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I punched in a water and picked a couple of bars for the girls and Ozzy, in case he woke up, emptied most coins out of my pocket, and handed the snack to Laura.
“Thank you. Orange-flavored chocolate is my favorite.”
“I didn’t know that about you.”
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.” She winked.
“So, have I earned enough pity to have you agree to dinner with me?” I sat down next to her and passed her the chocolate bar.
“I'm not sure, James, but this is a good start.”
I closed my eyes. “It’s been so long since I heard you speak my name. Feels nice.”
“You’re delusional.” She snickered, breaking my moment. Laura leaned forward and lowered her hand to mine.
“Likely as delusional as the day I met you,” I whispered.
“Let me think about the dinner. I appreciate you staying here with me, James.”
A text came in from Tiffany that she’d finished, and Laura received Ozzy’s sprained wrist result at the same time.
“How did you get to the hospital?” I asked her.
“Uber.”
“I’ll drive you two home.”
She moved her hand off mine. “We can take a cab.”
“Don’t be afraid, Laura. I don’t bite in front of kids.” I removed my phone from my pocket. “What’s your number?”
I typed her in as a new contact and sent a quick emoji message. Her phone dinged, she opened the screen, and laughed. “What’s that?”
“A flower bouquet, dinner plate, and dancing.”
“Hmm, how romantic. You do everything while holding a sleeping toddler in your arms?”
“Definitely not everything. You should know; and if you don’t, I’m willing to remind you.”
CHAPTER 3
LAURA
James made a quick introduction by his car and helped me secure Foxy in the back seat. Thank God for costumes, face masks, and men with extra car seats. Tiffany sat in the front and their two daughters in the back.
“Do I know you from somewhere?” she asked.
I caught James’s gaze darting to the rearview mirror. He took an early exit off the interstate and headed to the coast, opposite to where I lived.
“I arrested James last week. You saw me at the station when you picked him up.”
“Ahh, that’s right.” She turned to James. He pressed harder on the gas, pushing me back in my seat. “She calls you James, like your friends do, and you rarely make it a habit of helping cops who arrest you, so—”
“That’s because I’ve never been arrested before,” he grunted.
“Glad to have popped your cherry, James.”
I didn’t know where that came from. Stefanie turned in her seat, vying for attention.
