Jude is the one I want. The only one I want.
Unfortunately, my fear of losing the future I saw for myself might have also cost me Jude.
Chapter Fifteen
Jude
Liam is stressed about something.
I noticed it this morning at roll call. He was distracted, checking his phone and then putting it down without responding to whoever had texted. When I asked if he was okay, he’d smiled and said he was fine, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. There’s something weighing heavily on him.
Now we’re on patrol and the distraction has followed him into the SUV. He drives with one hand on the wheel, scowling at the road. His jaw is set and his scent is off. Not bad, just charged. There’s a restless energy coming off him that makes my wolf uneasy.
“Everything all right?” I ask, studying his profile.
“Yeah.” He clears his throat. “Just have some stuff on my mind.”
“Work stuff?”
“No.” He hesitates. “Kara stuff.”
My stomach tightens. “Everything okay with you two?”
“I need to talk to her about something serious.” His expression is tense. “It’s high time it happened. I’ve put it off too long.”
“I see,” I say carefully.
He glances at me, a line between his dark brows, then turns back to the road. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I want my life to be. Where things are going with Kara.”
My heart rate picks up and I feel a little nauseous. I think I know what this is. I’ve watched it building for weeks. His mom’s not-so-subtle comments about grandchildren. Jack teasing him about buying a ring. Kara’s increasing pressure for commitment. He’s been with her over a year now. The next logical step is obvious.
He’s going to propose.
The realization makes my blood run cold. He’s freaking out because he’s going to ask her to marry him. It makes sense he’d be rattled. He’s wrestling with the biggest decision of his life. Proposing to someone is terrifying, even when you’re sure they’ll say yes. Especially for a guy like Liam who takes commitment seriously.
“Sounds like your life is about to change,” I say, forcing my voice to stay even.
He grips the steering wheel tighter. “Yeah, it is. My life is going to be completely different. But I… I finally know what I want.”
“That’s great.” Even though my soul is dying, I’ll do what I can to be supportive. Liam’s happiness is everything. I want him to have the best life possible, and if he’s finally decided Kara is the one, then I’ll try to be there for him. Even if it kills me.
And it will kill me.
I’m relieved when a call comes through dispatch. A disturbance at one of the rental cabins near the resort. Possible domestic, neighbors reporting shouting. Liam hits the lights and we head toward the resort.
The cabin is one of the nicer ones on the ridge, A-frame style with big windows and a wraparound deck. When we pull up, a man is standing on the deck, shirtless despite the cold,red-faced and swaying. There’s a woman inside the cabin visible through the glass door, arms wrapped around herself. Broken glass glitters on the deck near the man’s bare feet.
We approach together, but as we get closer, Liam shifts his position. He angles himself so that he’s between me and the guy on the deck. I frown and move around him so that we’re both walking up on the guy. Since when does he get between me and the subject as if shielding me with his body? That’s odd behavior. I’m his partner. I’m his equal. While of course we look out for each other, we’re not supposed to be thinking about protecting each other when approaching a subject.
Liam gives me a quick glance, and I swear he’s about to tell me to stay behind him. I squint at him as if to say,What the hell are you doing?And he seems to realize he’s not following standard procedure.
He pulls his gaze from mine and addresses the man. “Sir, I’m Officer Martinez. We got a call about a disturbance.”
The guy sneers at us, leaning on the railing. He’s big. Taller than both of us, broad across the chest, with thick arms and hands that could do real damage. As we near, the stink of booze rolls off him in waves.
“I didn’t call you,” he slurs. “This is between me and my wife.”
“The neighbors called us so now it’s our business too,” Liam says evenly. “Is your wife okay?”
