“Would you stop being such a backseat driver?” Aidan grumbles.
“I’m not in the backseat.”
“Stop being such a literal asshole too.”
Literal? I open my mouth to point out the ridiculousness of that statement, but he shoots me a glare.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what? Don’t point out that the use of the word ‘literal’ implies that I am anactualasshole–”
“You are!”
“You know what I mean. I think ‘precise asshole’ might have been a better and morepreciseword choice in this case,” I continue.
He shakes his head, keeping his eyes on the road. “Fuck me. Between you and Piper I’m all worded out,” he complains, but he says it good-naturedly. He loves Piper’s quirks–and her obsession with etymology and linguistics is one of them.
I chuckle.
“And did you actually just say ‘asshole’?” he asks.
I shrug. “You said it first.”
“Yeah, butIsay asshole–you don’t.”
“I do sometimes.”
“Since when?”
“I say it in my head a lot, especially when my partner chooses to ignore directions.”
“I didn’t miss the turn!”
I hold up the GPS app on my phone. “Yes, youdid.”
He lets out a frustrated growl and then proceeds to make an illegal U-turn, pointing at me pre-emptively. “And keep your damn mouth shut about me pulling a U-ey,” he shouts.
I chuckle again raising my hands in surrender. Six months ago I would have felt supremely uncomfortable with breaking a traffic law unless it was under exigent circumstances like a police chase or an emergency call, but Aidan’s influence has been good for me. Not that I’m suggesting breaking traffic laws is good, but being less uptight all the time certainly is. I’m so glad that Chief Hudson took a chance and made us partners. He saw something in me–in Aidan too–and somehow recognized that we’d be a good fit despite first appearances. I’ve definitely lightened up since then and I think it’s made me a better cop. A better partner too, both at workandat home.
At home.
Huh. Still crazy to think that I have a partner at home even if we don’t technically live together. And while we still may not have acknowledged it out loud yet, Lucy and I have certainly crossed that line into relationship territory. The fact that over a week has gone by since we took it to the next level physically, and I haven’t been chomping at the bit to discuss it to death or define exactly what it means, is just more evidence of how much I’ve changed.
I have apartnerin my personal life.
Ihavea personal life.
I never thought I would have this–real friends, a girl I’m crazy about, a baby on the way; a family. A found familyandone that I’m building. It still comes as a shock to me sometimes when I think about the baby. And Lucy.
Lucy.
I think about her All. The. Time. And I know she’s equally responsible for the positive changes I’ve started seeing in myself. She’s just so lighthearted and free.
Wild.
My little wildcat, I think, affectionately. Then shake my head almost in disbelief at the possessiveness.Mywildcat.
Mine.
