Read Online Hers for a While by Danica Chandler - Free Book Online Page A

rare he ever got home right after shift, but it was later than usual.
    Walking to the window, Alice looked out into the yard. The sun was setting, displaying a beautiful sunset just above the trees. It was only thirty minutes after. Often times he’d stay after and chat with some of the guys. She didn’t want to be the nagging girlfriend, but something was bugging her.
    Grabbing her phone, she double-checked to make sure he hadn’t called or texted. Nothing. There wasn’t anything on the news. Flipping through the channels, she stopped on an old episode of Emergency. It was a show that she sometimes caught with Jack. How she wished times were as innocent as the show portrayed.
    Trying hard not to obsess over the clock, she noticed it was after eight. Usually he’d have at least called by now if he was going to be late. She couldn’t resist it anymore. Dialing his number, she began to pace again as it rang.
    “Hey, Alice.”
    “Everything okay?”
    “Yeah. We’re uhh, we’re just finishing up on a call. I’ll come straight home when we’re done. I gotta go.”
    Without giving her a chance to say anything else, the line went dead. Staring down at her screen, Alice tried hard not to read into it. He sounded different – not his usual upbeat self. She wasn’t stupid. The job took its toll on him. He tried hard not to bring it home, but sometimes a bad day came through in his attitude. She tried to be there for him, but sometimes it didn’t feel like it was enough.
    The rumble of his truck pulled her from her thoughts and she met him out on the porch. He was covered in soot and his posture was slumped.
    Keeping his head down, he said, “Sorry I didn’t call.”
    “What… what happened, Jack?”
    He looked up, his eyes red. Had he been crying? “Bad call.”
    Alice followed him inside and shut the door. “Wanna talk about it?”
    Jack shook his head no. “I need a shower. I didn’t even wanna do it at the station. Just wanted to get home.”
    “You don’t want to talk about it?” Alice reached for his hand, but he pulled it away.
    “No.” His gaze was harsh.
    “Why? You know I’m here for you.”
    Heaving a deep sigh, Jack looked down at the floor. “Because I don’t want you to freak out on me. You already worry enough. If I talk about it, you’re just gonna be up half the night thinking about it.”
    “It doesn’t matter if you tell me or not, Jack. I’m going to worry regardless. I want you to be able to vent to me. I want you to get it off your chest. Don’t feel like you have to keep it bottled in because of me.” A man who was hurting replaced the carefree guy who talked about vacation that morning. It killed Alice to see him this way.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You don’t deserve to be yelled at. This isn’t your fault.”
    “It’s okay, Babe. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but please don’t keep quiet because you don’t want to hurt me, okay?” Her voice shook and she blinked back the warmth forming in the corner of her eyes.
    “It was a bunch of kids.” Again, his posture slumped and he wasn’t able to make eye contact with her. “A bunch of kids, Alice.”
    This time, she was able to intertwine her fingers in his. His palms were moist and dirty, but she didn’t care. He latched on tight, almost like he was scared to let her go.
    Jack continued, “You know that warehouse down on Ninth Street?” He looked up, his eyes bright against the black on his cheeks.
    “Yes.”
    “They were goofing off inside. Someone was storing fireworks in there. I don’t know all the details yet, but I’m sure you can figure out the rest.”
    “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Jack.”
    “Four dead, two in critical condition.”
    He clenched onto her hand again, sliding against the wall, down to the floor below them. Pulling her with him, he sat her on his lap and hugged her tight. The pungent smoke odor was strong, but Alice gladly embraced him. Whatever he