Noah comes waltzing on over with a face like thunder. Probably because he knows this was all Blondie's doing. I'm gonna give that girl a piece of my mind, getting my Cinders into trouble like that.
"So what they do?" Tucker rushes out. He's bouncing in his seat like a five-year-old as if this is the most exciting thing to ever happen to him. Who am I kidding? This is Franklin, this is the most exciting thing to happen since old Mrs. Wellard slipped in the grocery store and tried to sue their asses.
Noah sinks down on one the plastic seats like the whole damn world is on his shoulders. It probably doesn’t look good when an officer’s fiancé gets arrested at her bachelorette party. I’ve told him a million times he needs to get that girl to toe the line but no apparently I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about.
"They’re being released. I talked to the Chief, he seems to think it was misunderstanding and since Hansen got his ass handed to him by a bunch of drunk girls he's not really pushing the matter."
"Wait what?"
"They were brought in for public intoxication which was total bullshit since they were in Trina’s car and resisting arrest. They almost got fucking charged with assaulting a police officer."
"What they do?" I ask, imagining Trina and Liv beating on some poor un suspecting officer of the law.
"Apparently one of the girls insulted Dylan over there. They tried to get out of a ticket or some shit, I don’t know. Anyway he asked her to step out of the car so one of ‘em started hitting him with a purse and then he had to call for backup. I am so back on fucking traffic duty cause of this shit."
"Who's the troublemaker then?"
"I don’t know. Anyway they’re letting them out. No paperwork was drawn up yet thank fuck. I think they’re happy to get shot of them. Apparently they were singing ‘Locked up’ by Akon for half hour after they were brought in. The chief had to get earplugs out."
"Um Travers?" One of the guys at the desk calls over and we all stand up. He looks mighty nervous. "You wanna go let them out?"
"Boy don’t tell me you're afraid of a bunch of girls." An old man says, popping up out of nowhere. I’m guessing this is the Chief.
"Listen Chief, those purses were heavy."
"They're women. What I'd like to know is where the one pulled the Harmonica from."
"Harmonica?" I frown, wondering what the fuck they’re talking about.
"Yeah I got one of ‘em sitting by the window playing a damn harmonica. Girls been watching too many movies."
"What song they playing?" Tuck the jackass asks.
"Shut up Tucker." I shake my head. "Who's the troublemaker then?" If it’s blondie, I'll make sure Noah never lives it down.
"Dark haired one." The pussy ass guy explains. "She's got a mouth on her."
"Trina." Noah and I nod. I knew it!
"I don’t think that was her name. That’s the one playing the Harmonica I think."
"Cindy?" They gotta be wrong. My Cinders wouldn’t do any such thing.
"That’s it." He points at me like I’ve just answered the million-dollar question.
"My Cinders wouldn’t do nothing like that. She’s sweet. She been fucking framed obviously!"
"Brady calm down man." Noah whispers, knocking me in the shoulder.
"You the boyfriend?" The dude that’s about five minutes from getting his ass kicked asks. Officer or not I'll show him not to arrest my dark haired beauty.
"Yeah and what?" I don’t care if Noah the traitorous ass is grumbling beside me. There’s obviously been a fucking mistake.
"Course ya are. Well that explains a lot. I'll go get them now. Um, Chief?"
"I’m coming, I’m coming boy. Seriously God knows what you'd all do If there was a real crime in this town."
"Noah there’s been a fucking mistake." I growl, ready to throw down to clear my woman’s name.
"Brady does it really matter? They’re being let out and the girls have obviously had a lot t o he drink."
"This is the problem with this country. The law's got no goddamn law. Officers running riot, arresting my poor woman. I tell you something asshole, if one hairs been touched on my girls head I’m gonna burn this fucker down." Oh hell yeah I will.
"Will you shut the fuck up ? . We are in the police station. I don’t need you fucking threatening to burn it down. You wanna get arrested? Just sit your ass down and wait for the girls. Cindy’s fine."
