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  “Yeah it was a long time ago, and it still bothers me. I’m surprised Anthony stays friends with you because of the shit you say. A lot of it is downright racist and it makes me look bad.”

  “How am I making you look bad?”

  Jonathan poked a finger in Nick’s shoulder saying, “Because I’m usually around when the stupid comments fall from your big mouth. I’m tired of getting guilt by association looks.”

  “Sorry I stepped on a sore-spot. And, just so you know, I don’t have a problem with black women or you banging them; now those other ones, I might have had a problem with.” Nick placed a hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “Think about this—just maybe the pretty therapist doesn’t dig white dudes. I say let it go and move on to a woman that will appreciate what you have to offer; it ain’t like you will see her again.”

  Jonathan shook his head. “She is the one I want. Gabrielle King is the woman I have been waiting to meet my whole life.”

  “Sorry it didn’t formulate the way you wanted, man. Get dressed so we can get out of this depressing place.”

  Anthony returned to the room bouncing on his heels. “You were right, Jon.

  Gabrielle is one fine honey. She is smart, makes her own money and does not have a man or any kids.”

  “Damn, Anthony, you found all that out in the few minutes you were gone and this jug-head couldn’t get shit from her the whole five days he was here?

  Unbelievable,” Nick said laughing.

  Dismissing Nick’s comment, Jonathan turned his attention to Anthony. “Did you ask her out?”

  “Yeah, but she turned me down flat. I’ll have to keep working on her; I’ll wear her down eventually.”

  Nick raised his hands upward, laughing. “This is some funny shit! Anthony, I’m gonna sit here and make sure you don’t get your ass kicked, and Jon, remember you got broken ribs before you tear into Anthony’s ass.”

  Anthony asked. “What are you talking about, Nick?”

  He pointed a finger at Anthony. “You’re hitting on Jon’s woman. You know the code.”

  “Whoa, hold the phone—Jon, are there sparks happening between you and

  Gabrielle?”

  “I guess not if she didn’t say anything to you—can we go now?” He snatched his bag from the bed tossing it by the door.

  Nick turned on the television. “You haven’t been formally discharged; we can’t just leave.”

  “Fuck,” he grumbled under his breath. Stomping into the bathroom, he

  slammed the door.

  Anthony’s mouth dropped open. “What the hell happened while I was gone?”

  “Nothing he won’t get over. Did you get her number for real?”

  “Yeah but she was hesitant. I think she is a little interested in Jon but I didn’t see it till now.”

  “She already told him they can’t date; so if I were you, I’d go for it.”

  “Nah, I want to discuss it with Jon further. I think he’s really feeling her and I don’t want to come between them.”

  “Anthony, quit being a big ass pussy! The woman told him she didn’t want to date him; what more do you need?”

  “I need approval from Jon. Unlike you, I respect his feelings and know it would hurt him if I showed up at an event with Gabrielle. I’m a true friend, Nick; maybe you should try being one for a change.”

  Nick twitched his lip. “You’re both firefighting pussies if you ask me, and need to grow a set of balls.”

  With a scowl, Anthony replied, “Well no one asked you so shut the fuck up!”

  Chapter Three

  “Are you comfy, Jonathan? Do want more pillows to put under your arms to help your ribs?”

  “Gwen, stop fussing over me; I’m good.” He tried shooing her away from the room. “Go be with the family. I’m gonna watch a little TV and take a nap; the pain pills make me drowsy.”

  “Okay, I will wake you for dinner. If you need anything, ring the bell and me or one of the kids will get whatever you want.”

  “Gwen, come here,” he summoned with open arms. She sat close to him on the queen-sized bed. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her forehead. “Thank you for taking care of me. I owe Kevin for letting me stay here.”

  “You are family, Jonathan. Regardless of what anyone says, you’re as much my brother as Anthony. I can’t stand this new Nick, but tolerate him because you both like him.”

