“Yeah, cause he’s a fucking bitch.” Then shouting across the parking lot again. “He’s a fucking bitch!”
“Shut the hell up.”Collins snaps at me again, but a ping interrupts him as a bullet hits the metal.
“What the fuck?” Is shouted as he just stares at me.
“Keys… now.” He demands.
Rolling my eyes, I move around the front end, just in case Sherman wants to shoot at us again.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? I mean, goddamn, I know you broke up with her, but —”
“This has nothing to do with her.” I snap back.
“Really, so your stepping closer to a gun being pointed at you has nothing to do with Drew Anderson?”
Cutting my eyes at him as he says her name.
“That’s what I thought.”
“I’m just sick of everyone letting him get away with whatever the fuck he wants to. We’ve watched him fuck over woman after woman over the years. We all know he beat her, we all know he hit her so hard she miscarried, and we just, what? Let him fucking do it.” I pause, shaking my head. “But yes, the not giving a fuck if he shoots memayhave something to do with the breakup. You happy now?”
“No,” he shakes his head. “But at least you’re admitting it now.”
“I was so stupid to think that we could ever have anything.” Shaking my head.
“Why can’t you?” he pauses, asking.
“Come on, man, you know why.” I look at him, sighing. “Youknow it’s not really because of her brother or because I’m this.” Motioning over to my bag with my uniform in it. “I know you know, and I know you figured it out a while back. I don’t know why you haven’t fucking outed me to anyone yet.”
It’s quiet for the rest of the drive as I press my head against the window, looking out.
I can’t help but let a little chuckle out as I remember Z in the exact position so many months ago.
“I’ll pick you up in the morning.” He tells me.
Turning around, I move back up to the house as I sigh. Not wanting to go inside. Not wanting to face every surface that reminds me of her.
“Eli,” he calls back from behind me. “You’re a good person.”
“What?”
“That’s why. You’re a good person, so if you’re willing to go through all of this for it, then there has to be something I don’t see.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s also why you broke up with her.”
“What?”
“You’re a good person, so you don’t want to get her hurt.”
* * *
Excitement fills the station as I walk inside.
The kind of excitement that sets me on edge.
Glancing around, I watch as a couple of my coworkers laugh; clasping hands.
