Twisted Up (Taking Chances #1) - Erin Nicholas Page 0,109
get things going.
Not this time.
Not because he had anything against people in northwest Iowa. Not because he didn’t feel terrible for what had happened. Not because he couldn’t help them.
But it was someone else’s responsibility now, and, strangely, he was fine with that.
Unlike having someone else fix Avery.
“My replacement is probably already en route. David will do a great job.”
“Who’s David?”
“The guy taking my position in Kansas City.”
She stared at him for a moment. “You quit?”
“No. I took a promotion. In Washington, DC. With FEMA,” he told her.
Her eyes widened. “You’re going to work for FEMA?”
Jake tried to read her expression. Was she happy? Upset? “I was going to work for FEMA.”
“What’s the job?”
“A deputy administrator’s position,” he told her, watching her carefully.
She swallowed and nodded. “That’s . . . great. Wow. That’s a dream job for you.” She turned toward the TV. “And you might end up in Iowa anyway. That’s a bad one.”
It was. And she was right—FEMA would very likely be on-site as well.
He’d be great there. He’d do a hell of a job. He was perfect for it.
“FEMA will have to send someone else, too,” he told her.
“Someone else?” Avery looked confused. “But you’re the one who goes.”
He nodded. “Usually. But you’re hurt and—”
“It’s my shoulder, Jake. It’s not . . . important. Not as important as Iowa.”
“Avery—”
“Jake, I need some people to head out with me and check things over,” Frank interrupted, striding toward them.
“This isn’t a great time, Frank,” Jake said, gritting his teeth, his eyes on Avery.
“Yeah, well, I’m sorry I didn’t plan this storm around your schedule,” Frank snapped. “But we need to see where we’re at. The Bronsons will be here tomorrow. These fucking storms!” he exclaimed. “If the cleanup is set back now, I swear to God, I’m going to start looking into the ancient burial-ground nonsense.”
In spite of everything, Jake and Avery shared a smile at that. It was apparently Frank’s new mantra.
“I’ll take Avery with me to the hospital,” Dillon said, joining them. “We can get that MRI done.”
“I’d really rather . . .” Jack started, then trailed off.
Fuck, he’d really rather concentrate fully on Avery. But he wasn’t what she needed right now. Chance did need him, though. The Bronsons would be there the next day. If this storm had caused any new damage or ruined anything they’d done, it would be an all-night, all-hands-on-deck project to get it cleaned up and repaired.
He gave Avery a long look. “We’re not done talking about DC.”
She gave a little laugh that definitely sounded forced. “Sure. I’m so happy for you, Jake.”
“No, you don’t—”
“Oh my God, Avery!” Heidi rushed into the room just then. “I heard you were hurt at the fire.”
Avery was holding her sore arm with her good one as she turned to Heidi. Jake stepped protectively between them to keep Heidi from grabbing her.
“She dislocated her shoulder,” Jake said.
Heidi’s eyes flew to Avery. “Are you all right?”
Avery stepped around Jake and shot him an annoyed look. “I’ll be fine. Dillon is taking me up for an MRI.”
“No, we’ll take you,” Heidi said as Wes came in behind her. “I thought my heart was going to stop when I heard you were hurt.”
“It wasn’t the fire,” Avery said as Wes and Heidi flanked her and both put a hand on her upper back, ushering her through the door.
No one even spared Jake another look.
“She’s in good hands,” Dillon said, slapping him on the shoulder. “I’ll head up and finish the exam. You go keep Frank from having a stroke.”
Jake felt his whole body tense as the situation spun completely out of his control.
But Dillon was right. Avery was being taken care of.
He glanced at the TV and the coverage of the Iowa tornado.
He could get in his truck and start driving west. He’d be there in about five hours. He’d be smack in the middle of a situation where he could take charge and make real progress, impact hundreds of lives, and then walk away when the job was over, knowing he’d done some good and not worrying about what was next for them. What was next wasn’t his responsibility. He only needed to fix the big, obvious, immediate things. What came next was on someone else.
Avery would be okay. She was with Heidi and Wes and Dillon. She was happy and loved. He’d fixed the big things. He wouldn’t have to worry about what was next for her, either.