I woke up hot and sweaty for no reason what so ever. I feel like taking a shower so I dragged myself to the bathroom and hopped in. I left the lights on because I want
complete darkness right now, plus I'm trying not to wake him up. I have no clue what time it is, all I know is that it's early. I sat down in the tub and let the water run over
top of me, creating a waterfall. For some reason, I feel absolutely sad right now. I heard the door open and he turned on the little light. "Are you okay babe? I got worried
when you weren't in bed." I turned off the shower and pulled the curtain open, still sitting in the tub. He came down to my level, handing me a towel. He helped me up and
wrapped it around me. "Tell me what is on your mind." I leaned and placed my head on his chest, looking down to the floor. "I am so tired of all of this. I am tired of people
dying and leaving me and then me having to clean up the mess. I just want to go back to reality and live my life." He slipped the shirt I was wearing over my head. "Well,
after all of this is over with, everything will be okay." I sighed because he doesn't know that I have to go back to Baltimore for work to teach in a month. He carried me to
bed and placed the covers over me. I heard the alarm and he turned it off. "Well it is time for me to go to work. Do you want to go back sleep, or go up to your house to get
your truck?" I got my lazy ass up and walked over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. "I would rather be with you all day, but sadly, I have to get up because I have
a meeting with Nick in Annapolis." He smiled and kissed me on the lips. "Even though that sounds so tempting, I have work to go to." He got in the shower and I got ready to
meet Nick. I found a pair of light skinny jeans and my turquoise tank top that is long in the back and short in the front. I found my flat iron and did my makeup. I was
finished by the time he got out of the damn bathroom. His eyes lit up and he smiled. "You look beautiful babe." He kissed my cheek and he grabbed my ass and I hit him in
the chest. "Nice try boy, but you had the option to get some earlier and you turned it down." His jaw dropped, like he was shocked that I said that and all I could do is laugh.
"You know I love to mess with you." I grabbed his ass and he laughed at me. I went down and ate some breakfast, while I let him finish getting ready for work. He came
down and grabbed a monster from the fridge and a bar and we rolled over to my house. We got there and I started it, it sounded pretty funny. Patric came out and was
looking at it. "How about you take my truck and I will take yours, since I am worried that something might happen." Yes! I get to take his truck. I gave him a hug and a kiss,
while smiling like a little kid. "Now be careful babe, that thing can be a handful sometimes." He winked at me and I stuck my tongue out at him. Our relationship has
blossomed like we have known each other for years and it is great. Like, I miss Gerrin every day, but I feel great when I am with Patric. On my way to meet Nick, I stopped
at a pawn shop because I really need to get rid of this ring. I went up to the counter and the guy offered 1,500, which is a lot more than I thought. I took the cash and I
figured that will be spending money for the beach, plus I can take him out to dinner. I made it to historic Annapolis to the local pub, where Nick was sitting at the usual table.
"Man, I didn't know you were with a fire department." I laughed. "It's my boyfriend's truck, since mine is having some issues." Nick shakes my hand and we got down to
business. We went over the whole will and they left me everything: the house, cars, furniture, all for me to do as I please, since Aunt Mari's parents and brother are dead and
my grandparents are dead. I will give the lacrosse stuff to Riggs and the Ravens stuff to Austin. Nick wrote me a check, which was worth what they got out of their
investments and what they were saving and when I looked at the check, I couldn't believe how much it was worth. It said $925,54. Holy shit! That is almost a million dollars
and that is not even including what I will get for the house, cars and anything else I sell. My eyes were so wide and Nick already got his share of it, so I didn't have to give
him anything. We talked about me investing into some things, but I already invested money into some stocks, so I am good. I ran out to the truck and texted Patric, telling
him to call me. He called me right away. "What's wrong babe? Everything okay!" I smiled. "You will never believe what my aunt and uncle left me. They left me over a million
dollars both in money and things. I think we will be okay for a while." I heard him scream on the other line. I cannot believe they left me all of this, like I had no idea this is
what they had left. I left and right back to town because he said to put that check in the bank and pull out money, because we are getting me a new truck, just like his, since
I love it so much. I kept on thinking about my decisions that I have made and the fact that I am going to my second funeral in a year, is killing me. I get to the firehouse and
the minute I got there, we got put out for a medical assist to fly a patient out. I look around, and Keith was standing there. "Come on girl, get your pants on and let's go." I
change my shirt real quick and throw on my pants and headed to the ladder truck. Kevin, Keith, Adam and Billy were with me. When we got there, the med evac was already
on the ground, waiting for the paramedics to bring the patient. When the medics got there, they brought out an old lady, who looked confused. We got her off the stretcher
and onto the back board and when I started to walk; I fell into a damn hole. Thankfully, the flight medic was there to help me. I felt so embarrassed, but I just kept on going.
