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Trusting Honey was my only choice.
I still hadn’t heard from the Chief by the time I was due to start my shift. I was tempted to call for a status check, but instead, I just went in like it was any other day.
And walked in to find Jared leaning against my desk with his arms crossed. “Sorry I didn’t call. I just finished up with Honey, and I figured you’d be on your way in even without my call.”
“Was that the right decision?”
“Yes, because you’re on the schedule to work.”
“I am. And I’m here to work.” I exhaled, trying not to peer around him to look for Honey.
“She’s already gone,” he said gently. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Okay.” That wasn’t ominous.
We went out through the front door so we didn’t have to pass Brady and Mav’s desks. Brady would be coming in later for his shift but Mav had a few days off to celebrate his impromptu wedding.
He was probably planning how he’d kick my ass in a sneak attack.
We had a new hire named Jimmy Greer who was coming in for his first shift in a couple hours and another new hire later in the month. New blood was desperately needed around here.
Especially if the Chief gets rid of you, pal.
I sucked in a breath and followed the Chief around the building to the side street. On the other side of the building was Kramer & Burns Custom, which was Dare, Gage, and Tish’s auto body and custom car restoration shop. The sound of revving engines and drills, clangs, and whirs were a constant.
Honey’s building was on the other side of the auto shop, with the florist next door to her, but she hadn’t told me which apartment she lived in. She also hadn’t called or texted since she’d hung up on me.
“Okay, look,” I began.
Jared held up a hand. “I don’t want to know. I really, truly don’t. Honey made it clear that the bulk of what happened between you two was off police premises, which is enough for me. Also, thank you.”
I nearly said “you’re welcome” before my brain made an entrance.
“You’re both adults,” the Chief continued. “She assured me she was not litigious, and, err, had no complaints about how things went down. So we will just close the book on all of that.”
“I still have a job?” I hated the vulnerability I heard in my own voice. I’d worked so hard to completely lock any weakness away.
To never show I gave a shit about anything or anyone other than my family.
“As long as I’m the Chief, you will have a job here, Masterson. You’re a good member of this department and a better man.”
When I made a sound, he stopped walking and cut me a sharp glance. “Something you want to say?”
“I made an error in judgment. Not being with her.” I fingered the coins in my pocket, something I carried habitually. Well, except when I replaced them with a flask, which thankfully had happened exactly once. “But not completing the interview. Muddying the waters at work. Not abiding by the rules.”
“You never do that.”
“Rarely,” I acknowledged. “But this time, I did.”
“Do you wonder why?”
I didn’t have an answer.
“You’re human, Christian, much as it pains you.” He flashed a small smile. “It’s given me some bad moments myself. About me being human, that is, not you.”
I remained silent.
“If you don’t give yourself some grace, the line you’re walking is going to eventually crumble under your feet. Trust me, I know. I never expected my girl to come along.”
