My back stiffened. She had me there. The man wasfine. But I never let flirting with him keep me from actually doing my job.
“You’re just salty because you broke up with your boy toy. Or, wereyouthe boy…toy?” I ignored her callous laugh and slid into the driver’s seat, slamming the door. My breathing was heavy, heart pounding in my ears, and I had half a mind to leave her ass stranded.
I gripped the steering wheel like my life depended on it. Anything to keep from throwing the car in drive and peeling away without her. Not that she wouldn’t deserve it. That had been a low blow to bring up my breakup with Nate, if you could even call it that.
But I never thought Victoria would use something I told her in confidence against me. It had been really difficult to open up and tell her about what happened at my parents’ house. To admit to how I called NateDaddy, and that I liked it.
The longer it took her to get in, the more I wanted to leave her. When I glanced over and saw her standing next to the door, with her hand ready to open it, I wondered what had stopped her.
“You coming, or what?” I needed to get the fuck out of there. Away from her, but I would never tell her that.
Everything had been crumbling since I watched Nate driveaway that morning. I couldn’t breathe. And I didn’t know what to do.
That was a lie. I did. But I didn’t know how I could go back and fix it, because I couldn’t. It was done. We were done. I’d broken us. All over something so stupid. My own insecurities and hang-ups.
And the worst part was, Ma fucking loved him and couldn’t wait to see him again.
So, fuck my life. Because I was fucking screwed.
And this goddamn killer.
I shook my head as Victoria finally,fucking finallygot in the car.
She looked out her window as I sped away, back toward the station. We were in a holding pattern now. Had to wait for forensics and the coroner to give us their reports. There hadn’t been anything the witness could give us that could help. Not that I had expected there to be, but it sucked either way.
Victoria turned toward me, taking a deep breath. “Hey,” she said softly. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a bitch.”
I snorted. “Yeah, you have. But so have I.”
She gave me a half smile and nodded. “Yeah, but you have a reason. I haven’t been a good friend about it, and I should be.”
With a sigh, I turned into my spot in the precinct parking lot. “Yeah, you should have. But I haven’t been a very good friend either. Because it’s obvious you’re going through something, too. And I haven’t been there for you either. So, that changes now. Whatever it is, I want you to know you can talk to me.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute, just looked out her window before she turned and launched herself into my arms. “Whoa, whoa. It’s okay, Vic.”
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight and petting her hair. She scared me, acting that way, but I wasn’t going to press, if she wasn’t ready to talk about it.
After a few minutes, she pulled back and wiped a stray tear from her eye, which sent a spike of panic through me. “Vic?”
“I’m okay.” She gave me a watery smile and punched my arm. There was my girl.
“You sure?” I wasn’t convinced, but I’d accept whatever answer she gave.
She bit her lip and looked down at her lap, twisting her fingers together. “Yeah. I will be, and so will you.”
I let out a heavy sigh and glanced out my window, unable to look her in the eye. “Yeah… I will be. I know I will.”
We sat there in an uncomfortable silence for another minute or two before she opened her door and got out of the car. When I hesitated, not turning off the engine, she leaned down. “You coming?”
My jaw flexed as I tried to find the words to answer her. “Naw. I’ll see you later.”
I willed her to close the door and walk away, and finally, she did. My hands shook as I pulled out of the parking lot and hit the call button on my phone and waited with bated breath.
19
AIDEN
Ihit the call button on my phone and waited as it rang. And rang. My gut twisted, sure the call was about to go to voicemail.
