Chapter 232Eden"I can't believe you're watching this with me," I giggle as I lay on Devante's couch, my legs in his lap as we make our way through Love is Blind on Netflix."It's what you chose." He shakes his head, lifting his eyes upward. "But I can't believe it either. Two days, woman, we've been watching this shit, and I am more invested in Cameron and Lauren than I am my entire love life up to this point."I laugh harder, which causes slight pain along my stomach. I grip the pillow harder, laughing into it."Be careful," he warns."Then don't be so funny."That's one of the things I've learned about him in the past few days as I recuperated at his house. He's not nearly as serious as I've always assumed he him to be. When we've hung out with each other in the past, maybe we haven't been able to let our guards down the way I thought we had. In this setting we are; we're learning all the things about each other we haven't asked about before. Being in his space with no one els
Chapter 233Eden"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Devante asks as I sit on his bed, putting my hair up in a high ponytail.Excitement flows through me like the current of a river. "I haven't seen anything other than the hospital or your apartment in a little over a week, D. I'm ready."He laughs. "That's painful, the way you said it like you're sick of being with me."My eyes roll and a smirk curls the side of my lip. "I'm not sick of being with you," I make sure to clarify. "I'm sick of being stuck in one place where I can't go do all the things I've always done for myself.""So in other words, it's not you, it's me."Giggling, I shake my head at his ridiculousness. "Exactly.""Do you need help getting your pants on?""These aren't pants, they're leggings," I correct him. "These are things you should know.""Typically I'm cutting clothes off of people, I don't have time to know what to call what they're wearing."It hits me hard in the chest - what he's saying. I don'
Chapter 234DevanteThe smile on Eden's face is the best thing I've seen in days. The joy radiating from within is intoxicating. She's in her element as the girls surround her, loudly talking. "They've been waiting all morning for her to show up." Menace comes to stand next to me, folding his arms over his chest. "She's been begging me to bring her since we woke up," I admit. "But I've been worried about it being too much for her. I don't want her to tire herself out and have a setback."Menace nods. "I get it. We always want the best for them, and there are certain times where we have to take a step back. Instead of being an overbearing asshole, we need to be understanding and let the women in our lives do what is best for them. It's hard." He runs a palm over his still-thick hair. "Especially when we want to keep them safe, we want to protect them from everything that could possibly hurt them. To let them go out in the world and stand strong? Fuck, it's anxiety I'd never expe
Chapter 235Devante"Promise me you won't do anything you shouldn't do." Eden glares. "I think I know how to take care of myself, D.""All I'm saying is we had to force you to go to the hospital." I shrug."Low blow.""Hey, I do what I have to, to make sure the people I care about are taken care of."Her eyes, almost the color of sand this morning, soften. "I get it. I shouldn't have put money before my health. I learned a lesson."My chest swells with pride. Other women I've been with would take this as me being an asshole, but the fact is, I care about her. "I'm glad." I let my hand drift to her chin, tilting it up so we can focus on one another. "You mean too much to me to let anything happen to you."Her gaze travels down to my lips, her arms wrap around my waist, her fingers dig into the muscles of my lower back. She wants it, and so do I. I'm contemplating leaning in and stealing the taste I want so much when the doorbell rings. Both of us groan and I allow my forehead
Chapter 236EdenThe silence after Devante leaves is loud as hell in my ears. I'm not sure I've ever heard a ringing so annoying. Going over to the coffee table, I grab the remote and quickly turn on some Netflix, not even caring what it is I'm watching. Anything to fill the huge hole him being gone has left in his space. There's a part of me that wants to be nosey and see if I can find out anything about the notoriously close-to-the-vest EMT I met on the third day I'd been in Laurel Springs. Immediately I'd been struck by the smile on his face and the warmth in his eyes. He'd been walking into The Café and I'd been walking out. We bumped into one another and I felt a connection I've never felt with another human being.My phone rings, disrupting my thoughts. When I see my mom's name flashing across the screen, I quickly pick it up and answer. "Hey!""I'm so glad to hear your voice," she says quickly. "How are you feeling? I can't believe you wouldn't let me come down there and
