Chapter 2

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Lauren's POV

I'm getting our gear all set out to show the kids. We take fire prevention week pretty seriously and the kids always seem to be excited about it. Inevitably there will be a dozen or so kids who want to be a firefighter when they grow up, but I doubt that will still be true when the time comes for them to really choose a career path. My old man was a firefighter. So were three uncles and my grandpa on my dad's side. My dad died in the line of duty when I was still in the academy. A beam fell during a structural fire and he suffered a skull fracture. He lapsed into a coma and after tests showed he was brain dead, Mom took him off life support. Dad didn't want machines living for him.

"If I'm being fed by a tube and shitting in a bag, that's not living," Dad used to say. I agree with him.

"All set?" Chief Quinn asks as I set out the last mask for the kids to examine.

"All set," I reply. There's a trailer outside for the kids to practice staying low to avoid the smoke if their house is ever on fire.

"Good," he nods and turns to report that to the school principal so the assembly can start.

I move over to where Shawn is standing. We went to the academy together and we've been best friends ever since. Getting put in the same house was a lucky break for us.

"You hear back from Chloe yet?" The two of them have been dancing around being exclusive for the last few weeks but I know he's crazy about this woman. He gave her the house number. That's a big deal.

"Not yet, but you know how wishy-washy she can be," he sighs. "She's probably sitting at her house pulling petals from a damn daisy trying to figure out if I like her, even though I told her I do."

"You could just tell her you're tired of waiting," I suggest. I know he won't. It's not every day a guy meets a woman he likes the way he likes her.

"I'm going to give her till the end of the week."

Uh huh.

"That's fair," I nod.

The principal announces the start of the assembly over the PA system and in the next few minutes little kids start to file into the gym. We do our presentation in shifts since first graders don't sit still as well as seventh graders. Imagine my surprise when Karla comes into the gym, followed by a line of kids. We met at this club my friend Hailee told me about. I've known Hailee since college. She's actually a partner in the business.

At first I thought she was nuts for suggesting that I become a member there. The Playground isn't open to the public. There's a whole process to go through, although Hailee fast tracked my membership. It's totally worth it. Meeting Karla is just one of many perks. I'm getting to experience a lot of new things in a safe environment with people who won't judge me. Plus it's great stress relief.

I met Karla by chance. She just happened to be there one night and I was sitting at the bar, nursing two fingers of good Scotch, when I heard a couple fucking on the other side of the room. Crowds almost always gathered to watch. I got up to look to see if the couple was worth watching. My eyes found Karla's and the rest, as they say, is history. There is something magnetic about her. We fucked that night and we've been doing it twice a week since then.

Just last night we fucked in the middle of the bar because Karla wanted to be watched. She got off on it big time. For someone who looks so sweet and innocent, she's got a serious freak flag she keeps hidden. I watch her lead her kids to their designated spot and try to stay hidden from sight. It's easier said than done when you're my size.

Of course Shawn picks up on my fidgeting. Not much makes me fidget.

"You alright?" he asks, scanning the crowd of kids.

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