  He removed a soft curl from her tiny face. She was younger than Anthony but carried the burden of holding the family together after their father died. Gwen married her high school sweetheart and had twin seven-year old girls, a dog and a large five-bedroom house located in Bedford; a suburb located on the southeast side of Cleveland.

  A former elementary school teacher, she quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom while Kevin supported his family on his salary as a Research Chemical Engineer.

  “Why can’t more people have a heart like yours?” He asked looking into her dark eyes.

  “It sounds as if you need to talk; I’m all ears.”

  He shook his head. “Nah, I’m cool. I just wish more people were like you.”

  “There are plenty people like me; we just aren’t easy to find in a crowd.” She stood from the bed tucking the blankets around him. “When it’s time to change your bandages, I’ll let you bathe before rewrapping your hands. I have the perfect shampoo to take the smoky smell from your hair too.”

  Anthony appeared in the bedroom chomping on a sandwich. “Gwen, Kevin is on the phone for you.”

  “Oh, thanks. I need him to stop by the store on his way home from work.”

  Anthony raised his arm as Gwen passed under it leaving the room. He closed the door. “I didn’t want to ask earlier; but what happened between you and Nick?”

  “You know how Nick is. He just keeps pushing buttons until he hits the one to make me explode and go off on him.”

  “Yeah, lately he’s been a handful but we’ve been cool for a long time. I don’t get why he’s annoyed with me or you pursuing women of color.”

  “Nick is being a freaking bigot and I’m about ready to cut his ass loose. I don’t need the excess stress when he’s acting an ass.”

  “What?”

  “Just forget I said that. I’m being petty and saying stupid shit that should be ignored.”

  “You don’t mince words, Jon. Does Nick have a problem with me? I noticed it when I was dating Melanie, he got distant, and when we split he came around again.

  And, since you’ve been hurt, he’s been hanging around the firehouse with Sawyer and Reiss. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but now it makes sense.”

  “Don’t let him sweat you. As long as we got his back in the field, there is no law written we have to hang with him on our days off.”

  “Speaking of work, I gotta go. I did a trade with Fuller and won’t have an off day until Friday.”

  “I’m in good hands with Gwen.

  “Yup, she will take good care of you.” He started to leave and stopped. “Hey, I need to know about Gabrielle. Jon, I won’t pursue her if you’re really into her?”

  “It doesn’t matter; I don’t think she’s interested in me. Anyway, if you do get with her; I know you will treat her like the class act she is.”

  “Well, the number she gave me could be to a pizza place. Women have been known to do that. I’ll catch you later.”

  Jonathan laid his head against the high headboard. The side effects from the painkillers were taking effect and causing his eyelids to become heavy and laden with sleep. Nodding off he could hear his own breathing ringing in his ears. The soft comfortable bed conformed to his large body allowing him to drift into a peaceful sleep for a change.

  Jonathan awoke from a sound sleep and a dark room. The savory aroma of food drifted lightly inside the room. Easing himself into a sitting position the automatic reaction to inhale the mouth-watering scent caught in his gut. A sharp pang stopped him from completing the normal body function.

 
Easing off the bed he limped to the small private bathroom. He felt along the wall for the light switch flicking it on to illuminate the charming bathroom done in dusty rose colors. Gwen’s knack for decorating showed in every room of the large house. She did not leave one room plain or without character.

  Jonathan lowered the lid on the toilet and moved the basket of flowers over on the counter. Undoing the gauze from one hand and then the other, he looked at the burns on the back of both hands showing signs of healing normally.

  After a quick shave to restore his clean shaven appearance, he got into the shower letting the warm water soothe his sore body. The stale smell from his hair filled his nose while the thick steam quieted the rattle in his chest. Squirting shampoo in his hands he scrubbed away the singe hair. It pooled at it feet before circling and going down the drain.

