There was a noise in her vent.
Stupid shit like that, but since we cared about our community and loved Ms. Williams like she was our own grandmother, we came every time she called.
Thomas carried the ladder back to the firetruck, and I stood with my hands on my hips, facing Ms. Williams. She had curly grey hair, a hunched back, and currently wore a pink floral nightgown. She was barely more than skin and bones, and veins protruded out of her twig-like hands.
“You know, my granddaughter is around your age. She’s single. Pretty too. A handsome man like yourself shouldn’t be single, you know.”
It was the same song and dance every time I came to her house. I shook my head and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Now, why would I need your granddaughter when I have you? Come on, now,” I winked at her, and she waved her hand at me, blushing as her lips formed an O shape.
“Oh, stop that. You’re trouble, aren’t you?”
“Yes ma’am, I guess I am.” I loved teasing with her, but I also never took her up on her offer to meet her granddaughter because my heart was taken. Thunder rolled overhead, and it had me, Ms. Williams, and Thomas looking toward the sky. Everyone thought thunder meant a rainstorm, but when a snowstorm was gathering, thunder rolled like drums above us too. The temperature dropped, cooler than usual for autumn, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was going to be one of those freak storms.
“You better be safe. Sounds like snow is coming. You stay warm okay? Do you have enough food?” I asked her, thinking that maybe me and the boys should bring her some homecooked meals to hold her over.
“No, no, I’m fine. I might be old, but I can cook just fine.”
“Well, you have my number if you change your mind. I gotta get going Ms. Williams. Have a good one. And keep Mr. Hemsworth inside. If it gets too cold, it can be dangerous for him,” I shouted and jumped onto the back of the firetruck as Thomas slowly pulled away. I waved goodbye, and then enjoyed the ride back to the fire station. It was getting too cold to ride on the back of the truck.
There was no way it was going to snow. It was impossible and way too early. Maybe I’m reading the clouds wrong. Maybe it will just storm.
As we drove through town, the quaint buildings, historical and unique lined each other. Cars were parked on either side of the road as we passed the main strip where Rocky’s bar and Kathy’s diner sat. The two were married and had the brilliant idea to have a bar, where people got drunk, and a diner, where drunk people go to get food, right next to one another. And they made a killing.
Thomas hit the side of the firetruck to get my attention and pointed. What I saw nearly had me falling off the edge of the truck.
Luna.
She was looking at a shop for sale where a local jeweler used to be. He had moved here ten years ago. He wasn’t a local, so no one ever came in to buy jewelry, and his business failed, so he left.
Oliver, London, and her parents waited for the real estate agent, Marely, to open the door to the place, and they stepped inside, disappearing behind the tinted glass. What did that mean? Did that mean that she was staying in town for good? I needed to know more.
I slapped my hand on the firetruck, and he slammed on the breaks. My body flew forward, and my forehead slammed against the metal, effectively knocking me off the truck. I landed on the pavement, hard, right on my back. I groaned when pain shot up my neck, throbbing in my head.
“Shit, Easton, you okay? I’m so fucking sorry.” Thomas kneeled beside me and debated on helping me up or not.
I raised my finger. “Just give me a minute,” I said while holding my breath.
The ground was wet and cold. My breath came out in frozen puffs and it drifted up toward the sky, becoming one with the clouds.
“Are you okay?” Only this time, a different voice had me opening my eyes, and it was Luna.
Shit. I couldn’t have her seeing me like this. Thomas stood off to the side, pretending not to pay attention to us as he played on his phone.
“Can you hear me? I saw what happened. You hit your head on the truck and then the ground.” Her hair was down. I loved it when her hair was down. It was so long and thick with spiral curls that I just wanted to watch spring in place all day by tugging on them. I also imagined wrapping my hand around the long, luscious locks and tugging her to me to seal our lips together, the one thing that hadn’t happened, that needed to happen.
“I’m okay,” I said, finally. She looked so beautiful I could hardly focus, and I didn’t know if it was because I banged my head or because she was just that time warping.
It was probably her.
I was surprised she cared enough to come outside and check on me. That had to mean something, right? Luna was the kind of person to care if anyone was hurt though, so I couldn’t take it so personally.
Only I was.
I pretended that the only reason why she came outside to check on me was because it was me. The guy that married her under that oak tree, her best friend, not her enemy. I wasn’t her damn enemy, not anymore.
“Good, now all you have to do is get the dent out of the truck where your thick skull hit it. I believe it got more damage than you did.” Luna’s eyes narrowed, and then all too soon, her face disappeared. I had a feeling her statement had more meaning behind it. I rolled to my side, ignoring the pain in my back and my forehead and staggered to my feet.
“Luna, wait—”