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COLTON
Some time ago…
“We are doing a charity auction for a ‘Firemen of the First Street Battalion Calendar’ – and our entire team is going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder for a chance to take photos with you, to be included in the community calendar…”
They were all sitting around in worn-out chairs they’d plucked from one of the offices when the new chairs had arrived. No one was getting rid of a perfectly good cushy seat that would be nice to use to soak up some sun during their downtimes. They had a basketball goal affixed to the back of the building, where they parked their cars before their shift began.
“We are?” Lance blurted out, meeting Colton’s eyes. “I mean, yeah, I can do it, but ya’ know there’s a select screening process when it comes to the ladies. I like ‘em about ‘yay-big’ and about ‘yay-endowed’…” he chuckled, holding his hands in front of him.
Colton just shook his head and let it hang as the chief spoke. Engineer Cade Pruitt left about four months ago to take a position on the other side of Texas with the promise of being the captain assigned to a truck within six months. It was a small facility, and the man had been the backbone of the team.
Then came Alex.
There was confusion with having an Alex and an Alec, using their last names instead. Their captain, Alex, got really upset about a supposed problem at Mrs. Kendall’s house – and quit. The old woman was a hoot, and once you started mentally sparring with her, she usually backed down or at least with Colton, that seemed to be the case.
The team on their engine was a mess and was falling apart. They all knew it but no one wanted to speak up or point fingers. They weren’t exactly a cohesive ‘team’ – not like the other truck. Those guys ate together, hung out together, talked, and spent time at each other’s houses. In fact, he’d even asked for a transfer to the other truck, and it was denied.
“Yep… I’m sorry you won’t be able to ‘screen’ the people that purchase a chance to get a photo with you – but remember, it’s for charity,” Chief Carpenter laughed. “Just be glad you aren’t on the other team.”
“Why is that?”
“Let’s just say it involves a date…”
Lance got this know-it-all grin on his face that immediately had Alec on edge. It was written on the other man’s face as his head snapped sideways to look at Lance.
Uh oh…
“Lannnnnce… watch it.”
“Chief, are you going to prostitute those pretty boys on the other fire engine?”
“And there it is,” Alec groaned. “I can’t believe the doofus got it out of his mouth before I had a chance to. I mean, how many times in your life do you get to ask your boss if he is a pimp?”
Colton was laughing with embarrassment; his head still hung in defeat. He didn’t have to look up to imagine the chief’s expression. He was pretty sure there was a vein throbbing in the man’s forehead, and his lips were missing – mashed together to keep from ripping the wild firefighter a new hole in which to breathe out of.
“That’s right – the other truck is going to be auctioned off for charity to go on a date or help a person for one day with strict rules and guidelines – no prostitution - and do not ever repeat that word in front of me again, Cortes. Beckett – let me say this once – I am not, nor ever going to be a pimp. Y’all get your heads out of the gutter, please! Everyone is donating their time, just like you guys will be doing a photograph. In fact, I’ve volunteered to do both – in the name of charity.
“Chief, you ol’ sly…”
“Pimp daddy…!”
“Lance! Alec!” both Colton and Reese snapped, causing the other man to purse his lips.
“I was going to say that was a good idea, and I’d do both, too,” Lance pouted, rolling his eyes. “Y’all need to learn some trust.”
“Yeah, well, experience has told me that ‘I trust you to let me fry’ if you have to run into a house with a rat again…”
“Hey,” Lance said horrified, pointing at Colton and shaking his finger at him. “You didn’t see it, but the thing was the size of my freakin’ boot. That was the biggest darn rat I’ve ever seen. Have you seen T.M.N.T. – that was Splinter, yo!”
“Heaven help me,” Reese muttered, rubbing his forehead.
“Next time, remember that I’m bigger than a rat…”
“But you ain’t magical, bro…” Alec chimed in, bumping his fist with Lance.
