I just pulled a gun on my pregnant … whatever she is. Holy shit.My pulse is still wildly thundering through my veins.
“I was trying to cook you breakfast, but apparently I’m not a very quiet person.” She cringes.
“I’m actually shocked I didn’t wake up immediately when you got out of bed.” I scrub my hand over my jaw. Am I losing my touch? Probably. My head is all fucked up, so that’s certainly not helping.
“I was trying to let you sleep.”
This awkwardness, stiltedness, between us is foreign but not surprising, I guess.
“Can I help?” I gesture to the stove that has bacon and hashbrowns cooking up.
“Nope. I’ve got a handle on it.” She smiles at me before flipping the food.
I have this startling view of what life could really be like. Us, starting out our day by cooking breakfast together. Her bump on full display. Me getting to touch it and talk to it any time I want.
I want that so fucking badly.
There’s something about Claire that just clicks in my head and my life. It scares the shit out of me.
“I, ah, have to make a call really quickly, but I’ll be right back.”
“Of course.” She glances over her shoulder at me.
The ringing phone makes me antsy. I don’t have answers, but I’m sure as hell hoping Woodcroft has more information. What I won’t admit to is using this phone call as a distraction from all things Claire.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Juliette’s voice cuts in.
I pull back my phone and make sure I called the right person, but it shows Woody.
“I called Woody.”
“Oh, I know. He’s in a meeting, so his shit transfers to me in important instances.”
“So, I’m considered important now?” I smirk.
“What can I do for you, A?” Juliette ignores me.
“Woody sent me some information that I wanted to chat with him about.”
“Oh! The DOD letter?”
“Yep.”
“I’ve been having a good time with this one. I think Woody wants someone to go to the MET to talk to that expert in person and bypass all the written bullshit. If someone at the DOD is hooked up in this, doing things the proper way might not get us anywhere.”
“I’ll go,” I volunteer.
“Adam …”
“Seriously. We can plan it.” I immediately think about bringing Claire because she loves the MET and knows more about the place than I do. If I’m able to get her to deal with Charlie’s death a little more, open up to me, I wouldn’t hate that either.
“I hear you’re volunteering for shit you shouldn’t be,” Woodcroft’s voice booms on the line.
“That’s my cue,” Juliette says.
“Why shouldn’t I be? I’m closer to this case than anyone,” I tell him.
His sigh is probably heard throughout the entire office. “We need to be on the same page, man.”
