Taylor’s keys jingled in his hand as he rounded the corner. The front door opened and slammed, and Tyler sighed.

“You’re going to miss him.”

He sat down on my bed again, leaning over and lacing his fingers together. “It’s kind of a pussy thing to say, but Taylor and I haven’t been apart a lot. It feels weird.”

“Understandable. The twin thing.”

“I’m just glad he’s not going to Australia with Jew.”

“Australia?”

“Yeah, we switch out. A couple of our guys go over there for a season to learn their way of doing things, and we get a couple of their guys to see how we do it.”

“So those are the Aussies we’re waiting on? Isn’t that going to mess with your groove or whatever to get two new guys?”

“The Aussies are machines. They always come here to work. We’re dragging ass to headquarters, and they’re antsy, wishing for the next call. What?”

“I don’t know … I feel irrationally betrayed.”

Tyler wrinkled his nose. “You feel what?”

“You should have told me. One minute I’m the big sister making grilled cheese, the next I’m left out of the loop.”

Tyler thought about that. “Wow, I’m sorry. You just fit in so well I forget you don’t already know this stuff.”

“I suppose I can forgive you.” I sat up, running my hand over my face. “Oh my God.”

“What?”

“My mouth. It tastes like a trashcan.” I stood, opening the armoire to grab my toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste before rushing to the bathroom. After spitting the suds into the sink, I rinsed and grabbed a towel. My sinuses felt congested, so I grabbed a tissue.

“Oh my God!” I said again.

Tyler jogged across the barracks, stopping in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m dying,” I said, blowing my nose again. “My insides are rotting.”

“Black in the tissue?” Tyler asked.

I nodded.

He chuckled. “That’s normal. When fire season is over, you’ll still be doing that for weeks. It’s from the smoke and ash.”

“Isn’t that … I don’t know … unhealthy?”

Tyler made a face. “You smoke, Ellie.”

“So do you,” I snapped.

“But I’m not whining about the hazards of inhaling wood smoke. We’re sucking a lot worse every time we light up.”

“But I don’t blow charcoal out of my nose after I smoke.”

Tyler shrugged. “So wear a filter mask next time.”

“Maybe I will.”

“Good. Are we going into town or what?”

I shook my head and shifted, holding up one foot off the cold floor. “I can’t right now. I have to get my notes emailed to Jojo.”

“I don’t know why you don’t just write it yourself. She used most of your manuscript for the magazine. She didn’t even credit herself.”