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“Oh shit, Drew?” I close the locker and lock it.
“That’s the one.” She points at me. “Smart mouth, snarky attitude. Freely throwing out his opinions of law enforcement officers. Mr. Personality himself.” She shakes her head looking the opposite of offended, more amused than not.
I smile and roll my eyes. God knows I know firsthand about his free-flowing opinions. That kid just doesn’t know how to hold his tongue sometimes. “I hope he didn’t offend anyone too badly. Who brought him in and for what?” I seriously hope it isn’t for anything serious. Hopefully, I’ll be able to help him out of whatever he’s gotten himself into.
“Nah, he’s fine. But lucky for him, I intercepted him when I recognized who he was. I put him in one of the rooms to wait for you. He got into a brawl with a bunch of kids at that game place. Some things were damaged but easily replaceable it seems. If the damages are paid for, the owner said he won’t press charges. The other two boys' parents were called. I told Officer Grimes we knew this kid and we’d bring him home and inform his guardians of the situation.”
“Thanks, Miranda.” I sigh, relieved it’s nothing too serious.
“No problem. Besides, I knew this would be the perfect excuse for you to go see his sister.”
My eyebrow raises. “Why would I need an excuse to see his sister? We’re not together anymore. Not that we were anyway.”
“Oh shut up. And stop moping and go figure out where things went wrong and get that girl back.”
“I am not moping around. More importantly, I’m minding my business.”
“I’m minding mine, too, partner. And yes, you are moping. Two months.” She puts up two of her fingers. “I’ve had enough. I want my optimistic level headed partner back. The one who changes socks at least three times a day because he’s afraid of sweaty feet. Bring that weirdo back.”
At that, I laugh. “Fungus is a serious thing. I keep telling you: athlete's foot can take you down faster than a perp on the run.”
She laughs out loud. “See, there he is. I missed him. This is your chance to go talk to her.”
Miranda doesn’t even know why we’re not together anymore. I mean, I told her everything because she’s Miranda and she would settle for nothing less. But I left out the most incriminating parts like the name of the club and my suspicions about what might go on in there.
“I saw her with another guy like I told you. She wouldn’t even admit to it.”
“Cut her some slack. Her emotions were probably all over the place so soon after her grandfather’s death. Maybe it really wasn’t what you thought it was, she was just blowing off some steam. Plus you were the dope who told her you were following her and giving her the full criminal surveillance treatment.”
“Really,” I say.
“If the shoe was on the other foot, how would you feel if you weren’t a cop and the guy you were involved with followed, and was watching your every move on top of the traumatic day you had with your grandfather dying? And you were probably sounding very accusing when you brought it up to her, after what felt like a rejection of your feelings for her. Am I right?”
Damn her. “No, you’re not right.” I’m practically pouting. It’s annoying that shemightbe right.
She smiles and pats me on the shoulder. “You know I’m right. Go talk to that girl and find out what the real problem is. See if you can work things out.”
“Weren’t you the one who said dating her came with too much baggage or something like that?”
“I did. But I saw how happy she made you. That trumps me being right. I think she was good for you. And you were a good influence in those kids' lives and hers. You weren’t going home to an empty house at the end of a shift. You had something to look forward to, to take your mind off of some of the shit we go through in a day. In this job, you need that. You were helping each other be happy.”
“I was happy.” I look over her shoulder at another row of lockers. “It's not as if I was sad before her. But I didn’t realize how not happy I was until it was over.”
“I know.”
I take a deep breath and exhale. “We better go get him and bring him home.” I lead the way out of the locker room and prepare myself to have a difficult conversation with Lexi.
* * *
I openthe back door of the squad car for Drew and walk him up the porch steps while he holds a bag of ice over his knuckles. “How’s the hand?”
“Better. Thanks for the ice,” he mumbles. "Do we have to tell her about this? Can’t I just pay for the damages? No one gets upset and it’s all good.”
“You know I can’t do that,” I say, knocking on the door in the least aggressive way possible.
“You can. you’re just too damn by the book to do it, for me.” He looks at me with a crooked smile.
“I can take you back to the precinct and let someone else deal with you so you can see how by the book I am?” I quirk an eyebrow at him.
