Chapter Nine
Chapter Eight
Dan
Standing on the corner of Scott and Broad, I crossed my arms and watched the last of the parade floats rumble through the intersection, Mel’s patrol unit bringing up the rear, blue lights sparking in the weak afternoon sunlight.
My car waited in front of Hodges, and my thoughts drifted to the window display I’d perused after I swung out of my unit to take up my spot along the state championship celebration parade route.
Diamond rings shared space with earrings and necklaces, a couple of bracelets, silver and gold and gemstones glimmering behind the spotless glass.
I’d been thinking about jewelry and Lila for days. I wanted to get her something nice, something to show how I valued her, how invested I was in her. Problem was, I didn’t know where to start. I’d started a couple of texts to Lydia and EmmaLee, then erased them. If I asked them, they’d take over.
And I needed to do this myself.
Thumbs tucked in my duty belt, I ambled toward my car, gaze tracking over the jewelry once more. My shoulders slumped. No freaking clue.
“You’re overthinking it.” Josh clapped my shoulder, and I caught a glimpse of his grin in the window reflection.
“Yeah.”
“Overthinking what?” Vic Ocampo shut the driver’s door to her unit and joined us.
I cast a speculative glance over her, from her blonde hair smoothed into a tight bun to her spotless uniform. “Hey, you’re a girl.”
She raised a brow.
“Woman.” I waved a hand between us. “You know what I mean.”
Friendly amusement flashed over her face. “I do.”
“Thinking about buying my girlfriend a piece of jewelry–”
“Oof.”
I tilted my head back. “What?”
“That’s ambitious.”
“The word is permanent.”
“Well, semi-permanent.” The corners of her lips tipped upward, and she tapped her left shoulder. “Tattoos are permanent.”
“I’m not buying a ring.” Yet, anyway. “But I want her to have something nice, something that shows what she means. More than flowers, you know?”
Josh rolled his eyes. Vic softened, less cop and more approving acquaintance, a warm light in her green gaze. She crossed her arms. “Tell me about her.”
“She’s fantastic.” I straightened my stance, warmth spreading through my chest at the mere thought of Lila. “Smart, ambitious. Patient and honest.”
“None of that was physical.” Vic slugged my biceps. “Good job.”
“He’s not a dog, Ocampo.”
“No, he’s not.” Vic fluttered a hand toward the first responders gathered in small groups like ours along the sidewalks. “Some of these guys could take a clue from him.”
Josh snorted. “You’re hooking up with Roman Santillan.”
“Hooking up is not a relationship.” Vic jerked a thumb in my direction. “He’s relationship material.”
I lifted a hand. “I’m standing right here.”
Vic studied my face. “What’s her style?”
I went blank. I mean, I noticed her clothes, but really I noticed her smile, her expressions, the tone of her voice. “She’s just . . . Lila.”
“Okay.” Vic pointed toward the store. “Go in there and look. See if anything is just Lila. If it’s not, don’t buy anything just to be buying. There are other stores. And don’t go extravagant. Y’all are only dating, and too much is just weird.”
“Sounds like the voice of experience,” Josh muttered.
“You have no idea.” Wry amusement colored Vic’s voice. “I attract all the red flags.”
“Considering you’re sleeping with Santillan, I’d believe it . . .”
Josh’s voice faded behind me as the door to Hodges swung shut behind me with a quiet swish. Glass cases stretched along either side of the store, full of sparkle and shine. I peeked in the first one and took a step back. Engagement rings and wedding bands.
Yeah, not yet.
“Hey, welcome to Hodges.” The woman with short silver hair smiled at me from the case at the back where the register stood. “I’m Helen. Let me know if I can help you or if you want to see anything.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I edged a few steps down, leaning over to examine a spread of earrings. A pair of small hoops, a tapered curve of gold shone under the lights. I circled a finger over the case. “Could I see these, please?”
Smiling, Helen glided over to unlock the sliding door and retrieve the earrings. “These are very nice. Pretty. Classic.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I held the velvet stand, turning it side to side to watch how they glimmered with a subtle glow.
She’d like them. I knew it, deep inside, the same way I knew I wanted to meet Lila at first glance. By the end of the night we met, I knew I wanted to spend more time with her.
Then when I had, I’d gotten in deeper. I liked her – she was smart and funny, honest and straightforward. Fun to be with, patient with me while I navigated the parts of us I didn’t know. And I was pretty sure like had deepened to love.
Strong affection at least.
“I’ll take them.” I passed them over and followed Helen to the register.
“There’s a presentation box that comes with them.” Helen retrieved the dark blue velvet box and nestled the white velvet stand inside after removing the tag. “Do you need this gift wrapped?”
“No, ma’am.” Somehow that would be too much. But I could take her for dinner, somewhere nice.
With the little box tucked in my pocket, I drove home. Like I’d been doing for days, I scanned Nicole’s backyard as I swung out of the car. I walked down the sidewalk to check the side yard. All clear, as it had been for days.
As I returned to the driveway, Nicole barrelled out of the side door. “You’re late today.”
I bristled, but kept my face impassive. “You’re all clear.”
Frustration tightened her features. “Did you block me?”
Feet planted, I didn’t shift my stance. “Yeah.”
Her mouth worked, a small tremble, before her lips thinned together. A glimmer of hurt shone in her eyes before she blinked it away. A hint of sympathy curled through me, but not enough to open a boundary Lila needed. I could ignore her selfies and texts, but if they bothered Lila?
Gone.
Nicole’s shoulders slumped. “Okay.”
I didn’t want to be a complete asshole. Just a partial one with good boundaries.
“Look.” I cleared my throat, uncomfortable with her standing there like a defeated puppy someone had kicked one too many times. “I get you’re interested.”