The minute we got the patient into the helicopter, we started to walk back to the truck and I fell in the hole again, what the hell! I walked over to Phil, who was standing
there. "Please don't tell me you saw that." He stood there with a grin on his face. "Sure did." Ugh! I can't win for shit! I got back to the truck and the guys were making fun of
me and Kevin got it on video! Just what I wanted! We got back to the station and when I took off my pants, my right knee wouldn't bend. I finally got out of my pants, but I
was in pain. Keith saw me and walked over, so I could balance myself. "Did you hurt yourself on that call?" I nodded my head and he helped me over to the table. He rolled
up my pants leg and my knee was the size of a softball and all black and blue, damn it would be my luck. The paramedic told me that I should go get it x-rayed. I rolled my
eyes and Phil offered to take me up there in the Chief unit, since it happened on the call. I got my stuff from Patric's truck and they helped me into the Chief's truck. I really
like the chief unit, it's pretty cool. Phil was asking me all different questions about my life, just to get to know me better and he was shocked when I told him about my past.
He felt really bad for me, but I didn't want him to feel bad for me, I just want to be treated like a normal human being. We got to the hospital, and he went around the back
and parked where the ambulances park. He got me a wheel chair and helped me get into it. We rolled to ER desk and they directed us to a room. They got me registered and
Phil was talking to all the nurses and medics coming around. I heard his radio go off and he walked away. They took me to x-ray and they told me that I fractured it and that
I need to lay off of it for a few days and to wear a brace. They gave me a prescription of pain killers, which I already know might be an issue. I heard Phil talking to someone,
but I couldn't hear who the other voice is, and then walks in Patric. He had his arms in his pockets, leaning against the door frame with a smirk on his face. "You go on your
first call and fall in a hole, aren't you a smart cookie." I gave him the middle finger and he laughed. He grabbed my hand. "The doc said that you will be okay, so I signed
your papers and we can go." Phil was standing in the door with the wheel chair. "So I guess we can't go get the truck today." He shook his head. "Nope, I already got it and
the windows are being tinted as we speak with blacked out rims to match mine." How the hell did he get that money? "I will pay you back when I pull out money." He kissed
me. "I don't want your money. Like I said, I want you to be happy. Plus with the trade in and you being in the fire and EMS service now, you got a pretty good deal." All I
could do is smile. He wheeled me out to his truck and helped me get in. We got to the house and I am in a lot of pain, but I do not want to take the pills, but I might have to.
He gets me in bed, all propped up and he hands me water and the pills. "Come on, I know you are in a lot of pain. It will help, trust me." I shook my head no and he sat
down next to me. "Okay, something is up. What's going on?" I looked at him. "I am a recovering addict of pain killers. I will be two years clean in October." He handed me
two pills and the water again. "I will control how many you take and I will hide them, so you can't find them. You should have told me this earlier; I could have asked the
doctor for something different for you." I took the medicine and handed him the cup. "I didn't want you to leave me and I was afraid that you would if I told you." He grabs
my hand. "I will never leave you, no matter how bad it is. I know it's been a short amount of time, but I have fallen in love with you and I wouldn't know what to do if you
haven't walked into my life that night. I will take care of you, no matter what and will be behind you on every decision you make." I laid my head on his chest. "I love you too
Patric." I kissed him and laid my head down again.
I woke up wanting those pills, but he only left me one, great. He must have taken them with him, smart thinking. I heard a whole bunch of noise down stairs and it sounded
like a damn party going on. The bedroom door opened and it was Chico, Billy, Adam and Mike. "Surprise! We are here to entertain you today, since Phil said that we owe you
for yesterday." said Billy. What the fuck is going on? "But Mike wasn't even there?" Mike had a huge frown on his face. "They dragged me with them so I could drive," Chico
punched him in the shoulder, which made me laugh. "Okay boys, so where are we going today?" They looked at each other and smile. "Put on some basketball shorts and a
shirt that can get dirty." I don't even want to know what they are getting me into. I put on my black stretch shorts and my lacrosse shirt. I threw my hair back into a pony
tail and put on some light make up, not knowing if I am going to be sweating my ass off. I heard Adam's voice on the other side of the bedroom door. "Put on your bathing
suit too. If you need help let us know." What the hell, I literally just got dressed. I took everything off and I found my black and blue bikini that makes my boobs look huge
from the push up. I decided to put on my camo and pink hat and threw on my firehouse shirt instead. I finally got back onto my crutches and the guys carried me down
stairs. Mike was driving Billy's truck and the rest of us sat in the bed of the truck, which is dangerous and illegal, and Billy sat up front with Mike. Adam and Chico kept on
making me laugh with the shit that almost made me fall out of the truck a few times. We got to the firehouse and someone pulled all of the trucks out and put a pool in the
middle of the driveway! And the bay is a gigantic bar with corn hole and more games and food. This is crazy and they raised the ladder up. This is totally cool. Adam got me
out of the truck and everyone had their bathing suits on, relaxing in the pool. Mike took my knee brace off and I took off my shorts and shirt and they put me on a raft, which
sits in the water a little so I could be cool, yet tan at the same time. Sadie gave me some of her tanning oil to put on, so I could a little tan before we go to the beach. Adam
handed me a coke, since I can't drink, and everyone was relaxing, having a good time on a Wednesday. Phil was there with his family and everyone was having a ball,
