South Beach Rookie

Excerpt From: South Beach Rookie

Violet couldn’t believe it. Not only had she passed the twelve weeks of training at recruit school, but she had already been hired at a firehouse. She was about to become the newest member of South Beach Firehouse Company A in Masterville, California. She’d resisted the urge to squeal on the phone when she’d got the call, but as soon as she’d hung up she’d been jumping up and down like a kid at Christmas. Luckily, only her mother’s cat had been around to witness her display—he had given her a disdainful look, though.

It had been her first choice for firehouses—one of the only all-female firehouses in the US, and it was right on the coast of Northern California. She couldn’t wait to leave South Texas, this stifling small town, and her parents’ house.

They hated that she wanted to be a firefighter. Her mom kept saying, "How will you find a man to marry you when you are so buff, and risking your life in fires every day?" No matter how many times Violet had assured her mother that she was gay, her mother just wouldn’t believe it. Maybe it didn’t help that her favourite colour was sparkly pink, and that she had never even resembled a tomboy as a child. She just wasn’t what her mother expected a lesbian to be.

Her parents hated that she would be moving so far away, even more than they hated her being a firefighter. But she couldn’t breathe here, couldn’t be herself. Her mother had cried when she’d found out Violet would be leaving. Her father had just looked disappointed, but hadn’t said anything. The day Violet had hugged them goodbye, she’d cried, though—she was going to be alone out there, with no family and no friends. It would be an exciting and terrifying adventure.

Violet pulled in to the lot outside her new apartment late in the afternoon, then spent three hours bringing everything in from the rental truck. She didn’t bother unpacking anything aside from her sleeping bag and pillow. Sleep was all she wanted after the long days of driving, and tomorrow she would meet her team. She didn’t want to do that with puffy eyes and a sleep-deprived brain. Unfortunately, her nerves kept her up half the night anyway. She did manage a few good hours eventually.

* * * *

She stood in front of the mirror the next day, studying her appearance. She wasn’t sure what would make the perfect impression, and had changed four times already before settling on jeans and a pink tank top. Minimal makeup left her green eyes bright and she had her short, black hair smoothed straight to just above her ears. All very casual, and she felt good.

After wrapping a scarf around her head and grabbing her pink helmet, she headed out. Her pink and white scooter zipped through the city without a problem. The GPS on her phone directed her to Deputy Chief Valerie High’s office. They had talked over the phone a few times and Valerie was the one who had hired her, but they’d never met in person and Violet’s stomach was twisting.

Valerie’s office was in a big building downtown, and the cute secretary showed her right in with a bright smile. Three people stood when she entered. Behind a large desk was Valerie, Violet assumed. She was tall with long, brown hair, dark brown eyes and a friendly face.

"Violet, I’m so glad to finally meet you." Valerie came around the desk and grasped her hand in a firm shake.

"I am, too. It’s been like a dream since you called and told me I got the job. I can’t wait to start."

"I’m glad to hear that. This is your captain, Lisa Long." Valerie motioned to a very attractive redhead, whose short, curly hair looked a little wild. She had pale green eyes in a freckled face. "And the battalion chief, John Porter."

Violet smiled and shook hands with them both. John’s hand was fleshy and sweaty, his grip loose. She wasn’t surprised—he looked like he sat behind a desk more than he did anything else. His bald head was shining and there was a bead of sweat running down the side of his face. He also looked to be the oldest in the room. Violet was surprised he wasn’t Valerie’s boss—she looked quite young. Of course, if his physical attributes were any indication of his work habit, she could understand how he hadn’t made it any further than battalion chief.