Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Sloane chuffs and shakes her head. “That Park blood runs thick in those veins, huh?”
I shrug. “I am what I am.”
She glances around the station before lowering her voice. “My nephew is in trouble.”
All teasing evaporates as I stiffen at her words. “Kaden?”
“No, Trevor. He’s around your age.”
I only know of one Trevor who hangs out at the lodge and can be a major prick.
“What’s going on?”
“He’s been hanging out at your uncle’s place with some guys who work there,” she says, confirming that this guy may be the one I know. “Lucy and Kaden are worried he’s using or even dealing. I just wondered if maybe you could help me locate him. I’m not sure if he’ll talk to me, but I have to try. And, I can’t exactly use police resources or be on the clock when I’m doing it.”
Help Sloane?
Fuck yeah.
“Text me later and we’ll discuss it more?”
She winces ever so slightly like she’s just agreed to a deal with the devil but nods in agreement. “Tonight. After work.”
“It’ll still cost you,” I say with a teasing grin. “I’ll figure out my payment later.”
Her eyes narrow, clearly sensing bullshit from me, but her love for her nephew prevails. “Deal.”
Holy shit.
Me and the gorgeous, out-of-my-league, older, forbidden woman cop have a deal.
I’m going to make it worth it for both of us.
Trevor, here I fucking come.
Sloane
He brought me coffee this morning.
A sweet, simple gesture that brought me immense joy.
So why does it feel wrong?
I look up from the book I’m pretending to read and watch Kaden take out other players with scary precision on his video game. Maybe he’ll be a cop one day too and use his powers for good.
As he continues to annihilate the competition, I ponder this new, strange dynamic in my relationship with Dempsey. He’s always just been Jamie’s kid. Now he’s inviting me over for dinner, befriending my nephew, bringing me coffee at work, and helping with my other nephew.
My phone buzzes on the sofa cushion beside me with an incoming text.
We can add texting as something me and Dempsey do now too.
This whole thing doesn’t feel right. I know that if Jamie were to find out, she’d be angry. I mean, she kind of freaked out on me when she learned we’d been texting.
It’s not like that, though.
Dempsey is just being helpful and kind. It’s nothing more.
With a frustrated sigh, I pick up my phone and prepare myself to read whatever Dempsey has sent me while trying not to read into it. But it’s not Dempsey.
Jamie: I heard the news.
I stiffen at her text. What the hell does that even mean? Is she about to bitch me out for talking to her son?
Jamie: That you blew off Oliver. Ring any bells?
She sends some bell emojis to emphasize her words. It takes me several seconds to realize we’re not talking about Dempsey.
Me: I didn’t blow him off, Jame. I just told him I don’t have time to date right now. With Kaden being here, that’s the truth.
Jamie: It was a total blow-off and you know it. Oliver is a great guy. He’s even friends with your new chief, too. That should tell you something.
It tells me something all right.
If Oliver is friends with Tanaka, he might be sketchy too. I put a pin in that thought to unravel later when I’m not having an existential crisis over this blossoming friendship I’m having with Dempsey.
Jamie: I think you should text him back and set up a date. Do it now.
I’m reminded of when we were twelve years old, running the streets together. She was bossy back then as well. Relentless, too.
Me: You’re not going to let me out of this are you?
Jamie: Nope. Text me back once you’ve set a date.
Grimacing, I open the text messages between me and Oliver. He was nice and friendly when he reached out a few days ago to ask me out. We talked back and forth a little bit to get to know each other. And, while he seemed like a decent guy, I just wasn’t in the mood to go on a date. Especially with all that’s going on with my family.
Me: Hey, Oliver. I might have some time this weekend if you want to meet up for lunch or something. It’s kind of last minute, so no big deal.
The dots move for a few seconds and then he immediately responds.
Oliver: I can’t do lunch, but what about dinner on Saturday? There’s this cool little pizza place I’ve been wanting to try. Pick you up at 7?
The last thing I want to do is go to dinner with this man, but it’ll get Jamie off my back and hopefully distract me from thinking strange things about Dempsey.
Me: I’ll meet you there. 7 is great.
I send him a thumbs-up emoji to end the conversation. At least I hope it’s a conversation ender. Then I flip back over to Jamie and reply.