I wince softly, running my fingers through my hair. “It’s a work in progress. He’s been… intense since I was discharged from the hospital a few weeks ago. I think a part of him still feels guilty for everything that has happened, although rationally he knows it’s not his fault, and that there is nothing either of us could have done to change it. He’s been talking to his therapist about it. There’s just a lot to process.”
Mae hums in agreement. “I bet he’s not the only one. How is that going?”
“I— Good.”
After everything that happened with Aiden, I also needed help trying to process everything. To accept the fact that it’s not my fault I completely misread Aiden and his intentions toward me. My body isn’t the only thing that was broken that night, my heart and mind were as well.
Mae gives me a skeptical look.
“Well, some days are better than others. It’s just going to take some time to process all the feelings connected to that whole situation.”
It wasn’t even just that day. It’s everything that led up to it. Aiden’s deception. My trust in him. Him using our friendship to get to me. Being kidnapped and attacked…
“Look who finally found a little time for us,” Matthew says as he comes onto the terrace, Nico following after him. “Our new sheriff!”
Nico shoves him from behind. “Oh, shut up.”
Matthew stands at attention. “Yes, sheriff!”
“I’m not the sheriff.”
After my kidnapping, Sheriff Jenkins decided he was getting too old for the job, so he announced his retirement, to the surprise of everyone. He’s taking a few months to teach Nico everything before he’ll make it official, but none of us can stop teasing him about it.
“Yet.” Mae snorts, but there’s a smile on her lips. “So I guess it’s sheriff in training?”
“You just keep teasing me, woman, and you’ll see what happens.”
Nico eats her with his eyes as he crosses the distance between them, his hands gripping her face tighter as he kisses her—long and hard—not caring one bit about who’s watching. And this time, she doesn’t even try to stop him. I’m not sure what exactly happened between them to change my friend’s mind. Maybe it was my kidnapping or everything that followed, but she finally decided to stop resisting her feelings for Nico, and now they’re officially dating.
“Hey, Doc,” he whispers as they break the kiss, my usually stoic friend completely breathless.
She grazes her teeth over her lower lip. “Sheriff.”
Seriously, these two.
“If you two don’t stop, I’m going to set off Duke on you.”
The dog pops open one of his eyes at the sound of his name, then closes it again.
“Yeah, I can see how much he listens to you.” Nico chuckles.
“He listens!” Matthew protests.
“Mmhmm… I really hope you can get him better trained now that you’re his handler,” Nico taunts, wiggling his brows.
“Oh, fuck off, Rivera. I’m training him just fine.”
I bite the inside of my cheek as I watch them bicker over Duke and his training while the dog sleeps.
After Matthew was allowed back to work, Jenkins called him in for a conversation about his future, and Matthew expressed a desire to work with Duke, who had been crucial in finding me. He is still far from finishing his training, but between Chase and Matthew, I know they’re going to get there.
“Where’s the food? I was promised dinner and then I’m taking my girl home for dessert.”
Nico winks at Mae, and she full-on blushes.
Matthew pulls Nico inside, leaving the two of us alone again.
“Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
