I work next,” he ranted
“You can’t be serious I mean, I knew you were selfish, but it’s a stretch even for you When I got here you weren’t doing anything Not for Dad Not with the lu sorry for yourself about Whitney and whining to everybody you saw That’s not taking over your life That’s taking so jack shit for anyone but yourself So I stepped in I did everything So you could keep on feeling sorry for yourself And now you’re convinced thatinvolved with Luke is somehow about you Spoiler alert, Ryan NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT YOU!” I shouted, oddamn adult and I can see who I want to see and you can’t say shit about it Now if you intend to continue to insult et the fuck out!”