Chapter 7
Sawyer
Grabbing a styrofoam cup from the stack next to the coffee pot, I push down the lever and watch the freshly brewed coffee fill my small cup. Between here and the station, I drink way too much coffee. But it gives me an excuse to come in.
Turning around, I see Nora buried nose-deep in paperwork, while the other teller in the drive-thru is laughing at something a customer said.
Alice is processing what looks like a deposit, counting cash and handling the paperwork like she's been doing it for years.
But something's different today. Her shoulders are tense, and her eyes flick toward the entrance more than usual.
She gives the elderly customer a cheerful smile, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes the way it normally does.
I should probably stop staring.
I wait for her to finish.
The elderly woman shuffles away slowly with her cane, Alice calling after her, “You have a good day now, Mrs. Patterson.”
“I can help the next person,” Alice calls, looking up at me with that genuine smile I’m starting to look forward to. “What can I do for you, Officer Edwards?”
Officer Edwards. Like I'm here on official business and not making up excuses to see her.
“You can just call me Sawyer,” I chuckle, sipping my plain black coffee. She’s always so formal. I wonder how she is outside of work. “I just need to make a deposit.”
"Mmm, three dollars." She shakes her head with amusement in her eyes. She leans forward slightly, close enough that I catch a hint of something floral—her perfume, maybe. "You know, if you just want the coffee, you don't have to make a transaction. We kinda expect it around here."
“I don’t like carrying cash,” I shrug, which is mostly true. I had to scrape those dollar bills from my console this morning. “Everything’s digital nowadays.”
“Well, I hope you weren’t waiting too long to make your big deposit.” Alice’s eyes sparkle with amusement as she types into her computer. She leans back in her chair, one hand resting on her hip. “I’m pretty sure Nora could have helped you.”
“That’s okay.” I lean against her counter, giving her what I hope is a charming smile. “Maybe I just wanted you to help me.”
The words hang in the air between us. She freezes, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Then that flush creeps across her cheeks. She doesn't meet my eyes, but I catch the small smile before she ducks her head.
God, that's adorable.
“Well, I don’t know nearly as much as Nora, but I try,” she says, pulling open her cash drawer to deposit my crumpled bills.
“I’m sure you do just fine.” I meet her golden brown eyes when she glances up. “You haven’t had any more trouble with difficult customers, have you?”
“Surprisingly, no. It’s been pretty quiet since that incident.” She closes the drawer with a soft click.
“Well, Alicat, you know where to find me if you do.” I straighten up, drumming my fingers once against her counter.
Alice opens her mouth to respond, but Nora’s voice cuts through the moment.
“Oh hey, Sawyer! I didn’t realize you were in here. It’s been nothing but paperwork today.”
And there goes the moment.
“Yeah, Alice was just helping me out,” I say, finishing the last of my coffee.
Alice has turned her attention to a paperback book on her counter, fidgeting with the bookmark. I can't make out the title from this angle.
“How’s the studying coming along?” Nora asks, resting her chin in her hand.
“It’s going well,” I reply, making sure to include Alice in the conversation with my gaze. “Just a lot of information to absorb. Sometimes I wonder if I can retain it all.”
"We're not like Alice here," Nora says. "Twenty-five. Still sharp."
Twenty-five. Ten years younger than me, but that's not too bad.
“What are you studying for?” Alice asks, pulling my attention back to her face—those expressive eyes behind her glasses.
“Sergeant’s exam. It’s coming up in a few months.” I lean forward slightly. “It’s either take it now or wait another two years, and I’m not getting any younger.”
“Oh, hey Sawyer,” Megan calls from the drive-thru area, unlocking the door that separates her station from the main floor.
I nod politely in her direction.
“Well, good luck with the exam,” Alice says, opening her book and removing her bookmark with careful fingers. “I’m sure you’ll do great.”
“Thanks. What are you reading?”
“Oh, it’s a—” Alice’s face flushes red again, and she touches her neck self-consciously. Whatever it is, she’s embarrassed about it.
“It’s basically porn,” Nora announces with zero filter.
“Nora!” Alice swats playfully at her coworker’s arm.
The words leave my mouth before my brain can stop them. "Well, I'm sure your boyfriend appreciates it."
Real smooth, Edwards. Why not just hand her a note that says "Do you like me? Check yes or no"?
“Oh no, I’m not seeing anybody,” Alice says quickly, glancing between Nora and me.
“Well, I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it,” Nora mutters under her breath, returning to her paperwork.
Thanks, Nora.
“I won’t take up any more of your time,” I say, tapping the counter once with my knuckles. “I’ll see you around, Alice.”
I give her a final nod and head for the door, but I can feel her eyes on me as I leave.
Once I'm back in the patrol car, I sit there for a moment, shaking my head.
I haven't felt this awkward around a woman since high school. Alice has me second-guessing every word that comes out of my mouth, making three-dollar deposits just to talk to her.
But the way she blushed when I said I wanted her to help me.
Yeah. Worth it.