Page 80 of Ruin

Now, nothing’s easy when it comes to Zeus and me.

I know I need to talk to him about last night. Clear the air between us.

But the chickenshit in me just wants to avoid it.

But I can’t avoid him.

He’ll be dropping Gigi off later.

So, I’m just going to have to put on my big-girl panties, woman up, and talk to him like a grown-up.

I can do it.

I think.

Ugh.

I just need coffee, and the weak stuff in the station’s machine just isn’t going to cut it.

I push my desk chair out and lock my computer down.

I’ll make a quick run to the coffee shop. I’m due for a break anyway.

I grab my purse and head out of the building.

“Cam,” a familiar voice calls.

I turn, seeing Rich. He’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, a sports bag thrown over his shoulder. He must’ve just finished a shift.

“Hey.” I smile, watching as he jogs down the station steps, coming toward me.

“Hey, stranger,” he says when he reaches me.

I haven’t seen Rich since our failed night out. Not because I’ve been avoiding him. We just haven’t crossed paths at work. We’ve texted a few times. Well, he’s texted me, asking how I’m doing, and I’ve replied, but nothing beyond that. He’s respecting that I have a lot going on in my life right now, and I appreciate that more than he could know.

“You just getting off?” he asks.

“No.” I shake my head. “I said I’d work an extra few hours to catch up on the backlog of paperwork we’ve got, but I need coffee, and the station’s machine sucks.”

“You know the captain does that to get confessions quicker, right? Make the coffee taste like shit and give it to the perps. One sip of that, and they’re begging to tell us the truth just so we’ll make it stop.”

He grins, and I chuckle.

“So, that’s why we have a high confession rate.” I play along, slapping my hand to my forehead.

“But you can’t tell anyone.” He lowers his voice. “It’s our little secret.”

“Gotcha.” I pretend to lock up my lips, and he laughs.

“Hell, I’ve missed you, Cam.”

“I’ve missed you, Dove.” Zeus’s voice echoes in my head.

My heart reacts to the memory of that and not the words Rich just spoke.

“Well, I’m very missable.” I shrug, playing it off, desperate to ignore my internal discomfort.

He smiles again and shoves his hand through his hair.