Sunny always dreaded being stationed down town. For the most part it was nothing like downtown Puelo in Southern Colorado where he grew up, and started his career. It wasn’t uncommon to be called to the aftermath of gang war or hit and run in Puelo but in Providence, there was the odd call to an overdose of some sort in an alley way in of the sketchier parts of town, or the considerably mild aftermath of a road rage incident. Today he was simply there with his fellow EMT partner, in case something happened. However, since the 4th of July weekend was over, there was less chance of an incident involving alcohol and/or fireworks taking place. Week days were typically so slow that if they did get a call, it was almost a relief from an otherwise dull day of drinking coffee in their vehicle and trying to stay awake.
About and hour before the end of their shift, his partner needed a bathroom break. They settled on a bakery and while the other used their restroom, Sunny got in line. Though it was for paying customers only, most people didn’t mind when they saw the ambulance and uniforms, or even offered them special treatment but Sunny was too humble to break their rules. Besides, he knew the ER nurses and other staff would appreciate any treat in the form of sugar and carbs during their long and busy shifts. He looked through the glass display case at the donuts. In front of them were plastic clam shell containers of red white and blue cup cakes, on sale. The line was slow and he could feel the presence of the person behind him. He wasn’t sure if they were in a hurry or not but he gestured with his hand. “You can go ahead of me, if you want. Unless you can make up my mind for me, of course. Do you think the cup cakes taste less patriotic after the 4th of July?” he shot them a half smile to show his sarcasm.
After Pride and her conversation with Emmett, she’s tried to stay as far away from Providence Peak as much as she possibly could. Fortunately, she was able to. Whether travelling to Hilo to check on the progress for the new sanctuary or checking any of the other locations of her restaurant chain, there was plenty of things for her to do and places to go to if she needed the distraction. But it wasn’t until she got back home, whether in one of her multiple houses or in one of her hotel rooms, when it became troubling to keep her mind off of Emmett. How he looked at her the last time they talked, how she has lost her chance to be with him again for good, how terrifying it was to believe that the man she loves possibly hates her now. Then she would drink it all away, enough so that she couldn’t remember her name yet be able to remember his face. Resulting in her crying herself asleep before waking up with a massive hangover. Then it would all start over again on repeat. Was this going to be the rest of her life now? She felt like she deserved it. One thing for sure, she wasn’t going to try and move on. She couldn’t. Not when she was still deeply in love with him.
Standing in the bakery, she was only going to be in town for a few days before heading up to Toronto. She still made sure to check on Cordelia, try to spend time with her daughter. The near-twenty year old has finally stopped asking her about Emmett and instead was trying to be supportive, even though it killed the girl to see both of them like this. While she stood in line, she tried to think of what she needed to do in Canada and not about her personal life. Which, while sober, was incredibly hard to do. She hadn’t realized someone had been talking to her until the sarcastic remark rang through, causing the brunette to smile faintly and look up from the ground. “Blind leading the blind, Sadiq. I’m not sure what the Hell I’m getting either. How was it this year?” She hadn’t been in town for the weekend; It only reminded her of Emmett, how he was a veteran and all the other past 4th of July celebrations they spent together. No, she instead had been in Montenegro. Having a usual, unAmerican 4th of July day. “I was gone, business out of the states.”
