Facing The Heat by Nic Starr

Author:Nic Starr [Starr, Nic]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Callum

Callum stood in front of the bathroom mirror, his reflection a stark reminder of the fire that had raged just hours before. He took in his filthy face. He’d had a quick wash back at the community hall, but soot and sweat smeared down one cheek, his hair sticking up at crazy angles. His legs wobbled, and he gripped the edge of the vanity as he tried to ignore the throbbing pain in his burned forearm. His muscles ached, each movement an effort, and a slight cough lingered in his throat.

Thank fuck I’m alive.

The medical personnel had given him the all-clear, and for that, he was incredibly grateful. A few aches and pains were nothing compared to what could have happened.

He blinked away the horror images that filled his mind and straightened, ignoring the twinge in his back. He slowly peeled off his shirt, wincing as it caught on the bandage wrapped around his injured arm. With a deep breath, he bent to remove his boots, his uncooperative fingers struggling with the stubborn laces. As he pulled on the last one, he lost his balance, sucking in a breath as he toppled into the wall with a loud thud.

“Shit!”

Moment later, Trent’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Cal? You okay in there?”

Callum couldn’t speak, lost in a wave of pain and nausea, as he slid onto his arse.

He must have groaned or made some kind of sound, enough to concern Trent. The door creaked open, and Trent appeared, his brown eyes full of worry. “Bloody hell!”

“I’m fine,” he managed to force out as Trent hurried to his side. “Just lost my balance for a moment.”

Trent shook his head. “I heard the crash and nearly had a heart attack. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“I can manage.” He plastered on a smile. Trent had been through enough worry today and didn’t need another dose of guilt.

“Well, you don’t have to manage. I’m going to help, whether you like it or not,” Trent said, as he dropped to his haunches. His tone was determined but his expression soft and concerned as he placed a palm on his shoulder.

Callum swallowed hard, unable to deny that he needed the help and, truth be told, he appreciated the support. Just having Trent in the same room seemed to calm his racing mind. He felt as if he could breathe again, the band of tightness around his chest loosening.

“All right. Thank you.”

Trent smiled. “Let’s start by getting you up off the floor, hey?”

He tucked an arm under Callum’s shoulder and helped him to his feet. His legs wobbled, and he felt weak as a kitten, but Trent didn’t say anything, just maneuvered him to the toilet and lowered him to the closed lid. He pivoted and turning the taps filled the tub, adding a squirt of some sort of bath foam and adjusting the water temperature.

It was as if Trent could read his mind and see how fragile he was. He didn’t

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