Page 117 of Out Of A Fix

“I’m hanging up now. I will expect my phone in the⁠—”

“Don’t assume you don’t get to be happy. If the man and the kids love you…take a leap of faith.”

The hell was he talking about? “Where are you getting this?”

“That back and forth, the whole I don’t want to hurt them but then staying anyway… What am I, stupid? I can see what’s going on clear as day.”

“You’re not even here.”

“But I know you, and I know how you get, thinking you’re not the best thing.”

“Goodbye,” I said and hung up.

Of course he called me right back.

“No,” I growled at him.

“It’s time to jump, already.”

“It’s complicated.”

“I suspect because you’re making it that way.”

“He’s straight, Shaw.”

“Great. Doesn’t mean that for that one-in-a-million person he can’t decide to make allowances for his heart.”

I was quiet a moment. “When did you become such a romantic?”

“When I fell in love with the guy I married. When do you think?”

I groaned.

“You’re sure you and the family are safe?”

“Yeah. Nothing to do with Caitlyn. This is all new with the chief of police.”

“Okay, good.”

“Good?”

“You know what I mean. Don’t be a dick.”

He then casually mentioned that Sienna hadn’t stopped talking about my apartment in Oak Park since she was there with Rais.

“Make sure she doesn’t start moving her crap in,” I ordered him.

“I’ll do my best, but we’ve all coveted your place at one time or another.”

That was true. “All right, I’ll talk to⁠—”

“You’re sure you’re good?”

“This worrying is new.”

“I’m the one here now. Apparently, the concern comes with being in charge.”

“You’re not alone, Shaw. You’re never alone.”