Love Me Anyway

Chapter Five

Carina

"Let's go! Come on team push!" Maya shouted at us all as we were all doing different exercises. I was hammering away next to Victoria and Andy, while the rest of the team was running around with hoses.
"Push! Push! Dig into it! Yes! Again!" She walked around encouraging everyone.
"It's not physical it's mental! You're only thinking you can't, it's all in your head." She told Vic who looked like she was on the verge of quitting.

"Come on! Just one inch! Move that truck one inch you got this Gibson!"

Maya blew the whistle and we all switched stations. I grabbed the weights, and started the squats. We went a few rounds, until we heard a loud thud. I turned around and saw Maya rubbing her forehead with a red face.
"Shit." She muttered to herself.
"You alright Cap?" Andy tried to hold back a smile.
"Yeah. Just didn't watch where I was going." Maya made eye contact with me, and I let out a loud laugh when I realized what she had gotten distracted by.

Maya blew the whistle again and we all stopped what we were doing and collapsed next to the truck.
"I think I pulled my eyelid muscles." Travis groaned.
"Bro, I did way more burpees than you." Vic laughed.
"Come over here and say it to my face."
"You're too far away I can't get up."

"This is bs. She's gonna injure us out." Another fire fighter said. I think his name is Rigo?
"She was an Olympian." Vic told him.
"She won't even sprain an ankle. She's not human." Travis laughed breathlessly.

"Yeah I've seen it before. Women always overcompensate to prove something." Rigo said.
"Yeah, and men never overcompensate." Andy spat before I could even get a chance to say something.

Maya rolled over a board and smiled at us all, "Your stats from your last physical are written next to each of your names. We'll be clocking in every week to see where we're at. Your body is the most important tool you have. Let's get competitive about it. I'm really proud of how hard you all pushed today. I wanna see that every week."

Everyone stared at her and gave weak thumbs ups.

"Alright you guys. You all go shower. Go take a break. You all deserve it." Maya smiled at everyone as they all struggled to get up.
"That was quite a workout bella." I breathed out as I walked up to her.
"You did a great job keeping up Rina. You ever thought about changing carriers?" She joked.

"Hey, Rigo Vasquez. Are you new here?" Rigo asked as he walked up to us.
"Oh no. I'm a Doctor." I chuckled softly.
"Wherever you work is very, very lucky to have you." He looked me up and down.

"Hey Vasquez, how's the wife?" Maya interrupted.
"She's fine Captain." He shot her a look.
"This is Carina DeLuca. My girlfriend. She's just visiting for a little bit today." Maya smiled up at me.
"Ah... well, I better go hit the showers before-"

'ENGINE 19. LADDER 19. AID CAR 19. HOUSE FIRE AT 3461 BARRETT LANE.'

Maya ran off to the engine and quickly pulled on her turnout gear.
I moved to stand against the wall as the rest of the team rushed to their positions and put their gear on.
"Be careful!" I called as everyone got in the engine and aid car.
"I love you!" Maya shouted as they drove off.

I shook my head, worry filling my heart and stomach. I knew dating a fire fighter would be tough. But this is first call since we've been together. And I was absolutely terrified.

"Hello? Anyone here?" I heard a man's voice call out.
I walked out into the lobby to see a blonde haired blue eyed man standing next to the desk.
"Can I help you?"
"Uh, I'm Emmett. Emmett Dixon. I'm looking for Travis Montgomery?"
"They just left on a call." I sighed.
"Oh." I could see the worry in his face.