He could have asked her if she remembered him sneaking into Summer’s window to escape his father’s fists. On the worst nights, Camille had brought him homemade healing tea and toast with cinnamon and extra butter. His first experience with basic kindness from a woman, and his first comfort food.

“Joe Walker?” she repeated softly.

“I’m a fire marshal now,” he told her. “I’m at your warehouse. With Socks.” If she gave any indication she found this as unsettling as he did, she gave nothing away. “The cat’s safe in my rig, though she appears to have a cut on her face. Your building—”

“I’ll have to get her to the vet.”

“Yes. Your warehouse—”

“I know. It burned again.” Her voice quivered, giving her away. So she did remember. “No one died this time.”

“No, ma’am,” he said gently, wishing he’d taken a seat to make this call because his legs felt a little wobbly. Whether from his own close call or the memories, he had no idea.

“Thank you, Joe.”

He hadn’t done much, but he wished he could. “Mrs. Abrams—”

She clicked off.

He stared down at the phone. “Yeah, and how are you? Me? Oh, I’m good. And Summer? Jesus.” The ball of memories lodged in his throat, he shook his head. “You fool.”

“So, fool. Who’s Summer?” Kenny handed over a first-aid kit, presumably for the scratches burning a slow path of fire down his chest.

“No one.”

Kenny eyed him thoughtfully. He was nine years older than Joe’s thirty, and he believed those years gave him license to know everything. They’d been partners for two years, and had grown close as brothers. Bickering brothers. That suited Joe fine, as he’d never had a smooth relationship in his life, starting with Summer. He rubbed his chest, not sure if it was the scratches or his heart that ached like a son of a bitch.

“You okay?” Kenny finally asked.

“Yeah. Why?”

“You look pale. Want to sit?”

“Do you?”

“I’m not pale.”

“I’m fine.”

“Okay,” Kenny said, sounding unconvinced.

“I am.”

“Whatever you say.”

A car pulled into the parking lot. A bright blue VW Bug with the windows down and U2 blaring out of the speakers. When the engine turned off, silence descended everywhere but within Joe, because he knew.

His heart took off again, just as Summer got out of her car. He’d heard about her career leading rafting, hiking, and biking treks all over the world for some big expedition company, but he hadn’t heard she was back. Why would he? He no longer lived next door to her mother’s house, and she’d never sought him out.