CHAPTER 24
WYATT
“Bout time,” I smirk as I pick up.
Diana’s voice is tense, but she volleys back, “Were you holding your breath?”
“Just exhaled. How’s your day going?”
“Good. Weird. I don’t know. How ‘bout you?”
I glance over to our patrol car where Washington is inside waiting for me to return with these barbecued beef sandwiches. The crisp paper bag crackles under the clasp of my left hand, my right holding the phone to my ear as I walk over to a bench in their outdoor patio. Throwing my foot up on it I smile at the sun, “Beautiful day. I’m talking to a beautiful girl. Excuse me, woman. Wouldn’t want to get lashed by that sarcastic tongue of yours if I can help it. Unless you’re free this afternoon…”
She laughs a little, but not much. I would’ve expected more than that. “Why did you call me?”
Dropping my boot to the ground, I frown, “Trying to set up that date. And checking to see how you were doing.”
“My leg is pretty much the same. It’s only been three days.”
So that’s it.
She’s upset that I didn’t call sooner.
Are we going through this already?
“I was busy,” I tell her.
“What?”
Sighing I squint at the sun, mood totally changed. Now it’s too fucking bright, and hot, and I should get to the patrol car. But my boots don’t move. “I didn’t call you until today because I was busy the last couple days.”
Her voice is more friendly and relaxed as she explodes, “No! I wasn’t upset about that! I didn’t care that you didn’t call me. I didn’t even notice.”
“You didn’t?” I frown, more surprised.
She didn’t notice I didn’t call?
What the fuck?
Her voice is still light-hearted, totally believable as she insists, “I’m not upset. I’m just, there’s something on my mind. But I promise it never occurred to me. I was actually wondering why you called twice. Just now. Today.”
Making a face, I force a laugh, “You had me going there for a second. Still not sure how I feel about you not being upset I didn’t phone you up. But whatever. I called twice because you didn’t pick up the first time. I got distracted by Washington and didn’t leave a message. So I called back to leave one. Have you checked it?”
“No.”
“Good, because I didn’t leave one again.”
Diana laughs, “You’re weird.”
“You want to go out this Friday?”
“I work on Fridays.”
“That’s right. You have Thursdays off. Is that a regular thing, your schedule?”
She quietly answers, “Yes.”
“Cocker!” I cut a look to the parking lot, see Wash with empty hands on the hood, glaring at me. “I want my lunch!”
“You hangry?”
“I’ll show you hangry if you don’t walk that sandwich over to me in two seconds.”
I stroll over and toss the bag to him. “Have mine. I’ll get another.”
Snatching it from the air, the paper crackles. I walk back to the bench as he vanishes inside to devour everything in five minutes flat. I could time it, but I’ll use this break to my advantage.
“Your partner?” Diana asks.
“Yeah. I fed the beast to give us a couple minutes.” She laughs, a sound I’m starting to look forward to. Especially since she’s so funny and can whip it back as quickly as I can. “Thursday then?”
“What did you want to do?”
“Hike. I was thinking we would hike through Cascade Springs.”
“My leg.”
I smirk, “Kidding.”
She laughs again. “I’m slow today.”
“Well you’re maimed so…”
“That was bad.”
My turn to laugh. “Can't all be gems. We’ll grab dinner. See a film. Nothing strenuous for you.”
“I think spending that much time with you is strenuous.”
“Ouch!” I glance to my right, because I have the sensation of being watched. My eyes lock onto a twenty-something girl. She hurriedly drops her phone and hurries to her car. To myself I mutter, “What’s the title for that one... Someone call the cops, minus the ’s’?”
“What?”
Hadn’t realized I even said that aloud. Guess it won’t hurt to tell her. Better she finds out now than later. “It’s dumb. There’s this group online that posts pictures of me while I’m on-duty.”
Diana is silent.
A breeze rustles the leaves above my head.
And my stomach growls.
“Like a fan group?” she asks, voice distant.
“Yeah.”
“I might have heard about it.”
My eyebrows rise, and I head for the door to grab a new sandwich. “I don’t think this is a might-situation. You either heard about it or you didn’t.”
“I did.”
I chuckle, “I see. So, what do you think of it?”
“I don’t mind.”
Washington shouts, “Cocker, hurry up!”
With my hand on the door I shout back, “What’s wrong? The food didn’t make you a nicer person?”
He flips me off as I vanish inside the fast-food restaurant cluttered with wrappings left on the tables, trays that didn’t get picked up, stuff on the floors. Real disaster after lunch hour.
“People don’t pick up after themselves,” I mutter.
“You talk to yourself a lot.”
“Guess I do.” Picking up a used tray, I carry it to another and balance the two all the way to a trash. “There are four garbage cans in here. Loads of possibilities. Why are people so lazy?”
“Is that the sound of you cleaning up a restaurant?”
“My parents owned two.”
“Past tense?”
“They’re retired. Look at this. They haven’t filled the napkin containers either. Whoever works here is dropping the ball, too.”
Diana chuckles, “High standards.”
“Don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I wouldn’t respect you otherwise. I’ll pick you up at seven on Thursday.”
“I didn’t say yes yet!”
