Page 2 of Finding Hayes
Lenny just stared at me as I moved in his direction, and then he held a piece of paper out to me. “Hey, Woodson. Kimber is hosting a fundraiser this weekend for the firehouse. It would be nice if you showed up, because the guys tend to go if yougo.” He hadn’t ended up with my ex, because apparently, she’d cheated on him shortly after I’d found them together. And the asshole had the gall to come try to discuss it with me and bond over the situation.
We weren’t friends. Never would be.
I snatched the paper out of his hand. Another fucking fundraiser. Just in time for Cap to retire in three months.
How fucking convenient.
“And what exactly are we raising money for this weekend, Lenny?” I said, not hiding my disdain for the man.
He quirked a brow. “Kimber thought we could get some new bedding and window coverings in here and spruce the place up.”
Spruce the place up? It’s a fucking firehouse.
He had no interest in fixing this place up. She’d never hosted so many events as she had these last few months when word got out that Cap would be announcing his retirement soon.
Which he did announce recently.
And now this fake motherfucker wanted to present this family environment, as if that made him some sort of leader. He wasn’t the dude charging into fires anymore. He always sent the younger guys in first.
Lenny Davis did not lead by example. He was good at playing the game.
And I’d always hated that part of my job.
The politics.
I wasn’t any good at it. I was all about putting out fires, helping people in distress, and making sure our guys all got home safely.
“Sure.” I smirked. “And what did last month’s fundraiser get us?”
“Are you referring to the hoedown that Kimber hosted at our place? We raised enough money to get that big-screen TV downin the hangout and the standing popcorn maker.”
Like I said, the man doesn’t lead by example.
“I don’t think the people in this town should be giving their hard-earned money to buy us a TV or new curtains. We have a budget for those things.” I stepped closer, leaning in and keeping my voice low. “You could just try doing your job and not acting like a fucking saint to impress Cap. We’re here to fight fires, remember?”
He stepped back, the corners of his lips turning up the slightest bit. “It’s not about the fires, jackass. You just don’t get it, Hayes. The owner of a football team isn’t the guy cleaning up the shit in the stadium; he’s the one showing up to the party who everyone wants to talk to. I’m the face of this house, and you—you clean up the shit.”
I shoved him back against the wall, getting in his face. “This is a fucking firehouse. Those guys need to be led, not attending parties so we can buy stupid shit. Do your fucking job.”
I could see the fear there. I was several inches taller than him and probably had forty pounds on the asshole. But he held that annoying smirk on his face and pushed me back, barely moving me. “And why should I do that? I’ve got you to do my shit work.”
“Everything all right in here?” Cap’s voice pulled me from my anger.
I nodded slowly as I took a step back. “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”
“You know Woodson just has a temper sometimes, Cap. But I can handle him.” Lenny chuckled, and my hands fisted at my sides. This fucking guy got under my skin.
“How about you go get your meeting started,” Cap said to Lenny, turning to me after Lenny walked out of the room. This man had been more of a father to me than my own dad ever had. “You all right, Hayes? Long shift?”
“I’m good. I’ll catch up on sleep over the next few days.”
“All right, son. Take it easy.” He called me that sometimes, and I didn’t show it, but it meant something to me. “Get some rest.”
“Will do, Cap.” I made my way out to the cold, jumped into my truck, and headed through downtown toward my house. But when Whiskey Falls bar came into view, something had me turning the wheel and pulling into the parking lot.
I hadn’t seen Savannah in years, and I was curious to see how she was doing.
Hell, the truth was, I’d never understood the way she’d cut me out of her life so abruptly all those years ago.
