Fire Escape - Book Three: Troubled Heroes Series (An Action Thriller) by J.R. Tate

time they finished up on scene and got back, it was time for shift change. Michael was fortunate enough to sneak out without being cornered by Gregg, and decided to talk to Eva when he got home. She was watching TV on the couch when he got there, slightly dozing off. He sat down hard on the couch, jolting her from her mild sleep.
                  “Damn it, Mikey, you scared the crap out of me!” She slugged his arm and leaned in for a quick peck on the lips. “Heard about that warehouse fire. They had something brief about it on the news.”
                  “It was vacant. Not bad at all.” He sat up and scrubbed his palm down his face. “Listen, Gregg asked if I wanted to catch the Mets game tonight. Is it okay if I go?”
                  Eva glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “You’re asking me? What am I, your mother? Go if you want to!”
                  “Just thought I’d make sure you didn’t have something else planned.” The look on her face made him skeptical. She seemed hesitant. “What? You sure it’s okay?”
                  She slid the TV remote across the table and propped her feet up. “I just didn’t think you and Gregg really knew each other. He doesn’t seem like the type of guy you’d hang out with is all.”
              “But he’s the type of guy you made friends with when I was gone?” It came out harsher than Michael had intended. His tone made him sound like he was jealous of the friendship Gregg and Eva had made, but it truly was not what he meant. The look on her face was enough for him to know she took it all the wrong way. “I didn’t mean it like that…”
                  “He was good support when you were out there. That’s all it was.” Her voice was low and she ducked her head.
                  “I know. I’m gonna go to the game with him. He seems like a good guy. I didn’t mean that any other way.”
                  Eva looked up. “He seems clingy, but that’s just Gregg. You can take that however you want.” She stood up and walked toward the bedroom, but Michael grabbed her hand before she could completely get away.
                  “I’ll be back in a bit. I love you.”
                  She gripped his hand tight. “Be good. Love you too.”
     
    ***
     
                  “Pretty good seats for spur of the moment tickets.” Gregg’s eyes scanned the first base line as the scooted past a few people to get to their places.
                  “I don’t think the Mets have had a sellout crowd in years.” Michael took in the smell of the fresh cut grass and the sounds of the wooden bats crack against the baseballs as the players warmed up with batting practice. He enjoyed the smack of the ball hitting the catcher’s mitt. The sound alone was evident enough that it was a strike. Everything brought back memories of when he was a little kid and his dad would bring him and Casey out for weekend games.
                  “Eva give you hell?”
                  “No. I told you she wouldn’t. Nothing sucks worse than making plans after she’s been at home cooking or you know, has something else in mind.”
                  “You really do love her, don’t you?” Gregg asked, motioning toward the beer vendor. “You want one?”
                  “I’m good. I’ve got a drink.” He sipped on the soda he had picked up from the concession stand before going in.
                  “C’mon, McGinnis! That’s not a drink. Get yourself a drink!”
                  “Gregg, I’m good. I don’t want one.” He tried to keep his cool, but the constant nagging, not only from Gregg, but from others, was starting to wear thin.
                  “You trying to be an all-around good