Yearn A. Ellis (carter reed .TXT) 📖

“You’re the one who caught it like some damn mouse whisperer, it’s your responsibility.” I laughed at the look on Kratz’s face. Definitely hadn’t thought that one through. As we packed up the gear, a thought struck. “But we’re going to need a picture with it first.”

“The hell we are,” Khi grumbled.

“For the challenge. We’ll caption it Saving ALL Lives or some shit like that. It’ll be bonus points. Come on.”

The picture turned out great. Khi and I side-by-side, Kratz behind us, holding the mouse between us—with both hands so Khi would stop bitching. Sneed snapped the picture with my phone and laughed because both Khi and I were giving sidelong glances to the mouse, but our facial expressions were very different. I looked happy and pleased. Khi looked like Kratz was holding a handful of shit.

“Tag me in that,” Kratz said. “Come on, we gotta figure out what to do with this thing. Wonder if anyone has reported a missing mouse,” he muttered as they climbed into their patrol car and took off.

“Should take it to the snake house and say dinner is served,” Khi mumbled.

“That poor mouse didn’t do anything to deserve to be dinner.”

“I didn’t do anything to deserve having to save lives surrounded by rodents,” Khi shot back as I headed the rig toward the station.

“Oh, come on, that wasn’t exactly life-saving and you weren’t surrounded by rodents.”

We snapped some pictures of us with our lasagna once we got back to the station.

“Let’s post these and see if we can get a couple other ones done. I’ll print the copies at home and we can hang them on the board next week.” I started a sink of soapy water for dishes.

Khi huffed and stood beside me. “Smile. Might as well add one for doing the dishes together.” He snapped a picture.

“You actually going to help?”

“Makes my hands all wrinkly,” Khi protested as I rolled my eyes. “I’ll dry and put away.”

“Fair enough, but damn, you’re a finicky one.”

Khi glared at me and grabbed a towel.

Our shift ended several hours later after a few more call-outs and we drove home—separately, of course, even though driving together made so much more sense—and silently went about our routine. We’d get some sleep and then head toward Indy a bit later.

For the first time in forever, I had a tiny bit of hope that maybe something had shifted between Khi and me. There was possibly a tiny bit less tension, not as much animosity. I fell asleep thinking that maybe I was finally breaking through to Khi and we could bury the bad blood between us.

However, that thought flew out the window when we arrived in Indy Friday afternoon. The drive had been uneventful. I let Khi drive, told him I was tired of hauling his ass around…although, I’m pretty sure he would have been happier if we’d driven separately. We easily found parking and made our way to the hotel lobby where several first responders were milling about.

“Nice place,” I said as I pulled the reservation sheet from the envelope Julia had given me.

“Yeah, no wonder I can’t afford to attend on my own dime.”

Khi had reluctantly agreed to go to a couple of the Friday evening presentations with me. We were going to get settled, grab some food, and then find the conference room for the first speaker.

And that would have all gone off without a hitch if we hadn’t walked into our room on the twelfth floor and found out there was only one bed.

Because, of course, there was only one bed.

Khi had stormed out of the room and stalked back toward the elevator. I figured he was either going to demand a separate room or get in his car and drive back to Remington. Thirty minutes later, he was back and seething mad.

“There are no other rooms,” he bit out as he glared at the offending bed.

“It’s a huge bed, we can each take a side. If Shafer and Dawson were going to have to share a bed, I’m sure we can handle it.”

Khi continued to radiate anger.

“I promise I won’t jump your bones during the night as long as you can promise the same.” I tried to keep my tone light and not let on just how interested I’d actually be in jumping his bones.

“That definitely won’t be an issue,” Khi scoffed.

“Then it’s settled. We stay on our own sides, no big deal. I’m already used to dealing with your atrocious snoring, so that won’t be anything new.” I grabbed my small crossbody bag and made sure I had my phone, wallet, room key, and chapstick. “Let’s go, I’m starving.”

Khi narrowed his eyes. “I don’t snore.” He stuffed the room key in his wallet and slid it in his pocket before grabbing his phone.

“You do.” I opened the door and made my way to the elevator.

Khi grumbled something behind me that I couldn’t quite make out and I smiled. He’d probably shut down and retreat to the silent treatment very soon, but I’d enjoy whatever conversation I could get for the time being.

We took an Uber to the Salty Lizard since we’d recently been there and knew the food and drinks were good. The atmosphere had been warm and welcoming during Logan’s birthday party and that was always a plus, especially when in a city you didn’t know all that well.

The waiter, Chase, took our drink orders and quickly returned with water and our beers. “You two look so familiar to me, have you been in before?”

Khi smiled warmly—and it did something to my stomach that Chase got that smile but it was never directed my way. “We were in a while back for a friend’s twenty-first.”

“Right, I knew I recognized you. What brings you back?”

“First responders convention,” I said.

Chase glanced at our logo shirts. “Ah, yeah, I should’ve guessed. We’ve been packed with attendees. Wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall at the convention center this weekend; I bet the place is overflowing