including the old guys. It was nice, just relaxing, thinking about Friday, the day of the funeral. I started to get sad, until Billy and Chico did cannon balls into the pool, getting
Sadie and I all wet. I heard a truck pull up and I knew exactly whose truck it was. Patric came out with his bathing suit shorts, flip flops and white t-shirt. He said hi to all of
the guys and then got in. he swam over to me and leaned on my float, giving me a kiss. "Well that was sure a surprise to wake up to this morning." He smiled. "I thought it
would brighten up your day. I totally did forgot about the funeral on Friday, so I called the hotel and changed it to Saturday to Wednesday, if that's okay, and we can go to
your house when I get off work tomorrow night, okay?" I can't believe he changed his plans for me. "If you want to go to the beach Friday, I can always meet you there
Saturday morning." He gave me this shocked look. "Babe, we are in this together, meaning I will be by your side through anything, plus changing the day wasn't that big of a
deal. It's all good. The only problem is that we have to have dinner with my mother tonight." What the hell? I don't want to meet his mother yet! "Umm, can you get me
drunk first?" He laughed. 'We will get you feeling pretty good before we go." He is a pain in the ass. I didn't take my medicine that afternoon so I could drink and man, was I
drinking. Mike's hard lemonades and Captain Morgan were my friends for that afternoon. I was feeling pretty damn good. Patric got me out of the pool and put my knee brace
back on, so I could go play corn hole. He kept on yelling at me to use my crutches, but he was doing a good job being my crutch. I started to flirt a little with him, feeling him
up at times, giving him kisses. As soon as I started, he told everyone that we were going home and he got me in the truck pretty quickly. He carried me up the steps and
placed me on the bed, him kneeling over top of me, kissing me up and down. He didn't even let me put on my clothes before we left, so he could just take the bathing suit
off. "You look really fucking hot in that bikini. I have been wanting you all day."
We got ready to go to his mother's house, and I decided to put on my black maxi skirt and a white flowy t-shirt and a pair of sandals. I braided my hair into a fish tail braid
and attempted to do my makeup, but it kind of failed, since I was a bit drunk. Patric was wearing khakis, bark blue button down, and his work boots. I kept on trying to
convince him that we didn't have to go and could skip it, but he kept on telling me that we had to. He got me into the truck and we literally went right around the corner to
this gigantic house, with a bunch of different cars in the driveway. The garage was open, so we just went right in, me on crutches. Patric helped me over the openings, where
I was to step over. We walked into the kitchen, and Patric got me a chair to sit on. His mom turned around and man, did she look scary. "Oh my gosh, what happened to you
sweetie?" Wow, that was a complete different reaction then what I was expecting. She came up and looked at my leg, then smacked Patric upside the head. "Did you let this
happen asshole?!" I started laughing, seeing him defend himself to her. She had the table all set for us, and a younger guy was sitting at the table. "Hey bro, long time no
see." They hugged and I sat down next to Patric, trying not to look like I'm too drunk. She was asking me all these different questions about work, and my family, and how
we met. She was really nice to me, but was mean to Patric and his brother. I offered to help clear the table, but I was useless, since I can't walk, so I used my crutches to
get over to the sink to wash them, while his mom brought them in. "So, how are you liking the fire department? Patric has been super committed to it since he became
lieutenant. He is always helping others and I admire that a lot, especially with him trying to join the State Troopers, even though the process has been hard, he has been
busting his ass and even when Elizabeth left him, he worked through it." Wait, what? I am confused right now. This is news to me. I finished with the dishes and sat on the
chair in the living room, watching the two guys play video games. Patric looked at me, like do you want to go and I am like hell yes. We said goodbye to his mom and brother
and headed back. I couldn't wait to get in bed and take a pill and sleep. I tried to get the damn brace off by myself, but it was no used. He leaned down and took it off for
me. "What is going on? You have been acting weird since you washed dishes. I want to know what is up." I sighed and looked down at the floor. "Why didn't you tell me
about the state troopers, or Elizabeth?" His eyes got wide. "What did she tell you?" Why would be all worried about that? "She just told me that when she left you, you went
through a rough patch, but you worked through it." He sat down next to me and laid his head on my shoulder. "Me and her were in love. We dated for almost six years, but
then I found out she had been seeing someone else for four years behind my back, it made me sick to my stomach, I even had a ring for her. I spiraled down into a
depression that it was hard for me to get out of, until I started to become more involved with the station and I decided that I wanted to become a state trooper, so I started
the process and I got half way through it, and had to stop because of work and the station, and then I met you and I have been the happiest man in the whole world since
that day at the fire." He got down on one knee. "No this is not what you are thinking; I am making a promise to you. I promise that I will be by your side forever, to be there
for anything, to never lie to you and to be my honest true self. I don't have a lot to offer, but that is the least I can do because I have fallen in love with you Amanda. Each
day with you is such a joy. I hope you will keep that promise too." He pulls out this sterling silver ring, thin band with tiny diamonds in it, it is absolutely beautiful. I couldn't
help but cry. I wrapped my arms around my shoulder and cried with me. "I love you so much Patric, you have no idea how in love I am with you. I will treasure this." I kissed
him really hard and he kissed me back. I think we will be okay, until I have to go back to Baltimore.