Chapter 237Devante"Are you nervous?""Kinda. I'm afraid they'll tell me I can't go back to work, and I really need to. The books haven't been done in two weeks, and I have no idea where I am with profit and margin." She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, obviously worried about what's happened in her absence. "You know if there's anything I can do to help you, I will.""I know." She reaches over, grabbing my hand with hers. "You don't know how much it means to me that you'll offer.""It's not just an offer, and there's a bunch of people in Laurel Springs who'll help too. We've talked about this. All you have to do is ask.""I've never asked before, but I'm beginning to learn it's okay to do that.""Most definitely. In this town more than ever. Hell, people came out to buy the most basic coffee I've ever seen in my life to support you."She laughs. "If I'd known it was going to be that easy, maybe I wouldn't have worked so hard to set myself apart. When I do profit and
Chapter 238EdenThere's a sadness in the air as I pack up my stuff. Being at Devante's felt more like home than anything I've had since I moved to Laurel Springs. It was nice not to be alone all the time, and wondering what everyone else is doing while I'm by myself. It almost was if I had a partner. Which I've missed more than I care to admit. Being a strong, independent woman is hard. Not having someone to share your days and nights with, knowing that you are one hundred percent responsible for everything that happens to you. It's a lot to deal with. Even though I'd told anyone who would listen before I left Chicago, I was fine all by myself. It's not been the case."I'm gonna miss you being here when I get home from work," he admits, standing in the doorway with his hands shoved into his jeans pockets."I'm gonna miss being here when you get home from work. It was nice having someone around.""Yeah," he agrees. "It sucks being by yourself all the time. Eating your meals i
Chapter 239DevanteA Month Later"You're still coming over tonight, right?" I ask Eden as I stand at the counter, watching her make a coffee and heating me up a cupcake. "Yes," she laughs, smiling brightly. "I've never stood you up before, don't know why I would start now.""I was just making sure you aren't too tired.""It's been a month, D. I'm fine.""Okay, okay." I hold my hands up in surrender. "As of today, I'll stop asking you.""Thank God.""So I'm not cooking," I continue. "The Café okay with you?""Oh yes, it's catfish day. Are you going to bring it home or do I need to meet you there instead?""Bringing it home." I move my head from side to side so I can stretch my neck. "It's been a day. Cutter delivered a baby." I point behind me to where Cutter sits at a table, staring straight ahead. "He's slightly traumatized.""Delivered a baby?" She stops what she's doing, putting her chin on her hand atop the food case. "Tell me everything.""We got called to a woman
MenacePresent TimeIt's been a hell of a day. One where I got here late in the afternoon because I had meetings. Something I've learned since taking this position a few months ago is that it's mostly meetings. It's keeping people happy and kissing a lot of ass. My legs ache to get back out on the street, to do a couple laps around downtown, or to drive a car fast. To chase a speeder with the lights bright and the siren blaring. I miss it more than I thought I would. It's close to midnight and I know Rina will be wondering where the hell I am, but I wanted to get a look at what went on today by reading the reports of the officers. This is something I do everyday so I can try to gauge how my officers are doing. It's important for me to know if there's an issue in town. If someone is a nuisance, do we need to step up patrols in certain areas? Community policing is the name of my game and I take it seriously. Reading the last report, submitted by Caleb
ArcherA Year And A Half LaterNerves make circles in my stomach as I stand outside of Laurel Springs Medical waiting for Alisa to come out. She doesn't know I'm here and, the truth is, I didn't know I was going to be either. I've been carrying this ring around in my pocket for the last year and a half of the two years we've been together. Waiting. For what, I'm not sure. The right time? The perfect moment? We live together. I could've done it a million times, but there's something different about these stars against the inky blackness of the sky. They aren't crazy bright, but they aren't muted either. They're sparkling. The perfect backdrop to the plan I have. Tonight, as I helped a woman leave a dangerous domestic violence situation, I realized I'm wasting precious and valuable time. Even after dealing with Calvert County, it didn't hit me that seconds are to be treated with the same reverence as the big events in life. Lo
Alisa"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" "Yes." I nod as I sit before the grand jury to give my testimony about what happened with Officer Fugate. "Please tell us when you first met him," the attorney instructs. Archer is sitting in the back row, all hot in his uniform. I don't know how he managed to be here, but he has and it's one of the sweetest things he's done for me. I'm not sure I could be doing this without his dark eyes staring back at me. "I met him when he brought a suspect into the ER. It was obvious that man had been beaten badly and it didn't happen only once. After that day, it happened on a regular basis…"ArcherUshering Lis into the station is like sending a babe into the belly of the beast. She's never been here before, doesn't know how things work, and could honestly be scared, given everything she's dealt with. I'd like to kill Officer Fugate with my own two hands.