On a sharp inhale, she darted a look at me.
“I’m with somebody, and I’m not. Interested, that is.” I refused to run a hand over my nape. “So you shouldn’t waste your time. There’s tons of guys out there, and one is the right–”
Her eyes narrowed.
I bit off what I was saying.
Straightening her shoulders, she drew herself up, something flickering over her face so quick I couldn’t read it.
I cleared my throat again and gestured at her backyard. “You’re clear.”
“Sure.” The syllable emerged taut and testy. She was mad because I’d hurt her feelings.
Like that didn’t happen at work, all day, every day, every time I typed a ticket into my laptop.
Still, I didn’t want anyone afraid. “You’re in the city, and I asked for increased patrols down this street. Our response time is faster than if you were out in the county–”
“Thank you.” She looked away, throat convulsing with a swallow. She turned a tight smile in my direction. “I appreciate you.”
Spinning, she stalked inside, leaving me standing in the driveway. I watched the door swing into place behind her, unease running over my spine.
I tugged my phone free and paused. My first instinct involved running this by Lila, but the whole thing with Nicole annoyed her and I had a keen awareness of the imbalance created by my inexperience with women.
Lydia and EmmaLee were . . . young. And they’d want to get involved.
I needed experienced and objective. Someone who didn’t have a dog in this fight.
Scrolling through my contacts, I texted Vic. This is weird but I have a question
I’m always up for weird
So this woman’s interested in me. I’m not. Told her I wasn’t and the right guy was out there
Bubbles danced on the screen. A meme of a woman spitting out her coffee in a laugh appeared.
You DIDN’T
I sighed.
More bubbles bounced.
Okay. She’s not interested in you anymore. Trust me
Relief bled out of me with a slow exhale.
Thanks
I glanced at Nicole’s door, closed and the house quiet now.
That was all I had to do? Be straight up.
That was easy.
Nicole being not interested any longer was great. She was still blocked, but she also wasn’t showing up asking for rides. For the next week, I saw Elizabeth’s BMW or Allison’s Navigator in her drive each morning as I headed out for duty.
Friday afternoon, I strolled out of the department, tired after a rough shift but excited to see Lila.
She’d been busy all week, and Josh, Vic and I had been pulling half evening shifts to cover the mid-shift guys who had fallen victim to bad barbeque.
So Lila and I had been making do with texts and FaceTime, but tonight we were going out.
I had those earrings tucked away – I wanted to take her somewhere special, not the Cue Club, and I wanted to broach the idea of a weekend away again.
The side door to the administrative offices opened.
“Dan?” Nicole’s voice rang quiet and tentative, and she hovered on the steps, not quite meeting my gaze when I turned. “Can I ask a favor?”
“Sure.” I waited, one thumb hitched in my duty belt.
“Can you drop me at the women’s clinic?” She fidgeted with the hem of her blouse. “Allison was supposed to on her break, but can’t leave the ER. And Elizabeth is in Thomasville.”
I took a moment to consider. She’d left me alone, she was blocked from my phone, and the clinic was two blocks away. “I can do that.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t look at me as she walked by me to the car and waited for me to unlock it.
She didn’t speak as I pulled out of the lot, her gaze on her phone while she sat in silence and texted as we passed the courthouse, both banks and the Baptist church before reaching the women’s clinic, set in an old frame house with a wraparound porch.
I wheeled into the tight parking area behind the house and shifted to park. With a defeated noise, Nicole deflated, clutching her phone. Face pale, she looked up at me with wide eyes.
“Allison still can’t leave. Would you wait? This won’t take long.” She paused, white-knuckling the edge of her phone. “I could walk–”
“I can wait.” I stretched my legs out.
“Thank you.” She touched my wrist, the barest drift of her fingers before she shoved the door open and hustled across the parking lot.
Adjusting the AC vents, I lifted my phone to text Lila. Dropped Nicole at a DR appt. Will give her a ride home
A thumbs-up manifested at the corner of the message.
Slumped in the seat, I scrolled while I waited, browsing cabins and beach rentals. We’d talked about both, but hadn't circled back to–
Nicole pulled the door open and flung herself into the seat. Her hands shook while she fastened the seatbelt. Harsh sobs shuddered free of her chest. I laid my phone down.
“I’m pregnant.” Hopelessness dragged her voice to a whisper. She sucked in a breath and wiped at her face. “I’m sorry.”
I froze. Why was she telling me this?
Although I was accustomed to spontaneous outpourings from people under stress. Happened more often than I’d thought when I’d first put on my badge.
She stared at me, eyes shimmering with tears.
“What am I going to do?” she whispered.
Answering that question was not my place.
“Can’t tell you that. You have to decide for yourself.” I tapped my index finger on my thigh. “Maybe have a conversation with the father.”
Her mouth crumpled, and she buried her face in her hands. Tearing sobs shook her torso.
I sat, hands in my lap. Comforting her wasn’t my place, either. I focused my gaze on the camellias lining the edge of the parking lot.
Finally, her muffled weeping devolved into sniffles. Shoving her hair back, she lifted her head and darted an uncertain glance at me.
I reached for the gearshift. “I’ll run you home.”
“I can’t tell him,” she said, her voice small and restricted.
“Can’t make that decision for you,” I repeated. Thank the good Lord for my police academy training. Repeating boundaries worked in real life, too, apparently.
“Thank you for driving me. It helped to have you waiting.” She sank into the seat, small and diminished. “You make me feel safe.”
I wasn’t touching that. I might have killed her interest, but I was also getting smarter and I wasn’t doing anything to revive it, either.
Needed that shit to stay dead.