“You were about to.”
“Okay, yes. Pick me up at seven.”
“I’ll try to forget that you didn’t tell me you knew about my fan group.” Heading to the counter, my gaze on their delicious, glowing menu overhead, I tell Diana just to rile her up, “If there’s anything else you’ve been holding back, now’s the time.”
Another pause.
A long one.
“Diana?”
“Wyatt…”
“Don’t sound so serious, jeez. I’m just messing with you.”
“Wyatt…”
“Know what you want?” a teenager asks, his eyes empty from boredom.
Dropping the phone to my chest I tell him, “Gimme the same thing I just got.”
“What did you have?”
We stare at each other. “I was here five minutes ago. Maybe seven. Ten tops.”
“So?”
Shaking my head I tell Diana, “I’ve gotta wake a kid up, lemme call you back.”
“Wyatt,” she begins, voice careful. “I…”
“I’ll call you right back.” I hang up, and shove the phone in my pocket as I size up the kid. “How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“You having fun?”
He makes a face. “No.”
“You want to?”
Eyeing me, a police officer, he cautiously says, “Yes?”
“Kid, if you want to have fun then wake up. Those dead eyes of yours tell me one thing, you’re headed to a bad place where years will pass and you’ll wonder what the hell happened to your life. Or maybe worse and one day I’m picking you up for doing something stupid and locking you up in jail because you were so aimless somebody talked you into being their wingman to a crime. It’s tim
e for you to join the game. Take part. Do your bit.” I point to the dining room that still needs work. “There’s only one customer there now and evidence of a whole bunch that just left. Clean up. Do your best. Make an effort. No, don’t just make an effort, show yourself what you’re made of.”
“I get paid minimum wage,” he flatly says as if that means anything.
“And you will keep making minimum wage if you do minimum work. You want to have some fun? Challenge yourself. Push yourself. Build up your confidence because I can tell you’ve got little. Nobody’s going to give it to you. And if someone didn’t teach it to you, then let me teach it to you right now. Be someone you look up to and people will look up to you. If you don’t know what that is yet, search deep. Find what you care about. If you can’t think of anything yet because you’re too far gone, look to your role models. They could be famous people dead for centuries. I don’t care. But find someone you can look at and say, there, them! I’d like to make them proud if they popped down from the Heavens. Make the change. It’s up to you. Now get me those two pre-wrapped BBQ sandwiches and take them out of your minimum wage. This lesson was worth far more than that.”
“I have to pay for your food?”
“With skin in the game, you’ll remember this conversation. And ring me up. Never steal. No confidence built from stealing, got me?”
He awkwardly turns around and trudges to the heat lamps, brings me my lunch and hands it over. No bag.
“Much obliged,” I nod, grab a sandwich in each hand, and stroll on out.
CHAPTER 25
THAT EVENING
WYATT
A handful of speeding tickets issued later and Washington and I walk into the station at the end of our shift. Larter passes us on his way home.
Our disbelieving gazes follow him for a beat before we exchange a look.
Under his breath, my partner says, “Why doesn’t he wear running shoes? They’d get him out of here faster.”
I agree, “Better for his arches, too.”
Washington chuckles, “You so stupid.”
Locking eyes with Lyne I give her a nod of pure professionalism. She holds on me, hoping for more flirtation and chalking up the lack of it to my caution around Chief’s watchful eye.
Truth is, Fiore hasn’t been on my ass ever since I gave her an out, and some respect. She’s been in her office most days, coming out mostly to assign cases to her detectives who then disappear with her to learn necessary details in private. I don’t need to tell Lyne that I’ve met somebody I’m interested in, someone who has me thinking about her whenever police duties don’t require my full attention.
My business is my business.
Sleeping with fellow officers was always a ticking time bomb anyway. I like the idea of dating outside of this world.
I like the idea of Diana.
Washington and I walk into the locker room and find a predictable visual – Eudy sitting on a bench cataloguing today’s activities all by himself.
My partner and I exchange another look, as he opens his locker. “Why don’t you tell Larter he should do that?”
Not looking up, Eudy mutters, “Ya think I don’t? Think I signed up for this without complaint?”
“Yeah,” Washington admits. “That’s what I did think.”
“Then you have a low opinion of me.”
“On the contrary,” I argue while unbuttoning my uniform shirt and tugging it free from my pants. “We have a high opinion of you. You’re the only one of two people doing their job.”
“It’s not that bad. When we’re out there, he’s alright.”
Shirtless now, airing out the day, I dig my vibrating phone from my tight pocket. Nathan. Before I answer, I give Eudy a sarcastic, “You’re very convincing. Hey Nathan, what’s up?”
“Billy is having one of his parties. Tonight.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “No notice? What’s the occasion?”
“Ordered too many meatballs.”
Grabbing my deodorant I slide some on. “Really?”
“No, not really. Does he need a reason? That’s what he does. Throws parties, and we go to them, so let’s go.”
“I’m in.” Hanging up I glance to Washington. “Party tonight. Want in?”
“No.”
