While he takes the guy’s info, I call the fire department to deal with the hydrant. Brian hands Liam his license and launches into an explanation that involves a lot of hand-waving. The phrase “I was barely moving” is repeated at least ten times. The wife is still going off on the phone, which Brian is now holding at arm’s length.
The woman from the truck pulls her jacket tighter and fixes me with a surly stare. “Officer, for the record, he was going way faster than he’s saying.”
“I wasn’t,” Brian insists.
“He definitely was. He was showing off.” She curls her lip and shouts at the phone, “And Susan, just so you know what a rat your husband is, he said you’re legally separated and that he hasn’t slept with you in months.”
Brian widens his eyes and presses the phone against his chest. “Shhh, babe, Jesus.”
Despite his attempts to keep his wife from hearing, the phone vibrates as his wife screams, “Separated? We had sex last night! Right here in our bed! He said he wanted to renew our vows.” The woman on the phone starts sobbing.
Both Jude and I wince.
Trish marches over and slaps Brian across the face. I grab her and drag her away and Brian starts babbling into the phone, holding his cheek. I make sure to keep Trish at a safe distance because she looks ready to murder him. And while a part of me thinks Brian would deserve it, I’ve sworn an oath to protect and serve.
Jude shakes his head, circling the big truck, documenting the damage, his face pinched as he crouches down to photograph the crumpled bumper. Ten minutes later a fire truck arrives to handle the gushing hydrant, and Brian eventually drives off alone, after calling Trish an Uber.
When we get back in our SUV, neither one of us speaks. I think we’re both shell-shocked from the emotional carnage we just witnessed. Thankfully, the next few calls are way more boring, and I think Jude is as relieved as I am.
Late afternoon, we respond to a call about a dog running loose on the ski resort access road, dodging traffic. It takes us twenty minutes of coaxing, two granola bars from Jude’s jacket, and one spectacular dive by me into a snowbank before we wrangle the animal. It’s a big shepherd mix, no collar, skinny and shivering. Jude wraps it in a blanket from the trunk and holds it in his lap on the drive to the rescue shelter.
On the drive, the dog leans its head against Jude’s chest and closes its eyes, and something about the image makes my heart hurt. The tenderness in his hands as he strokes the dog’s ears. The way the animal trusts him instantly. Animals often trust shifters, but this is different. The dog really likes Jude and it’s mutual.
“Maybe if I had my own place I could adopt him,” Jude says, rubbing his face against the dog’s head. “I couldn’t have done that at the apartment, but if I rent a house, maybe then…”
“Do you want a dog?” I glance over.
He shrugs. “I didn’t plan on getting one, but this guy is so sweet and I do love dogs.” He sighs. “I hate to think of him at a shelter.”
“The shelter we’re taking him to is great. It’s really a rescue, not a traditional shelter.”
“Oh, well that’s good, I guess,” he says softly, staring out the window. “It’d still be nice to have my own place.”
I frown but don’t say anything. What can I say? It would be good for him to have his own place. But if that’s true, why do I hate the idea of him moving out so much? I should be glad he’s thinking like that. Especially after what happened last night. But the idea of him leaving my home bugs me.
After our shift, I text Kara to meet us at The Fox & The Kettle for a drink before dinner. She responds with a string of heart emojis that show how excited she is. I tell myself I’m excited too, but honestly, I feel neutral. I always enjoy my time with Kara, so why do I feel like taking her to dinner tonight is more of an obligation than anything?
The bar is busy for a Monday night. The after-work crowd has claimed most of the tables, and the jukebox is playing country music. Jim is behind the bar, polishing glasses and keeping an eye on the room.
Jude looks tired as we grab stools at the bar and order beers. I suspect he didn’t want to come to The Fox and The Kettle, but he felt obligated after the weirdness of last night. Once he gets his drink and he downs half of it, he relaxes a bit. I really just want things to go back to how they were before I kissed him, but notice he avoids my eyes when our elbows brush on the bar top. We’re both being so careful. So polite. It’s exhausting.
Kara arrives looking sexy in a fitted jacket and boots, her red hair loose around her shoulders. She kisses me and settles onto the stool on my other side, ordering a glass of white wine.I expect her to ignore Jude since usually she resents his very presence, but instead she leans over and addresses him.
“Hey, Jude, I might have some good news for you.” Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
He looks surprised she’s speaking to him. “Do you?”
She hesitates. “I mean,Ithink it’s good news. Maybe you won’t since you’re happy as a clam living at Liam’s place.”
He frowns, but doesn’t say anything.
“What’s this good news?” I nudge. She’s making it awkward and she just got here. The poor guy was already stressed without her harping at him.
She clears her throat. “Well, a rental just opened up in town.”
“A rental?” I mumble, surprised at her news.
Jude widens his eyes. “There’s a place available right now?”
