“Does anyone know his first name? He told me it was Sergeant.”
Jake chuckled. “If it makes you feel better, I only know it because he grew up here. Everyone has always called him Davis.”
“Oh,” I said, tempted to ask Jake what it was, but something held me back. Not asking or saying what I wanted was rare for me, but for reasons I couldn’t explain, it seemed wrong to pry. If he didn’t want to tell me, I didn’t want to know. “Peyton told me that he’s more quiet than grumpy. I think I may have gotten him to almost smile, but it lasted less than a second.”
“Sounds like Davis.” Jake chuckled. “He’s not a bad guy at all, just intense. He’s very cut to the chase and doesn’t pull any punches. I’m actually surprised he let you off. He gave his own uncle a ticket not too long ago.”
“Really?” Whydidhe let me go? He did seem to be all business like Jake said but then let me off with a warning. I was thrilled but still confused.
A man I’d met for fifteen tense minutes intrigued me more than he should have. I still felt the tingle from the intensity of those crystal-blue eyes seeping through me.
Maybe I just needed more bourbon to reset my system from any big feelings or thoughts that I couldn’t process. Fixating on a mysterious and gorgeous stranger was probably easier on my nervous system than the other thoughts I’d been trying to avoid for the past few hours.
“I’ll have to apologize to Mike for taking away his gaming sanctuary.”
Jake shook his head. “He can scream over the headset just as easily in his room, and he’s not home all that much lately.” He cut a look to his wife.
My brows shot up. “Does Mike have a girlfriend?”
At seventeen, Mike was already good-looking like his father, so a girlfriend wouldn’t be a shock. When I’d first met him, he was a sweet and quiet fourteen-year-old and still blushed whenever I called him handsome.
“We think so, although he hasn’t come out with it yet. He mostly hangs out with his friends, but we hear one girl’s name a lot.” Peyton shrugged. “Maybe while you’re here, you can get more information out of him than we can.”
“Finally, something to look forward to.” I grinned as I looked between them. I’d never envied Peyton or any of my other friends who’d settled down with a family over the years because, while I was happy for them, it wasn’t my path.
I brought the mug to my lips again, the scent of the liquor wafting up my nose along with the lavender, as the most upsetting thing about today crystallized in my frazzled head.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t know what my path was or how I was supposed to find it.
3
JUDE
“Stop staring at me,”my father groused as he slid his black checker over to the next square on the board.
“I’m just figuring out my next move.” I crossed my arms and leaned my elbows against the wooden table. The sweltering June sun beat down on the back of my neck as I studied my father, something I couldn’t seem to stop doing and only pissed him off.
“No, you’re staring at me. Or babysitting me. Why don’t you take a walk? Meet a girl to focus your attention on instead of an old man with one leg.” He tipped his chin to the board. “I see three easy moves from there—if you’re paying attention.”
I scrubbed a hand down my face and nodded, letting out a long sigh before I was tempted to pick up the same argument we had almost on the daily. My father was still adjusting to his artificial leg and moved around with the assistance of a walker with a built-in seat he never liked to use.
When I’d suggested coming here today, I’d known better than to suggest his wheelchair, even though the park was full of hidden gravel and hills. I lingered behind him after he got out of the car as we made our way to one of the tables, biting back a smile every time he swiveled his head to check for me.
He tried to hide it, but I caught a couple of relieved exhales when he met my gaze until we sat down. I was proud of how he took his new limitation mostly in stride and that he was still the relentless, ballbusting father who’d raised me, but he still needed help. He could snap at me all he wanted and get on me about my boring life, but I wasn’t backing off or going anywhere.
I craned my neck and scanned the park around us between moves. As a cop, I found it was a mix of instinct and habit no matter where we were. We chose a bench next to the playground to take advantage of the shade from the trees, not that it mattered with the stifling humidity today. On a busy Saturday afternoon, the squeals of children lining up for the slides and swings were a big contrast to the grumbling back and forth at our table.
“Most fathers would appreciate having their only son around.” I flicked my red checker, eyeing my father as I tried to figure out if he was making it easy for me to win and get it over with or if he was out of it. The sour frown pulling at his lips told me that he was looking to end the torture early, as my father never let me win at checkers.
He drew in a long breath through his nostrils and lifted his head, his eyes more concerned than annoyed as they met mine.
“I do appreciate it. But, son,” he said with an audible sigh. “There is more to life for you than work and watching my every move to try to pinpoint what else could be wrong with me. Or, there should be.”
“Once you get on your feet, we’ll see about getting me a life. Okay?”
A rare chuckle slipped from his lips.
“Jude, I only have one real foot, so this is the best I’ll get. I can manage for a night and the morning after. Maybe getting laid would help you relax for once.”
