Chapter Eleven
Giana: Hey, officer.
Wyatt: Hi.
Giana: That was a little lackluster.
Wyatt: I’m sorry. Just have a lot going on. My mind is a little far off right now.
Giana: I’m sorry to hear that. Anything I can help with?
Wyatt: I wouldn’t burden you with that. I’ll figure it out.
Giana: You know I could be interested in more than just your dick, if you gave me the chance. It doesn’t need to be a relationship, just a friendship. I could use one of those.
Wyatt: Friendship might be nice. I really just have my family, but I can’t get help from them with this.
Giana: Okay then, hit me with it. I’d love to help. I give pretty good advice, I’m just really bad at following it.
Wyatt: I feel weird…
Giana: Aww is this woman trouble and you’re afraid to hurt my feelings? >
Wyatt: … Kind of. One part anyway.
Giana: We aren’t dating, Officer. We’ve talked everyday but we aren’t dating. It’s okay to have girl trouble.
Wyatt: I’ll start with the job trouble. We’ll see how you do with that to see if I can trust your advice with the girl.
Giana: Got it. Career advice… from the girl without a job. I’m ready.
Wyatt: Well you know I’m a cop. But my chief asked me to take the detective’s test to join a task force.
Giana: That’s amazing. I’m not seeing the dilemma…
Wyatt: I just feel like I don’t deserve it, ya know? I only started there a few years ago, and I’m older, so it’s not like this was even my first career. It was more of a response to a crisis.
Giana: What crisis would push you into being a cop?
Wyatt: My ex-fiancée getting railed by my best man. In my kitchen. I was maybe spiraling after, and it affected me more than I let on. But I took the first job that would get me back home to Maine.
Giana: None of that means you aren’t qualified for the job.
Wyatt: But there are guys who probably deserve it more than I do. Guys who have been here longer, other guys in other departments. I’m a baby cop in the law enforcement world.
Giana: Sounds like you’ve taken it seriously and worked your ass off to prove what a good cop you are and it was noticed by some people. You shouldn’t be concerned about what others will think for taking an opportunity that your chief clearly thinks you deserve.
Wyatt: That’s kind of the problem though. He expects greatness out of me. What if I fail the test? Or what if I fail the task force? Last time he trusted me, I ended up with a hole in my cheek. What if next time it’s worse? Or someone else gets hurt? I couldn’t live with myself.
Giana: Did you learn from that experience?
Wyatt: Hell yeah. I’m way more observant about situations. I usually am. But my brother’s life was at stake. And his girl’s. I couldn’t let anything happen to them on my watch. I’d rather be the one to go than them.
Giana: Sounds like a good cop to me. And an even better brother.
Wyatt: That’s what everyone says. But every day, I wake up and see the reminder of being a failure in the mirror. I feel it every time I move my face, or talk. Every time my speech slurs because I’m tired. It’s just a constant fucking reminder.
Giana: I don’t see it that way and I don’t think anyone else would either. You saved your brother and your sister-in-law. You put an asshole behind bars who deserved to be there after everything he did.
Wyatt: What do you mean everything he did?
Giana: I just imagine if you were chasing him and he was trying to kill them that he did some bad shit in life. Wrong choices down the wrong path and all.
Wyatt: Oh yeah, he definitely deserves to be behind bars. He was scum.
Giana: You should stop letting that fear control you. You’re going to fuck up. You’re going to piss people off. But, it’ll be a lot less than the times you impress them. And you seem like the kind of guy who won’t put others in danger from a mistake.
Wyatt: I couldn’t find him. It took me months.
Giana: You found him. That’s the only part that matters.
Wyatt: I guess so.
Giana: I know so. Now take that test and tell me about this girl trouble.
Wyatt: That’s simpler. I fell for a girl I shouldn’t have. At first, I was just myself with her like we have been, trying to keep it physical only. But then we spent time together because she’s living in one of my rentals and now…
Giana: But you fell for her?
Wyatt: I tried not to. And I hate saying this to you, but if I had to conjure up my dream girl — it’s her.
Giana: So what’s stopping you?
Wyatt: Her. I don’t think, no I know, she’s not interested in more. Karma right? I spent all these years telling everyone I would never want anything serious. And I go and fall for the one girl I can’t have.
Giana: She might change her mind. You never know.
Wyatt: Maybe. But she’s my sister-in-law’s best friend. And I was very clearly warned off of her. Problem is I can’t stay away. I’m a glutton for punishment.
Giana: So don’t. Go after what you want. Unless you only want her because she’s off limits.
Wyatt: Not at all. I’m not like that. I talk a big game, but I don’t lead women on. They know the deal from the moment the first pick up line is said.
Wyatt: Isn’t this weird that we’re talking about this? And you’re giving me advice about chasing a woman?
Giana: Absolutely not. We can be friends without the benefits. Why is that not a thing?
Wyatt: I don’t know. Because we met on a dating app… for sex?
Giana: We never met. Not like we were dating. Friends talk. That’s what we’re doing. We’re friends. If you like this other girl, I say you go after her.
Wyatt: I don’t think I’ve ever had a friend that’s a girl and isn’t fucking one of my brothers.
Giana: Well, at least I get to pop one cherry of yours. >
Wyatt: That was bad. I’m going to bed now. >