Page 84 of Clearly Charmed

‘Who’s up?’ I tipped my chin to the table.

‘We flipped a coin. I’m playing you first. Eight-ball okay?’ Bree said.

‘Rack ’em up.’

I moved to the wall where the pool cues hung like thin wooden soldiers in a neat row. After plucking one off the squeaky hinges, I chalked the tip. A familiar voice made me look up. Lia sat in a corner booth with the fire chief. Their heads pressed together in a tense conversation. I pulled in a full breath and strode in their direction.

‘Evening, Chief.’

‘Dani. Good to see you,’ he said like he was relieved to have a break. ‘Lia and I were just talking about the incident with Mara and Banjo.’

‘How is Mara doing?’ I asked.

‘According to Darren, she’s on the mend,’ the chief answered.

‘That’s good to hear.’

‘Lia and I were going over the rescue,’ he said uncomfortably. ‘Seems she has a few suggestions for how we can do it better next time.’

‘Lee did a good job. In fact, Mara called her a badass.’

A reluctant smirk lifted Lia’s lips. ‘She did?’

‘Yep. You’ve got a fan there.’

‘See. You need to ease up a bit,’ the chief said.

She reached for her glass, downed the beer in a single gulp and pushed to the edge of the booth. ‘See you tomorrow,’ she grumbled before stalking to the exit.

‘Should I ask?’ I said.

He smoothed his hand over his mustache. ‘Your sister is very good at her job, but she doesn’t always play well with others.’

‘Tell me something I don’t know.’

The corners of his eyes pinched in sadness. ‘I’m serious, Dani. Seth Cambridge is leaving his captain’s position to move to Bozeman in three months. Lia could take the test. Easily slide into his job, but—’

‘She doesn’t play well with others,’ I parroted back.

‘Talk to her. Get her to think about what it means to be in a leadership role. If she can’t ease up’ – he shook his head – ‘there are others who want to move in and take that job.’

Lia could be immovable when she thought she was right. That kind of attitude would never earn her friends or the respect of her peers.

‘I promise we will have a conversation about it.’

He grabbed his baseball hat from the booth and plopped it on his head. ‘We’re one of the best fire stations in Colorado because of your sister’s organization and ingenuity, but she needs to get out of her head.’

‘I hear you, Chief.’

‘I’ll say goodnight then.’

Lia’s job was her world. Aster and I talked about that fact a lot. But she also needed another focus or purpose. When we broached the subject with her, she waved us off. Told us to mind our own business. There was such a thing as being too caught up in your own job, which I was reminded of as an annoyed Bree pointed at the pool table.

I chalked the end of my stick again, a flutter of blue dust filling the air.

‘Lia all right? When she walked out of here she looked like she wanted to kick someone’s ass,’ Bree said.

‘It’s Lia being Lia.’ I shrugged.