We're both smiling now—the stupid, involuntary kind that I used to think was reserved for other people. People who hadn't built their lives around evidence and objectivity and keeping their hearts in locked boxes where no one could reach them.
"For the record," Aiden says, his voice dropping lower, "I don't care about the podcast. Or the public appearances. Or any of the PR stuff."
"No?"
"No." His forehead touches mine. "I just care about this. You, here, arguing with me about garlic bread. That's all I need."
My throat tightens. "You're disgustingly sentimental."
"One of my many flaws."
"I'm keeping a list."
"Of course you are." He kisses me then, slow and thorough, tasting like tomatoes and basil and the promise of something I'm finally letting myself believe in.
When we break apart, I'm slightly breathless and significantly less interested in case files than I was ten minutes ago.
"The pasta's getting cold," I point out.
"It can wait."
"You spent an hour making it."
"I'll make more."
His mouth finds mine again, and I stop arguing.
The pasta is long finished by the time we end up tangled together on his couch, plates abandoned on the coffee table and some documentary about wildfires playing on mute in the background. My head rests on his chest, his heartbeat steady under my ear.
"I talked to Captain Vasquez today," Aiden says, his voice rumbling through his chest. "About my promotion review."
I lift my head to look at him. "And?"
"She thinks I'm a strong candidate. The community engagement numbers are good, the training certifications help, and apparently catching an arsonist with my girlfriend is considered 'exemplary interdepartmental cooperation.'"
"Your girlfriend helped catch the arsonist. You mostly stood around looking supportive."
"I tackled him on a fire escape."
"One tackle."
"It was a very important tackle. Load-bearing, even. The whole arrest hinged on that tackle."
"Now you're just making things up."
"I'm embellishing for dramatic effect. There's a difference."
His hand traces lazy patterns on my back. "Vasquez also said Wade's been reassigned. Something about 'attitude issues' and 'failure to support department initiatives.'"
"Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."
"Riley Pritchard, that was almost petty."
"I contain multitudes."
"That's my line."
"I'm appropriating it."
