Chapter Twelve #2
He nodded, but I could see he didn’t believe me. “Take it easy, Jet. I’ll see you.” His shoulders hunched against the cold, Theo returned to the bar, and I made my way to the patrol car, where Emerson waited.
“What did Theo want? He looked kinda serious.”
As much as I trusted Emerson with my secret, Theo’s story wasn’t mine to tell. “Nothing. Just thanked me and we caught up a bit. We went to school together.” I started the engine and drove out of the parking lot.
We got some coffee at the Blue Bird Diner, and Emerson was getting the eye from one of the servers, a young woman named Jennie. Normally, he’d be flirting with her, but tonight he was staring into his cup, unaware.
“Hey. You okay? Something bothering you?” I nudged his foot with mine. It wasn’t like Emerson to be so quiet.
“Just thinking. Do you think those guys at the bar get that kind of grief everywhere they go?”
I rubbed my jaw. “Not sure. I guess it depends on where they are. I’m thinking in the city it’s probably more common than here. Why?”
He shrugged. “No reason. Just wondering.”
The bells on the diner door tinkled, and Starr came in with his date. He spotted us and bent to whisper in her ear, then with his hand around her waist, walked to our booth.
“Hey, guys. What’s happening?”
“Not much. Just grabbing some coffees.”
Emerson didn’t say anything, his mouth tight.
“This is Rosalie. She works at Marvin’s.”
“Hiya.” She snuggled into Starr’s chest. “You guys work with Dom?”
“Yes. Nice to meet you.” I looked at Emerson, who picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.
“Hi,” Emerson said.
“Busy tour?” Starr asked. “I heard there was a brawl at Sweeny’s.”
Emerson wasn’t about to answer him, so I gave him the information. “Yeah. Some muscle heads with shit for brains talking nonsense to some customers.”
“And that started a fight?”
To my surprise, Emerson answered. “The customers were gay, and the idiots stared at them and made obnoxious comments. You know how it goes.”
A muscle ticked in Starr’s rock-hard jaw. “Yeah.”
Tension swirled in the air between them, and I wondered what the hell they weren’t saying.
“Come on, Dom. I’m hungry.” Rosalie tugged at his biceps. “I gotta get up early, and you promised we could go to your place and watch a movie.”
“All right, baby. Gotta go, guys.” He winked and followed her to their booth on the opposite end of the diner.
“What was that about?” I questioned, curious at the strange vibes, but Emerson brushed me off.
“Nothing. She can’t be more than twenty-one, don’t you think?” He snickered.
“If that. But Starr always liked them young. His last girlfriend was barely out of college. And Amber, your ex, is young.”
“She’s not my ex. We were just having fun,” Emerson snapped, his humor gone, then huffed. “Sorry. I’m just tired. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“From the shooting?”
He shook his head. “It’s nothing. I’ll be okay.” He downed his coffee and checked his watch. “We’d better head back.”
“You’re right. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get home.”
“I’ll bet,” Emerson murmured.
At the station, I was changing out of my uniform when Gleason approached me.
“Heard there was a run-in at Sweeny’s.”
“Yeah. Some assholes trying to act tough.”
“Some guys got their panties in a twist?” Gleason snorted, and I shut my locker door and faced him.
“No. These motorcycle jerks were being rude and abusive.”
“All I know is, those people are always whining about something.”
My heart pounded, but it was now or never. “Just so you know, I’m one of those people. And I’d appreciate it if you’d stop using demeaning language. I can’t force you to change who you are, but you do have to treat me and every other queer person with respect.”
“You’re…you’re gay?” He spat out the words as if they were bitter on his tongue. “You’re lying. You’ve dated plenty of girls. I’ve seen you.”
By that time, a small crowd had gathered, and I wanted nothing more than to sink into the floor, but I stood my ground. If those men at the bar could live their life in the open, unashamed and free, so could I.
“I’m bisexual. I’m attracted to men and women. None of which affects my ability to do my job.”
“Jet’s the best deputy on the force, Sarge.” Emerson stood at my shoulder. “Everyone knows it, right, guys?” Emerson called out to the group assembled.
Quiet murmurs rose to outright agreement. Mel Miller, a deputy with almost twenty-five years on the force, spoke up first. “I don’t got no problem with it. Jet’s a good guy and a great deputy.”
Mel’s words emboldened others to speak up.
“My brother-in-law is gay, and he’s cool as hell,” Joe Parisi called out. “What’s the problem?”
“Yeah, Sarge, who cares?” Eddie Clarke asked. “Not my business. I’d take Jet to back me up any day of the week.”
Before I knew it, all the deputies stood behind me, facing Gleason. Understanding he was outnumbered, Gleason met my eyes, and I returned his stare unflinchingly.
“I never said I got a problem with it.” Red-faced, he turned and strode out.
I sank to the bench, and they gathered around me, giving me shoulder squeezes or offering words of support. It meant everything to me, yet I still couldn’t catch my breath, and my shirt was soaked with sweat. And Emerson stood by me like a protective watchdog.
“Don’t worry about anything, Jet,” Mel told me. “We meant what we said. You’re safe here, and we’ve all got your back. You ain’t gonna have no problems with Gleason. I’ll make sure of it.” Mel was also our union delegate and a father figure to all of us on the force.
My smile was grateful, and I exhaled with relief. “Thanks, everyone. I can’t tell you what your support means to me. I’ve been struggling with this for a long time, but now it’s important to let everyone know.”
“Like I said, I’ll take you as my partner any day of the week.” Eddie gave me a thumbs-up.
“Knock it off, Clarke,” Emerson joked. “No poaching.”
Our laughter broke the tension, and we all split up, saying good night. I was happy as hell to be going home and spending the evening with Harte. Emerson and I walked out together.
“You never told me about meeting Devlin Summers and Brody Martin.”
“Tomorrow. I just wanna get home.” I stopped by my car in the lot. “Thanks for everything you said in there.” I clasped his hand, but he pulled me in for a hug, and I clung to him for a moment.
“Always. You are the best.”
We separated, and I got into my car and drove off. I couldn’t wait to tell Harte everything that had happened. The town was filled with the sparkle of the season, and I was finally beginning to believe it would be a Christmas to remember.