Page 304 of A Matter of Time

“We both know it’s true.”

I let him open the door for me, and as I climbed in, he went around and got in.

“That’s nice, you know.”

I turned to look at him as I put on my seat belt. “What is?”

“That you know I like to open the door for you, so you let me.”

“I find it romantic.”

“C’mere,” he demanded, and I smiled as I leaned sideways for a kiss.

Once we were moving, he said, “About Jason, I know it’s different when it’s new and you’re hot for each other twenty-four seven, but I can’t imagine that there will ever come a time when I’m sitting with you and don’t feel the need to touch you. I think when you’re in love, even after years together, you still like that physical contact with the other person.”

I nodded my agreement, because he had just told me he loved me again.

“So ya know, he doesn’t need to maul Chloe in public, but you’d think he’d at least wanna stand close to her and hold her hand, and definitely make sure no other guy was in close enough proximity to hit on her.”

“Maybe he figures since she’s a cop, she can take care of herself.”

“He’s still a guy. He should at least be concerned.”

I shook my head.

“Okay, so you disagree, but I know people. He’s not into her.”

“Why wouldn’t he be? She’s smart and funny, and beautiful as well.”

“The cop hours take it out of any relationship,” he said. “It’s hard.”

“What is?”

“Being alone so much.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“All the long hours, J. Being the spouse or partner of a cop is a rough gig. You hardly ever see them, and you worry all the time if this is gonna be the day that they don’t come home. I mean, most people don’t have the potential to die every day when they go to work, unless they’re in the military or something.”

I turned to look at him. “This is all very comforting.”

He chuckled, and his hand went to my leg. “C’mon, J, you knew it was like this. I mean, as much as I can, I’ll be around, but the whole home-every-night deal ain’t gonna be me. You’re gonna have a lot of time alone, and during that time I don’t want you out drinkin’.”

“What?” Talk about a weird transition.

“You heard me.”

“I don’t drink every night, Sam.”

“Yeah, but when you do drink, you drink too much.”

I scoffed at him. “I’m a social drinker.”

“Not anymore. We’re gonna skip this scene for a while.”

I grunted. “Like you get to say what I do.”

“Oh, I get to say,” he said smugly, now that we were stopped at a light, reaching out to slip his hand under my chin, drawing me close to him. “Remember who you let back in your life, J.”