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Milena had been complaining about her frequent trips to the hairdresser herself last week, and she’d told me that she was thinking about going back to black like I had.

Which would leave Maven alone with her blonde curls.

“Haze Hopkins, as I live and breathe.”

My head turned, and I once again locked onto the man behind me.

I pray that I don’t go through whatever makes y’all drink unsweet tea.

—Haze to his parents

HAZE

“Haze Hopkins, as I live and breathe.”

I grinned as I held out my hand for my old coworker, Mackey Haynes.

“Hell, man. How are you? I haven’t seen you in a while,” I said as we shook hands.

I didn’t bother to call him on his misuse of the idiom.

It was pointless.

“Doin’ good. Got a new wife and a baby on the way.” He paused. “I’m actually here right now because my house has been infested with women, and I needed a break. Her mom and sisters are down, and they’re a little much.”

Mackey was a woman-phobe.

I was surprised to hear he’d gotten married last year, but miracles did happen.

“That’s good to hear, congratulations,” I said.

I’d always wanted children of my own, but it’d never happened for me.

First it was because my life had been utterly devoted to the Marines.

Then I dove headfirst into retired life by signing on as a Fort Worth Police Officer.

It’d only been in the last year that I’d decided that I needed a change of pace—and less bullshit to deal with—so I’d moved to a detective position, which was a lot different than the patrol division that I’d been in for nearly my entire career.

Sure, opportunities had always been awarded to me, but I’d loved the fact that I was never sitting still with the division. Oh, and I wasn’t responsible for other people.

I’d had that enough in the Marines, and let’s just say I was a very independent person and hated having to tell someone what to do.

There was only so much of the rat race I could handle.

Being a detective was a lot more challenging, but I found that I didn’t really have the drive anymore.

In the beginning, I’d loved my job.

Now…I was just tired.

I was tired of the grind.

I was tired of the thankless work.

I was tired of the justice system.

I was tired of everything that the police department life had to offer.