ArcherIt's a gully washer tonight, as my instructor at the Academy always said when it rained hard. Visibility fucking sucks and I've worked more accidents tonight than I have in the previous three months. It's as if when it rains, no one can remember how to drive. It's hard to even see out of my windshield but, as I pass one of the abandoned gas stations on the outskirts of town, I see another cop stopped.They're an eyesore and, at the next city planning meeting, there's going to be a vote on demolishing them. They're a breeding ground for drug use and criminals. We've put up cameras to show what happens at night when there aren't patrols going back and forth. Since it's raining and dark, I figure I'll hit them, just to make sure nothing's going on that shouldn't be.As I round the corner. I'm surprised as fuck to see Alisa's car parked next to a Calvert County patrol SUV. She's kneeling in front of a cop who has a taser pointed at her. My heart gallops in my chest as I wonder
Archer"Chief Harrison wants to see you," Tank tells me as I make my way into the squad room. I have no idea what I've done and am immediately questioning what the hell is going on. I try to do everything by the book and I can't remember anything I might've done that was untoward. My stomach rolls as I head toward his office. I've never been called before him before and, truth be told, I never wanted to be. When I reach the door, I knock with a double tap. "C'mon in." Opening it enough so that I can sneak my head in, I glance at the Chief. "You wanted to see me, Sir?" "Yeah, come in and have a seat. There's a few things we need to discuss." I don't like the sound of this shit at all. Going in, I have a seat in the chair facing his desk and prepare to get my ass handed to me. "Officer Fugate has made a complaint and I'm bound by state laws to investigate those complaints." "I told you what happened," I defend myself. "He'
Alisa"Thank you for coming tonight," he says as we enter my apartment. "You don't have to thank me. You've saved me more times than I can count." I grin, taking my jacket off. "Come sit over here on the couch with me. You look a little stressed." "They do that to me." He waves his hand toward the street where his parents have just left. "They always make me feel like I'm not good enough, as if I should've done something different with my life." "I know how that feels." I beckon him over with a crook of my finger. "Let me take care of this tension for you, Archie. Let me show you what the fuck your parents are missing." Something about the way they don't appreciate their son has me wanting to show him just how much I do. How important he is to my life. One of the ways I can think of showing him is with my body. Fuck if that isn't exciting. Reaching for my shirt, I pull it over my head, motioning for him to do the same. In a lazy game o
ArcherI'm heading into the squad room at the station to pick up some supplies when the phone in my pocket rings loudly. There aren't many people I have set ringtones for, but this one? I hate when it rings. It's my parents. Not wanting to make whichever one this is wait, I hurriedly answer. It's always struck me as odd. They were so quick to get me out of their lives, yet they do everything together, including share a fucking cell phone. That's right, they share this phone, which means I never know who I'm going to talk to when I put it to my ear. Talk about a surprise every time I answer. "Hello?" I wait for the response. It's always delayed as if they're on some far away phone line. "Archer, it's Dad." No fucking shit. "Hey Dad," I answer, wondering if he'll continue on or if I'll have to pull the words from him like teeth. "What's going on?" "Your mom and I will be in Laurel Springs tonight. We'd like to have dinner w
AlisaHis body over mine is equal parts hot and hard in all the right places. Our naked skin slides together as he leans down to take the tight bud of my nipple in his mouth. "Yes." I tilt my head back against the pillows, allowing him full reign over my body. "Please don't stop," I beg as I rake my hands over his strong back before digging my fingers into the hair on his head. "Never gonna stop," he promises as he sucks at the prominent tip, before letting it go and moving further down. I'm still unsure of how we got our clothes off. All I know is they're in a pile next to the bed. He moves down my body, kissing my stomach before he drops onto his knees and pulls me to the edge. Separating my thighs, he props them up on his shoulders, gazing up at me with those dark eyes before he dips down. His warm mouth covers my pussy, going straight for my clit and lapping against the trembling flesh. "Archer," I moan, lifting my hips to meet his mouth. "It's been so fucki
Archer "Look guy." I hope me using that term pisses him off. "This isn't even your jurisdiction. What the fuck right did you have to pull her over?" "It's Officer Fugate," he corrects me, before continuing on. "She failed to signal a turn." I'm real annoyed. "You got that on your dash cam?" I point to where his camera is mounted on the dash. "It wasn't on." He shrugs. "How fucking convenient for you." I smirk, shaking my head. "It's something the garage knows about, but the budget is lean over in Calvert County." He eyes me. My gaze is on Alisa who's sitting in her car with her hands locked around her steering wheel. She's white-knuckling as he and I stand out here, yelling at one another. "I'm not allowing you to ticket her without proof. Did you radio it in?" His cheeks go red, which tells me all I need to know. "You son of a bitch. You think you can intimidate her? Officers like you give the rest of us a bad name." Going in