I give him the finger and huff my way back over to the hard plastic chairs. They could at least put cushions on these things. I’m gonna end up with hemorrhoids after sitting on the m se things .
"I'll show these fuckers . Touching my Cinders . Wouldn’t like it if I went go around arresting people." I mumble to myself. I don’t know if asshole Noah can hear me but I hope he can.
"Brady." He sighs. "Why do you have to be so damn dramatic?"
"Me dramatic?" I point to myself. I’m speechless, utterly speechless. I’m a little insulted too. "I’m dramatic? I’m not fucking dramatic. I’m like the least dramatic person the whole wide world. I’m chilled, totally fucking chilled."
"Ok just be quiet they’re coming. I can see them through the glass." Tucker hisses, rubbing his hands together.
I look at the door and sure enough there’s the Chief’s face popping up. It slowly opens and out he comes followed by Liv, then Trina and then finally my Cinders. Saved the best till last obviously. I don’t have eyes for anyone but my dark haired beauty anyway. She's facing the floor like she’s all embarrassed or some shit and shuffling her feet. It’s only when she looks up that a smile split ’ s her face. That’s my girl.
I rush towards her and engulf her in a tight hug. The strawberry smell that always seems to follow her around and drive me crazy is still there, even if it’s mixed with the smell of alcohol. Christ, looks as if my girl got more than a little fucking merry tonight.
"You ok?" I ask, pulling her face away. I gotta check if any of those fuckers have touched her. I meant what I said about burning this shit down. I don’t care if I make channel seven news.
"I’m fine, just feel a little embarrassed." She shrugs.
"Hey it’s not your fault." I whisper in her ear. "I know it was those other two that got you into this."
"No it was all my fault."
"What do you mean, Cinders?"
"She means," Trina interrupts, swinging her head from side to side like Beyoncé. "That sweet little Cindy is a fucking firecracker. Damn, that was the best thing I ever saw. Of c C ourse the first few minutes were a little offish, what with her calling Mr. hardass police officer over there gay but after that she came out like a warrior princess."
"You called him gay?" I smirk.
"Trina..." Cindy warns, stretching out the word.
"Oh hush boo two. I mean you almost did the whole getting out of a parking ticket by flirting and sure it kinda went all downhill from there but who knew you knew some of those words you spouted ? . Pure nasty. Of course I couldn’t stand back while he read her rights just because she insulted his ass so me and my handy purse had to come out swinging but still I think this was a pretty successful last night of freedom."
"Successful?" Blondie spit’s, her eyes wide and crazy.
"Sure boo. The who le point of a bachelorette party is one a last night of drunken freedom-"
"We got locked up. We were in a cell. I think that’s the opposite of freedom."
"Were we drunk? Yes. Was it memorable? Absolutely. I mean, Cindy here bitch slapping that motherfucker at the club was memorable enough and then we got arrested. That’s some Hangover Part four shit right there. Complete success."
"Wait wait wait," I hold my hands up when her words sink. "Who the fuck did you slap?"
"Um," Cindy bites down on her thick, kissable bottom lip. "Chris."
"Lyons?"
"Uh huh. He was being a real jackass and I don’t know what happened but one-minute I was standing there and the next minute my hand really hurt."
"THA
T FUCKER HURT YOUR HAND?!" I roar. I'll kill that bastard. I'll call a fucking hitman and take his ass out.
"Yes I slapped him so my hand hurt afterwards." She rolls her eyes as if I’m being unreasonable. Pffft, me unreasonable?
Me and my boys share a look over the girl’s heads. Yeah, it’s about time someone learnt their lesson once and for all.
***
I’m a sneaky motherfucker and me and my boys have got covert operations down to a tee. Yeah no fucker wants to take us on. We probably look like amateur cat burglars in our all black get ups and balaclavas but sometimes a dudes gotta do what a dudes gotta do.
