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I hadplenty of time to shower, dress, and grab the breakfast that I found was being provided for us today. Usually, we’d have to get our own, but they were kind enough to supply it today, knowing that many of us wouldn’t know where the stores were yet.
I collected my stuff, refilled my travel coffee mug, and made my way to the classroom. It was a large room with oversized comfy office chairs and charging stations for our computers. As we checked in, we were told that we’d already been partnered and were given assigned seats to make it easier for all the instructors to get to know us. On the front of our desks were engraved nameplates that included our departments and states. Well, that was nice.
I grinned to myself as I read Detective Ethan Winston in front of my seat. I was only seated for about two minutes before a hand landed on my shoulder and a soft voice whispered into my ear, “Aw, too bad we aren’t partners.”
I shifted to look up at Vera. “Oh, yeah, that’s too bad,” I commented, but damn if I wasn’t glad that we weren’t. It was bad enough that she was sitting right behind me in the classroom, and I was so pleased when a man a few years older than me took the seat to my right.
“Tim Sanders,” he introduced himself before he took a seat. As others came in, we struck up a casual conversation that Vera tried to jump into several times. Finally, Tim turned her way and gave her the attention she’d been looking for, and I logged into the Wi-Fi and checked my new department email.
Holy shit, I had checked it an hour ago, but I already had fifteen more emails since then. I skimmed over them as the rest of the people got situated and then happily sat back as three instructors got us started.
They introduced themselves and gave a little biography before they started offering a rundown of what we would be learning over the next twelve weeks. Our classes would run five days a week for eight hours. We’d get an hour for lunch and have at least three hours of homework every night. Week three and week eight, we had classes on Saturday. That way, on week five, we could have a four day weekend for Independence Day. If I went home, that cost was on me. I’d have to decide when we got closer.
The first part of the morning was all about the courses we would be taking and what they would expect of us. They talked about how those with lots of experience, like Walt Hammering, who had been a detective for fifteen years, would work with those who had less experience, and joy—they tossed my name out as the rookie detective in the room.
There were a few jokes about my badge being so shiny new that it was going to blind them all, and how my partner needed a towel to wipe the wetness from behind my ears, but it was all in good fun.
At ten, we had a break, and by eleven we had started our first class. I knew by lunch that I was going to love and hate the next twelve weeks. There were going to be some incredibly hard things to learn and scenarios that were going to test me in ways that I’d never imagined, but I was determined to do well.
We got out a little early that afternoon, and a few of us were talking about what we would do for dinner. A couple of the guys said they were hitting the diner or tavern a few miles away, but a few others spoke about finding the store and picking up meals that we might want to share.
Tim slapped me on the back, laughing. “I’ll put money in for food, but I can’t cook worth shit! If it’s my night to cook, you all might want to think takeout.”
Samantha joined our conversation, and we all decided that two of us would cook each night. Two different meals so people could choose what they wanted to eat. We set up a schedule, and those of us who were interested began to sign up for the first four weeks. With twenty of us in class, we would each cook two nights—or order takeout—and then clean two nights.
We made a sign-up, and I ended up taking the first shift. “Might as well get it over with,” I said as I stepped back. Samantha sidled up next to me. “What are you making?”
I inhaled and thought about it for a moment. “Probably pasta.” I laughed. “That’s pretty easy and quick for a group like this.”
“Anyone not like pasta?” she asked, and no one said they didn’t. She turned to me. “I’ll help you make a huge batch and a big salad. What do you think?”
“Works for me,” I told her, and she put her name down next to mine.
Four of us decided to head to the store together to pick up food for tonight and tomorrow, and after dropping our stuff off in our rooms, I met them in the parking lot. We climbed into one of the guys' personal SUVs and quickly fell into conversation. By the time we got back from the store, I knew that I had several new friends that I would never forget, one of them being Sam.
I didn’t want to be interested in her, but she intrigued me. She was a few years older than me, divorced with a preteen, and she was funny. She was comfortable in her skin and made as much fun of herself as she did others.
We unloaded the food, and Samantha and I claimed the kitchen and kicked everyone else out. Vera tried to join us, but Samantha shoed her away, saying too many cooks in the kitchen. Vera didn’t seem happy about that, and I wondered if her pout was as practiced as Riley’s usually was.
By the time dinner was over, I was ready to kick back, get my homework done, and get some rest. It wasn’t until I was lying on my bed that I pulled my phone out and read through all the messages I had from this afternoon.
I’d seen them come through, but I’d forced myself to keep my attention on what I was doing. Several guys wished me luck. Cara was checking to see how it was going, and Henley asked if I missed home yet. I sighed when I saw there was no message from Riley.
Not that I expected there to be, but maybe part of me was hoping that she would have sent me something like maybe I’m sorry, or I miss you.
I set my phone off to the side and pulled out my book to start working on my homework. I had come here to forget about her, and that’s what I needed to do.
