Page 80 of Finding Hayes
“You know, there’s an occasional smile on your face.” He barked out a laugh. “It has nothing to do with you as a firefighter, Hayes. I wouldn’t give a shit if you stayed single your entire life—I care about how you do the job. But as a friend. As a man who’s watched you grow up and looks at you like a son. I like that you have something, someoneto go home to. And I can tell that you like it, too.”
“When did you turn into such a sappy dude?” I shook my head and used my hand to cover my laugh.
“Apparently, the older I get, the sappier I become.” He reached for his coffee and took a sip before returning his mug to the desk. “So, what I want to talk to you about is the part of the job you might not like.”
“Which is?”
“You’re going to be a fucking babysitter sometimes. You’re going to break up fights and have to ride the guys when they slack. You can’t just call them assholes and shut down. You’re going to have to check your temper at the door and be the guy everyone turns to with all their problems, even when you don’t feel like it. And trust me, there’s always something.”
“All right. I can handle that.”
“I know you can. That’s why you’re here.”
“And what happens with Lenny?” I asked, knowing that he wouldn’t take it well.
“Listen, if Lenny were being promoted, I know that you’d leave. Because you know that he wouldn’t lead this house the way it needs to be led. But I think he knows you’re the man for the job. I think he’ll accept it.”
“Pffft.” I quirked a brow. “I think you’re underestimating how much we despise one another.”
“Well, that’ll be up to him. Can you handle being his boss without being an asshole to him? Or at least no more of an asshole than you are to anyone else?”
“Yeah. If he does his job, I wouldn’t have a problem with him. Hell, if he leaves me alone now, we won’t have an issue. But it’s usually him fucking with me. Trying to goad me, you know?”
“So don’t bite. He’s going to be offended at first. And, at the end of the day, this house would survive just fine without Lenny. It would not survive without you. So if he decides to leave, we’ll throw him a party and wish him well. But it will be his decision.”
“Is this official? Or is there still some red tape to get through?”
“No. The job is yours, Hayes. We’re announcing it the minute you accept. Obviously, I’m not leaving just yet, but I’ll start training you over the next few weeks.” He pushed to his feet, and I did the same.
He extended an arm, and my hand wrapped around his. “Thank you, Cap. It means a lot to me.”
“Do you need to discuss this with Savannah? Or do you need some time to decide if this is what you want?”
“Nope. I’ve always known what I want. She supports that. She wanted this for me. This firehouse is my home. These guys are my family. I’d be honored to walk in your shoes, and I’ll do my best to make you proud.”
His lips turned up in the corners, and he clapped me on the shoulder hard. “Already there, son.”
He led me out of his office toward the kitchen, where Biscuit stood at the stove, pushing around some eggs in a pan.
“Listen up,” Cap said, loud enough to get everyone’s attention. The guys all went quiet, and Cap informed them that I’d be taking his position when he retired in a few weeks.
The entire table erupted in cheers and whistles and celebration. I wouldn’t have guessed they’d be this excited. No one wanted Cap to retire, including me. But if he weren’t the one here leading these guys, I knew I wanted it to be me.
“What’s going on in here?” Lenny said. He tugged his coat off and walked into the kitchen, as he’d be starting his shift right when I was leaving.
My gaze locked with Cap’s, and then he turned to Lenny and said the words I knew my nemesis would hate. “Rambo here is going to be the next captain of this firehouse. Everyone is just congratulating him now.”
Lenny narrowed his gaze, and I saw the anger, but he straightened his face and forced a smile. “Congrats, man. That’s great.”
I nodded. “Yeah, thank you. I’m going to head out.”
I held up my hand as Cap sat there answering all the questions the guys were firing at him about who could move into my current position. I laughed as I made my way down the hallway and foundmy coat, sliding one arm at a time into the sleeves.
“So, let me guess… your wife is some sort of ridiculous fucking social media star, and now you get the job? Way to play fair, Hayes.” Lenny was standing there, just as angry as I’d expected him to be.
I reached for my zipper and took my time answering because he wanted to pick a fight right now. He wanted me to get angry, and then he’d play the victim. But he wouldn’t get that from me.
Yeah, Savannah’s farmhouse renovation had blown up on social media, and she’d gotten millions of views. Everyone in town was talking about how talented she was, and she’d received offers from several design firms in the city, interested in having her come work for them when she wrapped up this project.
