Free The Firefighter and the Girl From the Coffee Shop by Terry Towers Page A

then
called his sister to come pick up his car. But she still felt guilt
over it.
    It was a busy
night, uncharacteristically busy so it wasn't until past 4am that
she realized that she hadn't heard nor seen Evan all evening. There
hadn't been a fire so it was a slow night, he normally would have
been over to visit her a couple of times by now. So where was
he?
    She rushed
back into the kitchen where Samantha was busy glazing donuts, her
back turned to Alyssa. "Have you seen Evan at all tonight?"
    Samantha
froze, her back straightened and she squared her shoulders as if
she were preparing for a fight. Peculiar. Slowly she turned and
clucked her tongue off of the roof of her mouth. "You know what.
Yes. Yes I did. He dropped by earlier."
    Alyssa gasped,
as if she were punched in the stomach. If he was over then that
meant he'd dropped by while she was with Kevin. A sick feeling
washed over her. What if...
    She wanted to
scream at the other woman, but she kept her cool. For some reason
Samantha hated her and starting a fight would only add to
Samantha's satisfaction and she'd be damned if she was going to do
that. "When was he here and what did he say?"
    "He showed up
when you were with that other guy. Dunno wasn't paying much
attention."
    Like hell
you weren't, you conniving bitch! Alyssa balled her hands into
fists, and took a couple of deep breaths in and releasing them.
"I'm going on a break. I'll be back in a bit."
    Samantha
smiled at her sweetly, but the sweetness didn't quite follow
through to her eyes which were regarding Alyssa as if she were the
enemy. "I hope everything is alright between you two. If you need
to talk I'm here for you."
    I bet you
are! Without another word to Samantha, Alyssa turned on her
heel and exited the coffee shop. She had no idea what she was going
to say to Evan. She knew he'd been burned in the past so she could
only imagine the thoughts that must have raced through his mind
when he saw her with Kevin if he'd seen Kevin kiss her.
    Bursting
through the front door of the fire station she headed for the break
room where the men usually hung out. When she entered all chatter
stopped and five sets of eyes focused on her, including Evans. She
gulped down the urge to turn and run back to the coffee shop. Did
they all know about the kiss? Did they all think she was a liar and
a cheat?
    "I'll be right
back guys," Evan stood and tossed his playing cards onto the table
in front of him. His green eyes, vacant of emotion, locked onto
hers as he made his way across the room towards her. Grabbing her
elbow, he ushered her into one of the offices and closed the door
firmly behind them.
    "It wasn't
what you may think," Alyssa blurted.
    Evan sighed,
as he crossed the room and perched himself on the edge of the best
at the back of the small room. "And what exactly do I think?
Tell me Alyssa, I'd like to hear what you think I think."
    Alyssa eyes
him. He didn't appear angry or upset, just indifferent. Like
regardless of what she said it wouldn't matter either way. "I
didn't invite or want the kiss. He was drunk. He thought he may
have had a shot. I don't know." She wanted to go to him, but
restrained herself.
    "That's funny,
because it didn't look like you were anxious for it to end, from
where I stood."
    "How long did watch?"
    "Long
enough."
    "Apparently
not long enough to see me push him away. Or hear the conversation
before or after the kiss. Or long enough to see me slap him." A
sliver of anger developed. Her own hurt over the fact that he'd
automatically think the worse, threatened to spill out, but she
kept it in check. She had an idea as to his history with women, and
she was sure what little he did see, along with Samantha's urging,
didn't paint the best picture.
    Evan remained
silent, his eyes locked to hers, his impassive expression
softening. "No I didn't. Who was it Alyssa? And why was he kissing
you?"
    Encouraged by
his softening expression, Alyssa closed the distance between them
until she was