One things for sure, if Tucker steps on one more fucking twig, I’m leaving his ass behind. I didn’t leave my Cinders in bed with Brian curled up at her front and a pillow propping her up at the back to get caught up in the shit ’ storm this is gonna cause.
Yeah I was paranoid about the whole throwing up in her sleep thing so I stuck a bunch of pillows behind her to keep her on her side. There’s no guy that knows the dangers of lying flat on your back with a stomach full of liquor better than I do and Cinders is way too important to me to take any risks.
The sky is just starting to change color as the sun comes up and even though I’ve had zero hours’ sleep, I’m pumped. Yeah this is a long fucking time coming.
Another twig breaks under Tuckers big foot.
"Will you fucking keep it down jackass?" I hiss, tempted to kick his leg from under him.
"Brady shut up." Noah whispers from in front of Tucker.
"It’s his fucking fault . H h ave you heard how loud those big ass feet of his are?"
"Yeah well your voice is a lot louder."
"I’m whispering you fucking idiot. How is that loud?"
A sound comes from inside the dark house and we hit the ground. I got one of those smelly feet of Tuckers too damn close to my face for comfort and I’m holding my breath.
Looking around me I figure we're almost at the back of the house. My eyes have been glued to Tuckers back or the last ten minutes of creeping. From being in the house before I reckon we're just under the kitchen window. Someone’s up though.
There’s a few more clangs from behind the wall next to us and the sound of a latch lifting. I almost piss my pants when the window opens. Fuck!
Tuck looks over his shoulder towards me with wide eyes and I shrug. I don’t know what the fuck is going on. I can hear someone humming and talking to themselves.
"Let’s go back to bed Callie, you have your bottle now." A baby laughs in reply. Oh hell no! “Just let Mommy get some air cause that diaper was really stinky. Oh yes it was.”
The window shuts and straight away Noah’s riding my ass.
"What the fuck Brady? We're at the wrong fucking house." How the hell is this my fault?
"No this is where he fucking lives."
"Well I’m pretty sure that th e at douchebag doesn’t have a fucking baby."
"Hey," Tuck interrupts, probably to start blaming me for shit too. "Didn’t he move Freshman year of college? I thought his parents got in that shitty divorce and had to sell the house."
"Well why didn’t you fucking say anything?" Fools! I’m working with fools!
"I don’t know," He shrugs. "You said you knew where he lived."
"Ok, ok let’s reverse. You know where his new house is Tuck?"
"That blue house on Prescott Lane."
"Ok. Noah, you can shut the fuck up now. Tuck, you’re an ass for not mentioning shit. Now let’s back it up, back it up. We got some garbage cans to fill."
Chapter 19
Cindy
I hastily exit Bobs office, gently closing the door behind me and pressing the answer button on my phone to answer Liv’s call. It’s been ringing nonstop for the past five minutes which brought my conversation, or groveling, depends which way you wanna look at it, call it to a swift conclusion.
"Hello?" I answer, slightly out of breath from the rush to the door before the call hung up rushing out the door. . There’s only so many times you can listen to th e opening verse of Lady Gaga's ‘Born this way’.
"Shit how long does it take you to answer the damn phone?" Liv huffs through the phone.
"Sorry I was busy, everything ok?"
"Were you getting down and dirty? Actually don’t answer that. I don’t need details of Dickwad’s sex life. Gross. Anyway, that’s not why I’m calling. Did you hear about what happened?"
"Erm no?"
"Of course you haven’t. Seriously ever since you and Brady got back together it’s like you ’ r e living in a bubble. Pam got a call this morning from that super bitch with the beehive hair."
"Mrs. Lake?" She is a bitch.
"Uh huh. Apparently they found Chris Lyons this morning-"
"Dead?" I gasp. Can a slap kill someone? Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap.
"Calm down. No he wasn’t dead." I can hear Liv snicker through the phone. "He was found covered in white paint though, butt ass naked in the trash at the back of the grocery store. He wasn’t beaten or anything unfortunately but he was mighty pissed. The beehive bitch said he was going crazy on the sidewalk, screaming at the cops about a kidnap while white paint dripped off him."
