looking forward to the drive they’d planned for the day they both had time off. Still, it was nice to have that comfortable feeling where he knew that it was okay if they didn’t get to that drive right away. Somehow he knew they’d have plenty of other opportunities in the future.
* * * *
Trent washed off in one of the shower stalls in the station. Only a few more hours to go before he was off shift. After he made some breakfast, he’d send Shawn a text. Maybe they could grab some lunch before Shawn went to work. It’d be difficult to get together too much before their planned excursion to Spring Mountain at the weekend, but he hoped they could at least grab a few hours here and there.
After toweling off and getting dressed, he ambled out to the kitchen. Most of the guys ate whatever they could find laying about, some of them eating sandwiches around the clock unless someone else cooked. Trent almost always made something fresh. If he didn’t have time, he would at least make a high protein drink. When both he and Lee pulled a shift together, his friend made sure to sniff around the kitchen as much as possible—just in case.
He scrambled some eggs and heated a few slices of lean ham. Sure enough, Lee showed up by his side, seemingly from out of nowhere.
“Mmm. What’s for breakfast?”
First words he’d heard all morning and already he was shaking his head.
“Eggs and ham. Where’re the other guys?”
“Zonked out. Damn, it was busy last night. If things stay quiet, I might grab a nap later.”
“Even the captain?”
“Guess so. The office was dark.”
Trent nodded, pushing at the eggs with the spatula. Once he’d made two plates, he handed one to Lee then took his to the table. They ate in silence for a while. Jamal shuffled into the room, yawning and stretching.
“How’m I supposed to sleep with that tasty aroma of food wafting through the station?”
Trent grunted, but continued eating.
“Not only that, but your cell buzzed a couple times. You must’ve forgot to put it on silent.”
He didn’t want to appear obvious—or excited. The only person who could possibly be trying to reach him would be Shawn. Other than Lee, he didn’t have many people he socialized with or who would be calling so early. He quickly finished up, pointedly ignoring the amused stares from Lee. Rising to wash off his plate and utensils as quick as he could, he froze when Lee grabbed his arm.
“I got it.”
“Why?” he was thoroughly confused.
Lee arched his eyebrows and gave him a look as though Trent was the dumbest man alive.
“I said, I got it. You made breakfast, so it’s only fair.”
Jamal snorted. “That’s a good one. Since when?” He continued shoveling food into his mouth from where he stood, leaning against the counter.
Lee rolled his eyes and bobbed his head in the direction of their shared bedroom.
“Thanks.”
He couldn’t deny that he was grateful to Lee but wondered at his own behavior. It was bewildering to him that his heart could leap with joy, flutter in his chest at the mere thought of Shawn contacting him. Things seemed right, felt right. Seemed like they were clicking on all levels as a couple. But it was new and he hoped it all wasn’t only because he was desperate to have someone in his life again.
Once he reached the room, he snatched up his phone and tapped the ‘messages’ icon. It was from Shawn and his heart went from fluttering to clenching in record time.
Everything’s ok, but banged up my knee last night. Won’t be on shift til next Monday. No hiking either. But wouldn’t mind some company.
He skipped the texting and went straight to phoning. His hand shook and he wanted to kick himself. If he came across too upset—too over-protective—he could piss Shawn off.
They were doing really well and he didn’t want to derail anything.
Will I be able to handle caring so much?
A stray thought that he might be suffering from PTSD wandered through his
* * * *
Trent washed off in one of the shower stalls in the station. Only a few more hours to go before he was off shift. After he made some breakfast, he’d send Shawn a text. Maybe they could grab some lunch before Shawn went to work. It’d be difficult to get together too much before their planned excursion to Spring Mountain at the weekend, but he hoped they could at least grab a few hours here and there.
After toweling off and getting dressed, he ambled out to the kitchen. Most of the guys ate whatever they could find laying about, some of them eating sandwiches around the clock unless someone else cooked. Trent almost always made something fresh. If he didn’t have time, he would at least make a high protein drink. When both he and Lee pulled a shift together, his friend made sure to sniff around the kitchen as much as possible—just in case.
He scrambled some eggs and heated a few slices of lean ham. Sure enough, Lee showed up by his side, seemingly from out of nowhere.
“Mmm. What’s for breakfast?”
First words he’d heard all morning and already he was shaking his head.
“Eggs and ham. Where’re the other guys?”
“Zonked out. Damn, it was busy last night. If things stay quiet, I might grab a nap later.”
“Even the captain?”
“Guess so. The office was dark.”
Trent nodded, pushing at the eggs with the spatula. Once he’d made two plates, he handed one to Lee then took his to the table. They ate in silence for a while. Jamal shuffled into the room, yawning and stretching.
“How’m I supposed to sleep with that tasty aroma of food wafting through the station?”
Trent grunted, but continued eating.
“Not only that, but your cell buzzed a couple times. You must’ve forgot to put it on silent.”
He didn’t want to appear obvious—or excited. The only person who could possibly be trying to reach him would be Shawn. Other than Lee, he didn’t have many people he socialized with or who would be calling so early. He quickly finished up, pointedly ignoring the amused stares from Lee. Rising to wash off his plate and utensils as quick as he could, he froze when Lee grabbed his arm.
“I got it.”
“Why?” he was thoroughly confused.
Lee arched his eyebrows and gave him a look as though Trent was the dumbest man alive.
“I said, I got it. You made breakfast, so it’s only fair.”
Jamal snorted. “That’s a good one. Since when?” He continued shoveling food into his mouth from where he stood, leaning against the counter.
Lee rolled his eyes and bobbed his head in the direction of their shared bedroom.
“Thanks.”
He couldn’t deny that he was grateful to Lee but wondered at his own behavior. It was bewildering to him that his heart could leap with joy, flutter in his chest at the mere thought of Shawn contacting him. Things seemed right, felt right. Seemed like they were clicking on all levels as a couple. But it was new and he hoped it all wasn’t only because he was desperate to have someone in his life again.
Once he reached the room, he snatched up his phone and tapped the ‘messages’ icon. It was from Shawn and his heart went from fluttering to clenching in record time.
Everything’s ok, but banged up my knee last night. Won’t be on shift til next Monday. No hiking either. But wouldn’t mind some company.
He skipped the texting and went straight to phoning. His hand shook and he wanted to kick himself. If he came across too upset—too over-protective—he could piss Shawn off.
They were doing really well and he didn’t want to derail anything.
Will I be able to handle caring so much?
A stray thought that he might be suffering from PTSD wandered through his
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