The Fire he Ignited in Me

Chapter 9

"9 times. 9 times I called you and do you know how many times you answered?" Spencer says

stopping his pacing.

"None," I whisper from where I sit on the couch like a kid who just got suspended and is being

repremand by their parents.

"None!" He confirms pacing again.

Jayla and Will had to go to work, so my brother is the one left to interrogate me. Spence's shifts

are wack, kinda like Trent's. I mean, a 20 hour shift? I don't know how he does it.

"And do you know how many times I texted?"

Rolling my eyes, I drop my head back onto the cushions and groan.

"No dad, I don't. Please enlighten me."

"Don't use sarcasm with me young lady! 43 I texted 43 times and you didn't hear the phone go

off once?!"

Sitting up quickly I cross my arms and frown deeply.

"No. I didn't! You know why? Because I was knocked out drunk and senseless for several hours

and my phone was on vibrate. You think I can't handle myself enough to text you back when I'm

up?! If I don't answer the first two times you call, then I'm busy!"

Spencer shakes his head and scowls before ramming his foot into the coffee table.

"You don't understand Anna! Do you know how many cases a day I get assigned to that include

a missing person? They're almost always female and a pretty little girl like you could be snatched

up in the blink of an eye! Forgive me for not wanting to be assigned the case concluded with my

kidnapped little sister!"

Tears rim my eyes by the end of that and Spencer's face quickly drops before he pulls me into a

hug and mumbles his apologies.

I'd never thought of it like that. I'm always so worried about my brother being out there in trouble

that I didn't consider he would be the one worried about me too.

I'm selfish.

"I'll check my phone next time," I promise.

I'll do better.

•••

After Spencer left, I've done everything possible to be less selfish. I've spent the last five hours

baking all kinds of sweets and goodies to send to the homeless shelter, the neighbors, and even

some of the neighborhood animals.

You'd think I could get rid of it all by now, but there are still two giant baskets of Kuchens,

scones, cookies, and whoopie pies. The only place left is the firehouse, but my reasoning for

going over isn't selfless at all.

Baking doesn't distract me from Trent. You know why? It's because he smells so damned good

that the cream for the woopie pies reminds me of him.

Jumping into my new car that Trent so graciously helped me pick out, I smile. I'm excited to see

him and even though I probably subconsciously baked all this as an excuse to visit, not even a

little part of me feels guilty.

This isn't that selfish. He has a twenty hour shift, so I'm baisically doing him a favor by keeping

him distracted.

That's what I tell myself at least. The short drive is great and I can't help but imagine I'm his

girlfriend and I make these short visits all the time.

I wave to Richard who saw me pull up and walked out to greet me with a hug.

"What do you have there?" He chuckles eyeing the baskets.

I smile brightly and let him peak inside.

"Darlin! You made a whole feast!"

"Sure did. Don't want the county's finest getting hungry, now do we?" Speaking of the finest,

"say, do you know where I can find Trent?"

Richard nods as we walk into the garage which weirdly enough, doubles as a living room.

"Nah it's his day off. Lucky kid has a three day weekend. He could be in Iowa for all I know, but

if I had to guess, I'd say he's at home."

I frown putting the basket down on the table and smiling to the group of familiar guys that come

in as if they could smell the baked goods.

His day off?

Did Trent lie to me?