Page 92 of Under Water

“I should get to work,” I tell him, although there’s not shit to do yet. He lets me go anyway, and I only catch a few stray wolf whistles as I make my way through the room and slip past the door into the EMT station.

Glancing around, my eyes widen when I see Ozzie leaning on the couch where Logan’s sitting, and beside him is someone I don’t recognize. He’s got a ginger hint to his hair and freckles across his face.

He looks young, but there’s something about him that says if he is young, he’s lived a lot of life.

Then his gaze lifts and meets mine. “I think there’s someone here.”

It takes me a second to realize he says that because he can’t see. Logan’s gaze snaps over, and he smiles.

“Oh, it’s just Easton.”

“Just Easton?” I say, holding my chest. “Break my heart, dude.”

“Oh, bullshit,” Logan says. “Everyone knows you have a boyfriend now.”

Ozzie’s cheeks are a little pink. “You and Rune are totally meant to be.”

At that, the new guy’s eyes widen. “Rune. I met him, yeah?”

“Yep.” Logan beckons me over. “This is Easton. He’s the station pretty boy and the station pain in the ass.”

“Excuse you,” I say, dropping down next to where Ozzie is perched.

The guy laughs and holds out his hand. “Matty.” His grip is very strong, and his hands are incredibly calloused, but his handshake is kind, and he doesn’t pull back right away. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Bro,” Logan warns.

Matty doesn’t listen to him and leans toward me. “Would you let me drive one of the trucks?”

I look at Logan, then Ozzie, and then I shrug. “I mean, sure. I feel like in the parking lot would be fine.”

“Fuck yeah!” Matty says, jabbing his fist into the air before he drops it with a wince.

“You good, man?” I ask.

Matty nods. “Yep. Ignore that.”

I shoot a look at Logan, who gives a tiny shake of his head. “Uh…well, we’d have to wait until Cam and Lex aren’t at the station, but we could probably pull it off after I get back next week.”

Matty’s grinning widely. “You are my new best friend.”

I laugh as Logan looks offended, and Ozzie makes a small noise of offense. “I’m everyone’s favorite. Why the truck though?”

Matty bites his lip and shrugs. “I always wanted to. I kind of figured I had time, but yeah…this whole thing happened.” He gestures toward his eyes.

I bite my tongue. I want to ask, but I feel like it’s probably rude, and he sounds so fucking sad that I don’t want to make him relive anything. “We’ll get you behind the wheel, dude. And I’ll take the fall if Cam finds out and goes on a rampage.” I turn to Ozzie. “You have to come though. But if Cam asks, just tell him I forced you.”

Ozzie’s cheeks go pinker. “Uh…yeah, okay.”

“I knew you were cool, Oz,” Matty says.

Ozzie’s cheeks turn from pink to bright red, and oh. Yeah. Okay. I know that look a little too well.

Clearing my throat, I push to my feet. “Logan, give my new best friend my number. Matty, it was super cool to meet you. I’m going to do the rounds before I have to get to work, but we’ll see each other after my vacation, right?”

Matty grins, but Logan chokes on a laugh. “He means sex-cation,” he clarifies.

“Dude, his kid will be there,” I say, but Logan’s not entirely wrong. I plan for the week out at North’s to be very full of sex.