Chapter 15
Cecilia
Walking to the park for my No Panties Day celebration, I breathe in the warm summer air. Everything’s going to be okay.
I hope.
Bev didn’t know it, but I didn’t wear panties to work this morning—something I thought was going to be a playfully dangerous move since Blake was going to be there. But the threat of real danger was enough to kill the sexual tension.
I’m not sure I’m cut out to be involved with men who put themselves in danger.
Ugh! Danger, danger, danger. I hate that word.
I also hate that Ofelia wouldn’t tell me her real name, that she and Lennox and Blake could be squaring off with a real bad guy at this very moment, and that I have no idea if she read the note or just took it to keep me from making a scene and chasing her down to force her eyeballs onto it.
“Ceci!” Trena is running toward me, her smile and outstretched arms easing a tiny bit of my worries.
With one arm around me, she gestures at everyone who gathered for my celebration. We have a few minutes before I give my speech, mostly just a thank you for coming out and having fun with me—ironic that it coincides with such heaviness in my heart.
I resist the urge to tell them to turn down the music piped through the PA system. If there are gunshots, I’ll be able to hear them. Instead, I do what Lennox and Blake begged me to do… trust them.
With a deep breath, I allow bits of happiness to wiggle into my pockets of worry. Signs have been hung and people are dancing.
This is everything I wanted it to be—a celebration of whimsy in the town I wasn’t sure had the capability for it.
If only Lennox and Blake could be here. They assured me that although they couldn’t be certain how long it would take to handle everything, including the paperwork and debriefings, they would do a No Panties Celebration with me privately.
That reminds me about the other part of what I worked out with them. Scanning the partiers, I spy a man who’s doing his best to dance. “Check it out, Trena, did you see Sheriff Lockhart?”
Since I insisted on not cancelling my celebration, Lennox and Blake insisted local law enforcement officers be present. The idea totally annoyed me at first—a potential vibe killer—but I’m glad now.
“I did. Not someone I thought would show up.”
I bite my tongue, hating that I can’t tell her the entire plan. The other plainclothes officer I agreed to is at the other end of the park. “Yeah, but Deputy Sutton has some moves.”
“Who knew? Do you really think they’re not wearing panties?” Her laughter is infectious.
“Let’s hope. Or this town is a lot crazier than I thought.” I step toward the picnic table I’m going to give my speech from.
I sit on the table, ready to spin my feet onto the bench when sirens whir to life and red-and-blue lights flash.
My heart stops. It’s happening.
Trena rushes over, wrapping her arms around me. “Breathe.”
I can’t. Flashing lights and noisemakers should be fun, not terrifying. Two cop cars rush past.
I stare in the general direction of the barbershop. Before I know it, my feet are on the ground. “I have to go.”
Trena holds me tightly. “I know this is hard for you, Ceci, but sometimes inaction is the best action.”
She’s right.
“But promise me that if you want a future with them, you’ll tell them how much this worries you.”
“I will, I promise.” Meaning… I have to deal with the hard things in life, not just the fun. This was a major reason I didn’t do well in school. Going for the D and moving on worked there. If only it was enough to make this work.
What feels like an eternity later, Lennox and Blake pull up beside the park, windows rolled down. They’re safe. I run to them. They’re out of the truck before I get to them.
The two of them sandwich me, the best feeling in the world. Lennox says, “We can’t stay, but wanted you to know it’s over. Thank you for helping recruit Ofelia. We got the ringleader and plenty of evidence to bring him down for check-washing and several other schemes.”
The cop cars drive past. Ofelia’s in the backseat of one. Someone I’ve never seen is in the other backseat.
Blake says, “We’ll be in touch as soon as we wrap things up. Be ready for your final exam.”