26
Reyes
Iwent outside after Linda left, promising to be in touch with her as soon as I could. Leaned against the building, I jammed my thumb on Jake’s speed dial and waited for him to answer.
“Hey, babe,” he said on the second ring.
“Hey. Can you come to HotShots? I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.”
“Is everything okay?”
I had no clue how to answer that. It wouldn’t be if I never saw Harrison again. I’d grown to love the kid.
“Please come,” I said desperately.
“Yeah. I can be there in about five minutes. I’m not far.”
“I’m in the office.”
“Okay. See you.”
I stayed outside a couple more minutes, breathing the cold air in an effort to calm down. Rome was stuffing some papers back into a folder when I went back inside. I could tell he was getting ready to leave, and I appreciated it. This wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.
When Jake’s black-and-white cruiser rolled into the parking lot, I felt dizzy.
“Good luck,” he said, heading out the door.
I barely moved as I watched Jake walk the short distance to the office. He nodded at Rome as they passed, and all I could think was how amazing he looked in his uniform. So confident and strong, yet not intimidating in the slightest like so many of the other officers I’d met in my life.
It took a minute for his eyes to adjust to the light when he entered the room. He smiled when he saw me, quickly closing the distance between us. I leaned in to kiss him, needy for his touch.
Jake’s eyes were full of worry when we broke apart. “What’s wrong?” he asked softly.
I studied him carefully, praying Jake would listen. Every other time I’d needed him to, he’d given me his full attention, so I had no reason to think he wouldn’t do the same now. But I had no idea how he would react to this. It was a lot to ask of him. To consider taking in Harrison, especially when he didn’t know him as well as I did. Even more so considering he wasn’t a fan of kids.
“Babe, your silence is freaking me out. Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
I took a breath. “Wyatt has to go in for treatment,” I said, only now realizing I hadn’t even bothered to ask what kind of treatment. I’d been too worried about Harris.
Jake furrowed his brows and tilted his head, not understanding. “Okay.”
“There aren’t enough foster families in Reedsport, so unless they can approve someone else to take Harrison for a temporary stay, he’ll be taken out of town.”
Jake took a step back, needing space to process the news. “Oh. Well, do they have anyone?” he asked.
I felt sick, but I needed to get the words out. “I was hoping wecould.”
Jake went completely still, his beautiful blue eyes locked with mine.“Us?”he asked.
I nodded. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and I wouldn’t if there was any other way, but it’s only temporary.” My sinuses burned and I had to blink just to keep myself from tearing up. “He has no one else, Jake.”
“For how long?” Jake asked hesitantly.
I shrugged. “About a month, give or take.”
“Amonth?”he asked wide-eyed. “Wow, what happened to Wyatt?”
“I don’t know the specifics. I wish I did. All I know is, it’s an extended stay. But once Wyatt is out of the hospital, Harris can go back there. This would just be until he’s better.”
