Page 26 of Rogue Wave

Hazel

Thankfully, today’s shift was easy. No incidents with Nigel or any other animal. No one called out sick, adding to my workload. Just a simple day at work.

Except for the fact that I had to do a recount of our food inventory six times because I was distracted.

Six.

I’d start counting and then Hank’s face would appear in my mind. Sometimes it was the blood on his face, and then I would worry.

Sometimes it was the look he gave me when I was on my knees in front of him that I swore looked like he wanted to kiss me. Maybe. A girl could dream.

Needless to say, it had been a long shift, so I was happy to go home, sit on my porch, and relax for the rest of my night.

I’d stopped by my favorite Italian restaurant on the way home and grabbed some spaghetti and meatballs, a double order of breadsticks, and a small salad—you know, to cancel out the extra breadsticks.

When the owner, Luigi, saw me come to pick it up, he threw in a few extra breadsticks for being a loyal customer.

Bonus points!

I changed out of my clothes into something comfier, poured myself a glass of wine, and carried my food out to my front porch. I was just about to cue up my latest audiobook and listen when Dougie’s voice called out.

“Something smells delicious coming from your porch.” He grinned as he moseyed his way over from the sidewalk to my front porch.

His eyes grew wide, and so did his smile. “Is that from Luigi’s Italian Garden? I’d know those breadsticks anywhere.”

I chuckled because I knew what he meant. “Sure is. You want one?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?”

I laughed and waved him on up.

“Beer and breadsticks?” I asked, noting the six-pack he was carrying in his left hand.

“I was actually on my way over to Hank’s,” he said as he took a seat next to me, setting the beers down on the floor in front of him. “He had a rough day, so I figured I’d bring him a beer or two.”

The smile on my face wilted as I thought back to what had happened earlier.

“Do you mean when he got injured today trying to arrest that guy, or did something else happen?” I asked, a little worried.

His brows lifted. “You know about that?”

I explained what had happened earlier when I’d walked out of my place to go to work and then detailed bandaging him up. I may have also thrown in the fact that Hank was a terrible patient just because I could.

Dougie started to laugh, and then Hank’s voice rumbled from my front yard.

“Don’t listen to her. I wasn’t that bad at all. I only flinched because she pushed down hard on my bruises.”

I giggled at him trying to defend himself when we both knew I hadn’t pushed on his bruises at all.

“Want a breadstick?” I asked him, remembering that I was going for killing him with kindness. “It’s no lollipop from the doctor, but there’s definitely magic in these breadsticks to make you feel better.”

“Luigi’s?”

I scoffed. “Is there another choice that’s worth eating?”

He shook his head and walked up the three steps of my front porch with Shadow in tow. Shadow immediately came to me, her tail wagging a mile a minute.

“Do you want a meatball?” I cooed at her.