Chapter Nine
Adam
The sun was still up when I left the bakery, and I strolled in the direction my GPS said Pizza and More was.
I hadn’t made it a block when Brian pulled up alongside me in his cop car and rolled down the window.
Before he could even say anything, I teased, “You weren’t lying to Granny O’Brien. You do work all the time!”
I saw his shoulders sag at my observation, as if he wished it weren’t true.
“We’re down three officers, so I’m trying to pick up the slack.”
“I’ll bet the overtime money’s good, though.”
“Yeah, but at some point, I’d like to have some time off to spend it.”
“I get that.”
“You probably more than most people.” He lifted his chin at me. “Where are you headed?”
“To the pizza place. I told Lainey I’d buy her dinner tonight.”
He nodded absent-mindedly while he watched me closely, like he was trying to figure something out.
Finally, he asked, “Was she surprised about the ring?”
“I thought I’d give it to her after we ate.”
He studied me for another minute, then drew his next words out. “I guess that makes sense.”
I felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny and tried to change the subject.
“How’d your domestic violence call go?”
He answered quickly, “One in custody,” then steered the conversation back to me.
“What’d you do this afternoon?”
I shrugged as I tried to act nonchalant and knew I was failing miserably.
“Oh, just helped Lainey with a few things around the bakery.”
Brian moved his bottom jaw and proclaimed through clenched teeth, “Hmm.”
What the fuck did that mean?
“What? She needed help, and since there isn’t even a motel in this town, I didn’t have anywhere else to go, so I thought I’d make myself useful.”
He held his hands up in surrender.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“But you were thinking something.”
He brought his hands down.
“You’re right, I was.”
“Well, don’t. Shawn was my friend. I’d never cross that line.”
Brian narrowed his eyes, as if he wasn’t sure he believed me. I didn’t blame him. I wasn’t even sure if I believed me.
“Since you didn’t have anywhere to go earlier, where are you planning on staying tonight?”
Well, shit.
“I’m not really sure yet. Why? You offering your couch?”
“I’ll do you one better. My guest room is available. Text me when you’re getting ready to leave Lainey’s, and I’ll send you the address.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
“Of course. Any friend of Shawn’s is a friend of mine.”
I wasn’t sure if he was subtly trying to remind me about my duty to Shawn, or if my guilty conscience just interpreted it like that.
Either way—message received.