“Someone must have kicked it under the garbage can to be rude. People don’t always like cops, but… uh… I’m actually kind of happy with one in particular.” I stared at the tips of my shoes and tried to think of how in the world people flirted. I’d seen others do it at some point… maybe. I forced myself to at least look at him again.
He gaped in the direction of the garbage can, then quickly looped the chain around his neck.
“Uh, that’s exactly what must have happened. Thank you so much. I could’ve gotten into a lot of trouble over this if one of the other cops had found it.” He shook his head, and I had a warm, happy glow in my stomach. I’d saved him from getting hassled at his job. My toes tapped on the squishy grass.
“They would have ratted you out to your boss?”
Tyler laughed. “Uh, yeah.”
My courage was rapidly fading, especially when he glanced down at my smaller hand. He didn’t seem upset or disgusted or even curious, more like he was taking stock of me. I tucked it into my pocket anyway. “Um… were you serious?”
“About?”
“Wanting to meet up with me?”
He licked his lips and a rush of heat to my cock took me by surprise. “Hell yes.”
Nervous laughter bubbled out of me and I covered my mouth with my palm until it stopped. Thankfully he didn’t seem irritated. “I’m not comfortable with you at my apartment, but maybe… I’ll meet you at the Co-Op restaurant. I work there a couple of nights a week as a volunteer. It’s on Tenth and Venter. Seven thirty is fine.”
He straightened and stared down his nose at me, an arrogant smirk fixed firmly on his face, which should have made me take back my offer. Instead another rush of tingles raced through my groin. “Is that the place where they don’t charge if you don’t have money?”
“Yes, as long as you volunteer a shift. Next door is a free thrift shop, and I work there a few hours a week, too.”
Tyler tipped his head to the side. “You’re really one of those people, aren’t you?”
“What people?”
“Good ones.”
“No,” I said in a hurry, shrugging. “It’s just… what I do.”
“Works for me. I can’t wait.” He seemed at a loss, so I held out my hand and we shook. We were a little awkward, and he didn’t let go of my hand right away. I didn’t mind. Someone called his name, and he jerked his head in their direction.
I spun away from him, grinning, and nearly floated over to where Journey stood near a fire truck with a group of people snapping gruesome photos they would probably share on Instagram. The dour expression on his face made me falter. “What?”
“The dead guy? It’s Felix Wright.”
My entire body stiffened, and I shook my head as dread stole my happiness. “He volunteered weekends at the shelter and always brought us coffee from work.”
Journey stepped forward and hugged me, but I couldn’t make my arms move, and eventually he shuffled back, gripping my shoulders tight.
“This is fucked,” I mumbled.
Journey glanced up, then smirked. He let his hands fall to his sides.
“What could possibly be funny right now?” I demanded.
“Your cop friend is pouting at us.”
I turned my head just far enough to peek in the last direction I’d seen Tyler, and sure enough he was giving Journey a sad frown. Mischief wriggled through me that made me want to be an ass, so I blew Tyler a kiss, and his smile sprang back to life. He rolled his eyes and turned his back to me like he suddenly thought of something important he needed to do.
“Let’s get to the next business,” Journey said slowly. “I don’t want to piss off any cops today.”
“If he’s jealous, he likes me, right?”
Journey winced. “Not sure that’s a great way to judge a new boyfriend.”
“Oh…. You think he wants to date me?” I couldn’t stop myself from another small look at Tyler’s back.