  Emerging from the shower revived, he went into the bedroom and dressed to have dinner with the rest of the family. Gwen ran into him coming around the corner with a tray of food. “Hey, where are you going? And, you shouldn’t be out of bed.

  Jon, don’t rush your recovery.”

  “You know what they say, the first steps to recovery is helping yourself first. I’ll take that,” he said taking the tray. “I want to eat with the rest of the family.”

  “Are you sure you can sit up that long?”

  “Gwen, I’ve been confined to a bed for a week. I can’t lie in that bed and listen to you all having fun out here. I just want to be a part of the family for a few hours, if that’s okay?”

  “Yeah, come on. We’d love to have you join us.”

  Chapter Four

  Three Weeks Later

  Gabrielle took her coat and purse from the closet and grabbed her lunch from the fridge. “See you later, Midnight,” she said stroking the head of the black cat. Throwing her coat in the backseat of the 2005 black Chevy Trailblazer she hated working the 3:00pm to 11:00pm shift but traded with Laura who wanted to attend her son’s dance recital.

  Her cellphone rang inside her purse. She fished it out to answer it before leaving the driveway. “Hello.”

  “What’s up, Gabrielle?”

  “Who is this?” She asked.

  “Anthony. You remember; I’m Jonathan DeMinico’s friend—he was released from Metro about three weeks ago.”

  “I remember now. What can I do for you, Anthony?”

  “I thought I’d give you a call to check if the number was real, and to see how you’re doing with your fine self.”

  “You caught me at a bad time. I’m on my way to work and can’t really talk.”

  “My bad; I’ll make this quick. My sister is having an anniversary party this weekend; how would you like to be my date?”

  She nested the phone between her ear and shoulder. “Kind of short notice being it’s already Thursday.”

  “My fault, since I run on a different schedule than most people. So, do you think you can make it? It would give me an excuse to see you again.”

  Taking in a breath she exhaled slowly. “Um, I’ll think about and it. I’ll call you back at this number when I go on break tonight to discuss it further. But, I really have to run.”

  “Cool, I’ll wait for you to call later. Have a great day, sweet thang.”

  Already feeling the mistake of implying she’d accept the date, Gabrielle dropped the phone in her purse and pulled from the driveway heading for the highway. Her mind wandered to Jonathan. He’d been coming in as an outpatient once a week and had managed not to run into him once. She wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad sign, but seeing him again would not be terrible.

  *****

  Jonathan waited for the elevator in the lobby. Checking his watch he was

  running late for what he prayed would be his last appointment with the respiratory therapist. Two weeks recovering at Gwen’s home and finally returning to his apartment last week proved his strength was returning. His last x-ray revealed all but two ribs had healed significantly and his lungs were healthier and almost void of the mucus.

  The elevator opened. He stepped inside the empty compartment when he heard a woman calling for the elevator. “Hold the elevator, please! I’m coming.” Running inside breathless Gabrielle did not look at the person holding the door, but pressed the button for the lower level keeping her face forward.

  Jonathan relaxed his shoulders smiling when he saw who the woman was.

  “What are the odds of me running into you today?”

  Gabrielle turned to the face the man standing behind her. Not recognizing him at first, her heart did a double take. “Yeah, I agree, what are the odds? How are you, Jonathan?”

  “My day just got brighter now that I’ve run into you.”

  “I-I didn’t recognize you at first; the beard is gone. Are you here for your normal appointment?” Gabrielle asked not able to take her eyes off him. His hunched-over posture was gone and he was standing erect to reach his full 6 foot 4 inch height. The black t-shirt hugged his muscular upper body to tuck inside the narrow waist of his blue jeans that tapered to tight squeezable buttocks.

  He didn’t want to break the trance he obviously held over her but answered,

  “Yup and hopefully to return this damn oxygen tank. Um, my day is free afterwards; I would love to take you to lunch if you are free.”

