Page 14 of Forced Proximity

Okay, I like them already.

‘Let’s chat in here about Justin’s schedule.’ Anthony points to the living area. I take a seat on a chair as the other three sink into the large U-shaped couch. ‘Zane will be with you for at least half of your outings. I won’t normally be there, but you have my number. Right now, Justin’s in the beginning stages of his new film. They’re working on some casting issues, so his schedule for the next few months will be predictable. Zane can send you the actual calendar but we’re looking at training in the morning and studio in the afternoon.’

‘Got it.’ I glance at Justin, who’s not looking at me, as he taps his crossed leg with a thumb. ‘Tonight, the night guard Jack will start the midnight to noon shift. He and I will have a quick debrief when we start our shifts—’

‘What if we’re at the studio? Or out?’ Justin asks.

Interrupt much? ‘Then he’ll meet us where we are.’ I match his less than pleasant tone. ‘For today, I need someone to walk me around the grounds so I can check all potential security threats.’

Justin shoots a sharp glance at Zane, who shakes their head. He closes his eyes for a quick second then sighs. ‘Fine. Zane, are you staying?’

‘Nah, I have errands to run.’ That was what they said. But their face screamed hell, no. ‘Doc, I’ll send you an invite to Justin’s calendar. You two have fun!’

Justin scowls at Zane, but hints of a playful smile tug at his lips. I’m hit with the tiniest pinprick of longing. It’s obvious that Zane and Justin have a deep, trusting friendship, and it’s something missing in my life.

Growing up, I chased the need to be part of something. To belong. I don’t know if it was a product of me being adopted and seeking personal connection, or just who I was. Sure, I loved my basketball teammates and my family. I really liked my sophomore year boyfriend, Ben, who was funny and sweet and took me to homecoming. But until I met Katey, I’d never had ‘my person’. When our marriage dissolved, not only did I lose my wife but I also lost my best friend.

‘After you.’ Justin opens the cathedral-sized glass patio door.

‘Thank you.’ The patio decking creaks underneath my steps. ‘This will be the only time I’ll walk in front of you. From here on out, I’ll always be behind you so I can monitor everything appropriately.’

The door closes with a thud. ‘Jesus, all business, huh?’

My chest tightens. I’m not apologizing for taking my job seriously. What does he expect? That I’m going to make some awkward small talk that neither of us want to engage in?

Down the stairs to the pool area, the swirling scent of jasmine, rose and faint chlorine hits me. The infinity pool is beautiful; waterfall features are surrounded by an entertainment deck, stone pizza fireplace and a theater. Okay, okay, fine. I don’t want to admit it but I will. Perhaps this isn’t the worst place to be stationed. I’ve been stationed at governor’s mansions and CEO’s sprawling estates, but I’m rarely at a person’s house with them all day. The other homes I’ve been to were sterile. Sometimes they were so overdecorated that it felt like I was in a museum. Here, it’s huge, obviously, but it captures a certain hominess. I don’t entirely hate it.

When we step onto the lawn, there’s a soft crunch beneath my feet. ‘Is this Astroturf?’

‘Yeah,’ Justin says, stuffing a hand in his pocket. ‘I had them rip out the grass when I moved in.’

Interesting. ‘Why?’

‘Let’s just say it’s my little contribution to California water conservation by eliminating the need to water my yard.’

I lift an eyebrow with the smallest grin. ‘While still maintaining an infinity pool.’

A dimple peeks out on his cheek. ‘I never said I was perfect.’

My shoulders soften as we stroll. I take notes: cut back trees on the northwest corner, exposed windows on the lower level, inactive light sensor. Each one is an ideal, minimal detection entry point for a perpetrator. It’s not cool that the home security company hadn’t discovered these earlier and fixed them.

We turn a corner, and I pause for a half-step. In front of us lays a perfectly maintained blue basketball court with fresh nets, sharp throw lines and rows of basketballs lined up on a rack. ‘Wow. Your court’s beautiful.’ What I would give to shoot a few hoops.

‘Thanks. Do you play?’

‘Not really. But I used to play in high school.’

‘What position?’ He leads me to the east side of the property.

‘Guard.’ At five foot seven, I’m lucky I got playing time at all. But my speed is my sweet spot, and Coach moved me to a varsity starter by sophomore year.

A twig crunches under Justin’s feet. ‘I was a forward.’

‘You played?’ I’m surprised this didn’t come up in my research. If it had, I would’ve probably dug into his stats.

‘Yeah,’ he says. ‘I was better at football, though, but I liked basketball more.’

‘I can understand that. Football takes forever. That sport has so much downtime and build-up for a play that lasts ten seconds,’ I say, looking at anything that could be a security blind spot surrounding the court. ‘Not as bad as baseball though.’