AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Phoenix: I bet the guy deserved it. Where did you shoot him?
Me: In the leg. He robbed the Wawa down the road.
Me: He fired first.
Phoenix: Wow. I could never be a cop. I don’t think I could shoot someone if I had to.
Me: You would if your life was on the line.
Phoenix: I don’t like that you have to put your life on the line.
Warmth spreads in my chest. My eyes flick to her window. She’s lying down now, with her phone resting on her chest as she waits for my response.
Me: Why not? I’m protecting people.
Phoenix: But who’s protecting you?
Me: I protect myself. Plus, my partner has my six.
Phoenix: Your six? Is that cop code?
Me: It means he has my back.
Phoenix: Then I have your six too.
Emotion constricts my throat. Phil has my back because it’s his duty. When was the last time someone had my back because they wanted to? I stare at the blinking cursor on the screen, unsure of what to say, until another text pops up.
Phoenix: Goodnight.
Me: Night, Phoenix
Phoenix: It’s Nix
Phoenix: N - I - X
Phoenix: Three letters. One syllable. It’s not that hard.
I chuckle as she rolls her eyes before she plugs the charger into her phone and sets it down on the nightstand. At least she’s not crying anymore. I wait until she’s asleep and then I type out one more text:
Me: I’ve got your six now too.
8
Phoenix
Daily Affirmation: “Today will be a great day. I look forward to what’s ahead of me.”
This stupid smilehasn’t left my face all day.
It’s ridiculous.
It’s pathetic.
Nobody should feel like this just because a man texted her.
But he did, and I do.
Butterflies flap away in my stomach whenever I reread our texts from last night—which I’ve done three times.