  Gabrielle’s did not hear any wheezing or crackles and his voice was much clearer when he spoke. She assumed this would probably be the last treatment he would need as an outpatient. “That would be nice but my shift is just starting. I won’t get a dinner break until 7:00 tonight and only if I’m not busy.”

  “I’ll wait.”

  Gabrielle rolled her eyes. “What? You’re going to sit around the hospital for hours just to have dinner with me?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “When you say it, it does sound stupid. How about I give you a buzz and come back?”

  “Has anyone told you, you’re very persistent?”

  He nodded. “Maybe once or twice I’ve been told that. Why are we playing this game, Gabrielle? I like you and as hard as you are trying to hide it, you like me.”

  She pursed her full lips together. “Please, you have no clue what’s going on in my head and besides, I can’t do anything with you because of Anthony.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You’re dating Anthony? He didn’t tell me you were dating?”

  “We aren’t dating, but he asked me to his sister’s anniversary party Saturday night.”

  He nodded. Okay, that’s Saturday—I’m asking you to have a friendly dinner with me tonight?”

  “I don’t know what kind of woman you think I am, but I do not date two men at the same time especially best friends—that’s just tacky.”

  “Simple solution, don’t go out with Anthony. Look we have an attraction to one another, right?” The elevator doors opened but he hit the close door button not allowing her to exit. “Answer me please.”

  “You should not have done that; this car is very temperamental.”

  “I’m a fireman. If we get stuck, I’ll rescue you; now back to my question.”

  “Alright, there might be a slight attraction between us,” she said making air quotes with her fingers. “It doesn’t change the fact that Anthony is your best friend and I already sort of agreed to go with him to his sister’s anniversary party.”

  “Why would you accept a date with him knowing I’m attracted to you? I

  recuperated at his sister’s house; you had to know I would be at the party.”

  “Actually it didn’t cross my mind until after I accepted the date, and to be clear, you were only flirting with me. Being attracted to someone and flirting are two different things. And, from what I have heard; you like to flirt a lot.”

  “Flirting is innocent action. But, I think you are trying to make me jealous by dating Anthony? Confess that’s what you’re doing and we can move on from there.”

  She shook her head. “Jonathan, you have one huge ego and no matter wha
t I say, it won’t penetrate that thick skull of yours. I’m really late for my shift thanks to you.

  So, if you don’t mind, I’ll be getting off this elevator and forgetting this conversation ever took place.” She hit the open door button hoping the elevators doors would open.

  “What about dinner? You never answered me.”

  She turned to face him tilting her head to one side, aghast. “Oh—my—gosh really; did we just not cover this?”

  “Um, no we didn’t,” he said folding his arms across his broad chest. “You really should answer me since you’re already late and I have all day to stand here and debate.”

  Gabrielle realized they were blocking the elevator and sighed. “Call the department and ask for me around 6:00 tonight. I will let you know if I will be able to do a dinner break.”

  “See, how hard was that? I’ll walk with you since I’m going that way,” he said taking her by the elbow.

  *****

  Jonathan left the hospital not receiving a final treatment but with a clean bill of health from the Respiratory Therapist. Mille didn’t see a need to administer the test since she heard no airway obstructions. Returning the oxygen tank he bid her adieu and looked around the department for Gabrielle who was nowhere in sight.

  On his way home he made a detour by the fire station. He had not been to the fire station since his accident. Walking in the station he interrupted his fellow firefighters cleaning house. “Hey! What’s up homies! He announced loudly.

  “Hey, Jon!” Nick greeted stopping his mopping. “You’re in time to help us clean for inspection.”

  “I don’t think so; I’m still on leave for a few more weeks; broken ribs gotta heal; he said holding his side.

  Lieutenant Murad came from the office to see what was going on. “Jon, good to see you…when are you returning for good?”

  “I should be able to return for light duty in a few weeks.”

  “Great, I have plenty of paperwork to keep you busy.”

  “Pile it on; I’m anxious to get back to work,” he said walking with Murad to his office.