I thought about the bar last week. The whole crew packed into a booth at O'Malley's, Captain Rodriguez and Maria debating whether Lucia was old enough for a phone while Brian refereed, Ava stealing fries off Brian's plate, and Sloane right in the middle of it. Laughing. Belonging.
My hand had found her shoulder without thinking when someone mentioned pregnancy and something flickered across her face.
Just a touch. Just a reminder.
She'd leaned into it. Just slightly. Just enough.
I'd driven her home. Walked her to her door. Stood in the hallway like a teenager trying to figure out if the moment was right.
"Thank you," she'd said. "For tonight."
She'd looked at me then. Really looked. And for a moment, I thought…
But she'd smiled. Said goodnight. Closed the door.
I'd stood in that hallway for a full minute before I could make myself leave.
Maybe we could try again.
The thought had been circling for weeks. Getting louder every time she laughed at something I said. Every time our hands brushed over shared documents, neither of us pulled away.
I was going to ask her. Soon. When the case was wrapped up, we could focus on us.
When the timing was right.
My phone buzzed. A text from Sloane.
Prison interview finally approved. Heading to Sing Sing this morning. I'll call you tonight with what I find.
Be careful. Call me if you need anything.
I will. Thank you, Garrett.
I stared at those three words longer than I should have. Formal. Professional.
But underneath it, something else. Something I'd been too scared to hope for.
Day one passed without a word.
On shift. She was at the prison. Normal. Expected.
Day two:How did the interview go?
Four hours later:Research taking longer than expected. Talk soon.
She was busy. Sloane in journalist mode was a force of nature—obsessive, relentless, capable of going days without surfacing. I understood that.
Day three. I called. Voicemail.
She didn't call back.
Day four:Everything okay?
Six hours later. Two words:Fine. Busy.
Something cold settled in my chest.
Day five. I called again. Voicemail again. No message this time.
