Page 113 of Under Water

Matty shrugs. “I’ve been kind of clingy since I don’t have a job, and I feel like a pathetic loser.”

“You’re definitely not that. But seriously, if you’re interested, have him talk to Teo. His wife works in dispatch, and I bet they could install whatever software you need to do the job.”

Matty’s eyes widen. “I didn’t actually think about that. That could work.”

“Just make sure you have balls and guts of steel. Dispatch is not for the weak.” I stand up and stretch my arms over my head. “Anyway, I have to go talk to my boss for a few, but it was great to see you.”

He offers me his fist to bump. “Logan gave me your number. I was going to text you, but then I heard shit hit the fan, and I thought maybe I should wait.”

“Shit did hit the fan. Text me anyway,” I tell him. “I’ll let you know when I’m free so we can tear up the parking lot in the truck.”

He grins softly. “See you!”

I shoot Logan a wave, who barely looks up at me, and then I see Axel coming around the corner. His face immediately softens, and he jerks his chin at the door that connects both sides of the building, and I slip through it with him at my heels.

There’s no one in the little corridor, so he sets a hand on my shoulder. “You good?”

I let out a small breath. “Yeah. I mean, it’s Rune you should be asking.”

He gives me a stern glower. “Everyone knows about you two. And I know his kid is important to you. That was a massive shit-show of a day, and I was worried they were going to need us on the scene.”

“If I’d gotten any closer to his ex, they would have. But not for the reasons you’re worried about,” I tell him.

His lips lift in a strained smile. “You ain’t here for work, right?”

“No. I was hoping that Cam could fill my shifts for the rest of the week while we figure stuff out.”

He squeezes his hand on me. “Tell him I’ll free up some of Logan’s hours if he needs an extra body. Luckily, it’s the slow season.”

He’s right about that, thank god. If it were winter, things would be trickier. It’s always all hands on deck the moment the first snow hits. But that’s months and two whole seasons away.

“Thanks.”

He nods and slowly steps back. “Take care of each other, yeah?” He says that with weight in his voice that makes me want to ask, but Axel is one of the many people here at the station who keep his cards close to his chest.

I nod and pat his arm before turning around and heading for the stairs. I don’t see Rune anywhere, so I have no idea if he’s up talking to Camilo, but I take the stairs two at a time in hopes that I don’t catch anyone’s attention.

I can hear Ozzie and Teo in the game room right now, yelling at whatever they’ve got on Xbox, so I slide past the door and come to a halt in front of Camilo’s office. He’s there, behind his desk, and the room is empty.

“Stop loitering,” he snaps. “Come sign this shit.”

I frown as I walk up and see a small stack of paperwork sitting in front of his keyboard. “The hell is that?”

“Your leave.”

I blink at him.

“Three weeks paid, and if you need longer, we can submit for an extension.”

I choke. “Uh…I don’t have three weeks of vacation time.”

Rolling his eyes, he picks up the stack of papers and tosses them closer to me. “I’m aware of that. It’s medical leave.”

“I’m not hurt.”

“For mental health,” he clarifies.

“Dude—”