“You need to get laid.” As I tug on my T-shirt I cut off his next refusal. “Don’t argue with me, Wash. Your attitude lately tells me only one thing. You are spending your nights alone. Come out and play.” I grab my things and slam the locker shut with my shoulder, eyeing him as he gives it some thought.
Eudy mumbles from where he’s tapping away, “I’m so happy I’m married. Christy keeps me satisfied.” Two sets of eyes stare at him, but he still doesn’t look up, his tone matter-of-fact, “How do you think I put up with the partner I have? I’m always in a good mood. Now you know why.”
Washington zips his jacket, eyeing Eudy. “I’ll go.”
“Great. I’ll send you the address. I’m going to the gym.”
“Catch ya later,” he nods, grabbing his phone and finding nothing to check. “Well shit.”
The last thing I hear is Eudy saying, “Get yourself a wife, Washington. You won’t be frustrated anymore.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Find the right one. You’ll see.”
I punch-tap a Wanted poster on my way out.
Billy shouts to my brother and I, “You made it!” his smile flashing huge for a brief moment before he returns to the row of crockpots steaming between us. He’s behind a long table usually manned by his employees. There’s only one back there, and his girlfriend who’s helping.
Since moving his house parties to this warehouse, business has boomed with little sign of slowing. There was some drama way back, which the woman at his side can attest to, but now things are up up up.
Haven nods with a friendly smile as she ladles, “Hi Wyatt. Hi Nate,” Handing me a biodegradable bowl she says as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, “Here, try Billy’s balls.”
“I love this woman!” he laughs, momentarily throwing his arm around her waist and planting a kiss on her cheek before returning to stirring. “That’s right, eat my balls boys! They’re tangy and hot!”
Nathan grins.
I stare at the bowl, fresh protein shake still in my bloodstream after my workout. “I’m good, thanks.”
My brother eagerly snatches it, “I’ll take ‘em!” and dives in, using his fingers. He moans and looks at me.
“Stop. Just stop.”
I hear Washington’s baritone from yards away. “Cocker!”
“In the back! Follow the scent of meatballs!”
The place is packed, colored lights zig-zagging across hundreds of people, some faces we recognize since we’ve been coming to these for so long, and Billy has a mailing list of loyals. You want to be the first to know, you sign up. It’s a good looking crowd, except for my partner.
I kid.
For a giant, he’s alright. But he doesn’t take chances with the ladies. Not like me. “Hey, you take a nap or something? Why are you late?”
Washington reacts. “I’m right on time.”
“We’ve been here forever.”
“You told me nine-thirty.”
“I didn’t mean it.”
“What? Oh damn, Cocker, you almost got me.” His finger wags at my face. “I hope you enjoy that shit you pull.”
Smirking, “I do. I really do,” my gaze rakes the crowd because I can see Nathan searching for his woman of the night.
We come here.
We conquer.
We go home not alone.
Washington takes a deep breath, his whole body absorbing the fragrant air we’re drowning in. “Those smell good!”
“You want some?” Billy asks. “We haven’t officially met. You a friend of Wyatt’s?”
“His patrol partner.”
“Oh cool! On the house.”
Wash laughs, “You hiding dru
gs in the back?”
“I’m just making payment on a future debt, in case I ever need a hand.”
I eyeball him. “Billy, you can always call me if you need anything. Something up?”
“Nah, but now I’ve got two cops on my side. Safety in numbers. Here ya go. This is my Haven. Not just my safe place, although she is that. It’s really her name.”
“Hi,” she waves.
“Nice to meet you. Don’t mind if I do.” He takes the offered bowl and searches for a fork.
“You eat with your fingers,” Haven explains, stirring steam. “That way you get to lick the sauce and enjoy it more. Billy’s thing.”
Washington stares at her, then at me.
I motion to the bowl with a hurry-up-and-eat wave. He starts to go for it, but Haven hands him a fork.
“We have forks.”
My poor partner.
He purses his lips and almost puts the bowl down, thinks better of it, grabs the fork and says, “I’ll just give this a try anyhow.”
She feels bad, so offers, “Some people eat with their fingers.”
Nathan holds up gooey fingers. “See?”
“Well now I’m not going to be the only one to use a damn fork!” Handing it back, he digs in with five trunks and really goes for it.
Rolling my eyes I turn to the dance floor and see Harlow and Bryn approaching us, the crowd making way since they’re head-turners.
My jaw stiffens.
Not my normal reaction.
Nathan and I hooked up with Haven’s friends before, a couple of times. Really pretty, both of them. And really focused on making that hookup happen again tonight.
“Hi guys,” Bryn smiles, “Wondered if you’d show up. You weren’t here last time.”
Harlow corrects her. “No, we weren’t here.”
“I meant the time we were here, the one before that.”
I smirk, “Okay, now you’re confusing everyone.”
Their proximity lessens and I feel a weird tug in my gut, like I want out of here. “Have to go take care of business. See you all in a sec.”
I head to the men’s room, the line for the ladies long as usual. Only this time heads turn in a pronounced way, with recognition. Only problem is I don’t know them.
My footsteps slow, awareness dawning.
I ask with a be-honest smile, “You’ve seen the group, haven’t you?”
Wyatt Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 23) Page 12