"You're kidding?" I can’t stop the little giggle escaping. It definitely couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.
"Apparently three masked assailants grabbed him from his bed early this morning, stripped him off, bundled him in to a car and threw him in the trash before tipping a can of white house paint over his head. The lid was wedged shut with something so he had to wait till one of the pimply kids working in the grocery store let him out"
A million thoughts run through my head as Liv talks. There’s one at the forefront that can’t be ignored though.
"You don’t think-"
"Oh yeah . , I mean I was dead to the world as soon as I hit the pillow. What about you?"
"Same." I sigh. Damn Brady and his protective ways.
"I’m guessing they snuck out."
"Should we confront them?"
"Are you kidding me?" Liv laughs. "They probably think they’re so slick. Can you imagine them all? I guarantee they acted like they were in the fucking CIA. May as well just leave them be."
"What if they get in trouble?" I’m pretty sure a police officer kidnapping a civilian is a biggy.
"They won’t. The cops aren’t even taking it seriously. They’re saying it’s some prank that Chris didn’t find funny." I hear a door slam in the background. "Oh shit, Noah’s back. He had to go in the station this morning and take the chief a strawberry and cream frappuccino. Apparently he’s on butt kissing duty. I'll call you later, Cind y ." Before I even get chance to respond, the line goes dead. Charming.
I shake my head and walk into the kitchen, not keen on the idea of Brady catching me near Bobs office. That’s so not a conversation I’m ready to have yet, at least not until we've had a couple more important ones anyway.
When you're locked in a cell for three hours there's not much to do but think and I sure did a lot of thinking last night. After spending half an hour annoying everyone by singing songs in our drunken states, we then proceeded to argue over whose fault the whole disaster of a night was. I’m pretty sure there was a unanimous decision that it was mine. Hell, after Liv and Trina listed their arguments out even I was in agreement that I was to blame.
As we sobered up, that’s when the thinking came. With the background music of Trina’s soulful harmonica, yeah I’m n o o t even gonna ask where she pulled that from, Liv's words from earlier in the night replayed in my head.
"You have talked about it right? I mean, I’m guessing you two had a long conversation about why the fuck you broke up in the first place and what to do to stop that shit happening again, right? Right? You two did talk?"
I guess when I started doing the whole non avoidance thing I forgot to include the biggest thing I’m avoiding of all. Yep, what happens next? The truth is I don’t wanna talk about why we brok
e up. I don’t wanna talk about what we do come the end of Summer? I just want to bask in the glow of being finally happy after so many months being heartbroken. Can’t I just do that forever?
The last few weeks have been amazing, breathtaking, incredible, I don’t know how many more words I can use to describe it but they're all right.
When I look back six months ago, the reasons for mine and Brady’s break up seem so insignificant. I know it’s a conversation that needs to be had though. It’s the only way we'll ever be able to truly move on. We need to get everything on the table, lay everything bare. I just hope it makes us rather than breaks us.
I lean on the white marble countertop, the ice cold surface coming into contact with my bare forearms and giving me the shivers.
“Oh Cindy honey, there you are. Have you seen Bob?”
I turn around to see Brady’s mom. Considering the last time I saw her she wasn’t in the best of states, she looks as made up as ever. Her hair lies in big spiral curls over her shoulders, her makeup is light and flawless and the purple pantsuit is sophisticated paired with what I’m sure are a pair of very expensive black patent wedges. They may be obscenely expensive but I’ve still got a case of extreme shoe envy.
“Erm I think he’s in his office.”
“Oh that man never stops working.”
“How are you feeling this morning?” I ask.
“A little peaky but it’s nothing a little Tylenol and water won’t fix. I had such a wonderful night but it’s all a little fuzzy. I had the weirdest dream though. There was a cowboy. A very heavy cowboy.”
“Oh.” I snicker.
Forever Together (Forever Love #2) Page 25