Dare I even ask? My heart skips and I take a breath. “That’s nice.”
She stares at me, see-through skin so frail despite the woman inside it. I’m being inspected for the first time by her, our friendly relationship — or professionally detached one — gone. She hums to herself as her wise blue eyes hold mine. “This time I don’t have a hunch.”
My chest falls. “You don’t see it.”
You don’t want it to be me.
She takes my hand, cool fingers tightening so I’ll look at her again. “I care about you, Diana. Wyatt seems to have the Devil in him still. It’s in his smile. Haven’t you seen it?”
“The Devil?”
“Not the real one, Heavens no! But his unchecked and untapped youth, that’s what I’m trying to say. His wild oats, honey.”
A frown settles into my forehead, and I turn my attention to a happier place, the seniors dancing The Hitchhiker now.
I’d like to hitch a ride out of here. “Excuse me, Mrs. Cocker. I have to go to the bathroom.”
These flats aren’t as quiet now, my racing heartbeat their worried fuel. How many people have to warn me against him before I walk away to save myself future heartbreak? Pulling my phone out, I dial.
I have wild oats of my own.
CHAPTER 24
WYATT
“Bout time,” I smirk as I pick up.
Diana’s voice is tense, but she volleys back, “Were you holding your breath?”
“Just exhaled. How’s your day going?”
“Good. Weird. I don’t know. How ‘bout you?”
I glance over to our patrol car where Washington is inside waiting for me to return with these barbecued beef sandwiches. The crisp paper bag crackles under the clasp of my left hand, my right holding the phone to my ear as I walk over to a bench in their outdoor patio. Throwing my foot up on it I smile at the sun, “Beautiful day. I’m talking to a beautiful girl. Excuse me, woman. Wouldn’t want to get lashed by that sarcastic tongue of yours if I can help it. Unless you’re free this afternoon…”
She laughs a little, but not much. I would’ve expected more than that. “Why did you call me?”
Dropping my boot to the ground, I frown, “Trying to set up that date. And checking to see how you were doing.”
“My leg is pretty much the same. It’s only been three days.”
So that’s it.
She’s upset that I didn’t call sooner.
Are we going through this already?
“I was busy,” I tell her.
“What?”
Sighing I squint at the sun, mood totally changed. Now it’s too fucking bright, and hot, and I should get to the patrol car. But my boots don’t move. “I didn’t call you until today because I was busy the last couple days.”
Her voice is more friendly and relaxed as she explodes, “No! I wasn’t upset about that! I didn’t care that you didn’t call me. I didn’t even notice.”
“You didn’t?” I frown, more surprised.
She didn’t notice I didn’t call?
What the fuck?
Her voice is still light-hearted, totally believable as she insists, “I’m not upset. I’m just, there’s something on my mind. But I promise it never occurred to me. I was actually wondering why you called twice. Just now. Today.”
Making a face, I force a laugh, “You had me going there for a second. Still not sure how I feel about you not being upset I didn’t phone you up. But whatever. I called twice because you didn’t pick up the first time. I got distracted by Washington and didn’t leave a message. So I called back to leave one. Have you checked it?”
“No.”
“Good, because I didn’t leave one again.”
Diana laughs, “You’re weird.”
“You want to go out this Friday?”
“I work on Fridays.”
“That’s right. You have Thursdays off. Is that a regular thing, your schedule?”
She quietly answers, “Yes.”
“Cocker!” I cut a look to the parking lot, see Wash with empty hands on the hood, glaring at me. “I want my lunch!”
“You hangry?”
“I’ll show you hangry if you don’t walk that sandwich over to me in two seconds.”
I stroll over and toss the bag to him. “Have mine. I’ll get another.”
Snatching it from the air, the paper crackles. I walk back to the bench as he vanishes inside to devour everything in five minutes flat. I could time it, but I’ll use this break to my advantage.
“Your partner?” Diana asks.
“Yeah. I fed the beast to give us a couple minutes.” She laughs, a sound I’m starting to look forward to. Especially since she’s so funny and can whip it back as quickly as I can. “Thursday then?”
“What did you want to do?”
“Hike. I was thinking we would hike through Cascade Springs.”
“My leg.”
I smirk, “Kidding.”
She laughs again. “I’m slow today.”
“Well you’re maimed so…”
“That was bad.”
My turn to laugh. “Can't all be gems. We’ll grab dinner. See a film. Nothing strenuous for you.”
“I think spending that much time with you is strenuous.”
“Ouch!” I glance to my right, because I have the sensation of being watched. My eyes lock onto a twenty-something girl. She hurriedly drops her phone and hurries to her car. To myself I mutter, “What’s the title for that one... Someone call the cops, minus the ’s’?”
“What?”
Hadn’t realized I even said that aloud. Guess it won’t hurt to tell her. Better she finds out now than later. “It’s dumb. There’s this group online that posts pictures of me while I’m on-duty.”
Diana is silent.
A breeze rustles the leaves above my head.
And my stomach growls.
“Like a fan group?” she asks, voice distant.
“Yeah.”
“I might have heard about it.”
My eyebrows rise, and I head for the door to grab a new sandwich. “I don’t think this is a might-situation. You either heard about it or you didn’t.”
“I did.”
I chuckle, “I see. So, what do you think of it?”
“I don’t mind.”
Washington shouts, “Cocker, hurry up!”
With my hand on the door I shout back, “What’s wrong? The food didn’t make you a nicer person?”
He flips me off as I vanish inside the
