Chapter 28
twenty-eight
MADDOX
“Who pissed in your boots?” Dennis asks, dropping onto the edge of my desk.
“No one, why?”
“When you first got here, you were Cindy from The Grinch excited for Christmas and all that shit. And now you’ve turned into the Grinch himself.”
“I’m not that bad,” I snap at my deputy, but he just eyes me.
“Ever since Ruby barged in here on Monday, you’ve not been you. I know we’re a man down with Stan at home with the family, but that hasn’t caused us to be busy. Even though it’s the silly season, the silliness has been kept to a minimum this year, touch wood.” He taps my desk. “Well, except for our flaming pooper, but I solved Drew’s case the other night, and I have no doubt that shit—pun intended—will get crazy soon enough. So, I ask you again, what’s got you being Mr. Grinch?”
Letting out a sigh, I look to my deputy and begin from the beginning. “I’ve been in love with Ruby Olsen since the Christmas I took her virginity?—”
“How the fuck has that been kept a secret in this town?” Shrugging at him, he shakes his head. “I’m gonna go out on a limb here and sound completely fucking girly, but I think she still has feelings for you too.”
“But she’s marrying another man in less than twenty-four hours”
“And that’s messing with your head? Heart? Both?”
“Yep,” I reply, letting the ‘p’ pop. “But I’m not going to stand in the way of her happiness.”
“And you’re one-hundred-percent sure he’s who she wants?”
“A few hours ago, she went up the mountain with my sister to finalize the wedding details with him. Can’t get more final than that.”
“Well, actually, until that ring is on her finger and each of them say ‘I do,’ anything can happen.”
Nodding, I lean back in my chair and ponder his words. If I was one-hundred-percent sure she felt the same way, I’d be over to her place in a heartbeat, but I’m not. I have to let this play out. As much as it pains me, I’ll be there to see her marry Joel because, at the end of the day, I want her to be happy … even if it’s with another man.