BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM, ᵉᵛᵃⁿ ᵇᵘᶜᵏˡᵉʸ

001

The first thing Rylin heard as she woke up was her extremely loud alarm. She gasps as she sat up in bed.

"Crap, crap, crap." she said, grabbing her phone to check the time.

7:36 a.m.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me." she sighed as she swiftly moved out from under her blanket towards her bathroom.

Once she finally got ready, she was able to check her phone for a few seconds before driving to work and text her best friend.

Rylin: happy first day!! hope ur just as excited as i am! :D

Edmundo <3: Don't act like you're not crapping yourself right now.

Rylin: ur right, i'm freaking out. tell you 'bout it when i get there??

Edmundo <3: You're still at home???

Rylin never responded because yes, she was still at home. Rylin's first day at the 118 was today. She swore that she would be on time but she hit the snooze button one too many times. She couldn't believe her being late was going to be her first impression on her new co-workers.

"I got another DXA scan, and guess who dropped another half percent." Buck said, walking into the station as he showed Bobby and Hen.

"What?" Hen asked.

"A DXA scan measures your body fat. You can see your percentage in every part of your body."

"Oh, yeah? They measure the fat in your head?" Chimney said, joining the trio.

"Ah, see, that would be funny, but we're about a week away from submissions being due for the Hot Days, Smoldering Nights: Men of the LAFD wall calender, and I'm already at my goal weight, so it seems like my head is working perfectly." Buck said.

"Do you really need to use that whole title?" Hen asked. "You could just say that idiotic, reductive, sexist calendar that insults the dignitiy of this organization and furthers the myth that all firefighters are male."

Before anyone could say anything, a unfamiliar voice spoke, "Couldn't agree more."

Everyone turned around to see a (very pretty) brunette girl standing in front of them with a worried look on her face. "I'm not late, am I?"

"You must be Rylin." Bobby said with a welcoming smile. "And don't worry, you're right on time."

Rylin gave a relieved smile before asking, "So what's this so called sexist calender about?"

"It's for charity." Bobby shrugged, still smiling as Rylin nodded, seeming confused.

"No. Bobby, you, too?" Hen asked.

"Well, why not?" Bobby started. "They say a man is at his sexiest when he reaches 50." In the corner of his eye, Buck could see Rylin trying to stiffle a laugh.

As Hen continues questioning Bobby, Chimney says, "Okay, you're both wrong. All right? You see, I think sorority houses all across this great nation are ready for a new Asian sex symbol. It's our time."

"I think it's great." Buck said. "You know? I like that you're both going up for it."

"Oh, because you don't think that we have a chance." Bobby said.

"Woah, did I say that?" Buck asked. "I-I mean, sure, let's be real. They are only picking one candidate from each station."

"Okay. That is a beautiful man." Buck, Bobby and Hen turn to see Chimney and Rylin looking towards someone who seems to be a newbie, like Rylin.

"Where's the lie?" Hen asked. "And I like girls."

"Who the hell is that?" Buck asked.

"Eddie Diaz." Bobby and Rylin say at the same time. Bobby gives Rylin a confused look before he continues.

"He's a new recruit, like Rylin. Graduated top of his class just this week."

"He's also my best friend." Rylin butts-in with a semi-smile.

Adding on with a smile, Bobby said, "Guys over at Station 6 were dying to have him, but I convinced him to join us."

"What do we need him for?" Buck asked. "Actually-- what do we need both of them for?" he added, pointing to Rylin and Eddie.

"Ouch." Rylin joked.

The group laughed. "Eddie served multiple tours in Afghanistan as an Army medic. Guy's got a Silver Star. It's not like he's wet behind the ears." Bobby informed as Buck waited for Bobby to inform him about Rylin as well. "As for Rylin, she studied to be a nurse a few years ago, found that being a firefighter was more her jam, then was top of her class along with Eddie. She knows her stuff."

"Thanks, Cap." Rylin gave him a half, but sweet smile.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to Eddie. He likes to be called Eight Pack." Bobby said to Buck.

Walking away, Chimney said, "Better drop some more body fat there, butch."

Buck looked at Rylin, seeing that she was already looking at him. Instead of talking, she laughed at his new found jealousy before walking away and joining Hen, Bobby and Chimney as they started introducing themselves to Eddie.

Once Eddie saw her, he hugged her with a huge smile on his face.

Today is going to be a long day. He thought.

HALEIGH SPEAKS

HI GUYS!!

so so sorry this is so short! i just felt like this was a good way to introduce this book. I do promise the chapters will be longer & hopefully will contain a whole episode!

anyway, i hope you all are as excited about this book as i am! i can not wait to continue writing this!!