by J. D. Rivera
I looked down and realized I had been running my fingers through her silky hair, over and over again. It felt so natural, so normal, I decided I’d allow myself this one thing. Nobody would have to know. And really, it wasn’t that big of a deal. I was just touching her hair, which was the only thing I’d ever touch.
An hour later, Mackenzie and Hayes opened the door, causing Miranda to startle awake. She looked over at me as she sat up and readjusted her glasses. “Oh, crap. I fell asleep. I’m so sorry.” Her hands began running through her hair as if her parents had caught her making out with her boyfriend.
“It’s okay. Really.” Trust me. It was really okay.
“Hey! I noticed your car in the driveway. What’s up?” Mackenzie asked as she rounded the couch and sank into a chair.
“Nothing. I just came over to hang out with you, but you were out with your man.”
“Hey, Miranda,” Hayes said as he walked into the room, yawning. “Sorry. This is late for me. I’m getting old like Brad.”
“Fuck off,” I said, stifling a yawn and trying not to laugh.
Miranda stood up. “Well, I better go. I would’ve taken off a while ago, but I fell asleep.” She looked at me and smiled. “It was nice chatting with you. Next time, I get to quiz you.”
“Come over Friday or Saturday and hang out,” Mackenzie told her.
“I work Friday, but I’ll come over Saturday. Somehow, I got that day off.” Why I noted that she worked on Friday was beyond me, but I did.
She walked out of the room and Hayes sat down on the couch, while Mackenzie sat in the chair, grinning at me. “What are you smiling about?”
Her grin widened. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“It’s not nothing, man. I know that grin,” Hayes told me, flipping through channels on the TV.
I stood up and stretched. “I better go. Harley may have eaten a few cookies more than she should’ve, but she was an angel.”
“Thank you so much. I didn’t realize how much I needed this night out,” Mackenzie said, giving me a hug.
“Yeah, thanks man,” Hayes added.
“Not a problem. I’ll see y’all later,” I said before exiting the house and getting in my truck.
I cranked the engine then backed out of the driveway as my mind raced with visions of Miranda. Her smile. Her laugh. Her hair. Why the hell did I like her hair so much? I had never cared about a girl’s hair before. I was starting to act and feel like a teenager. It had to be because I still hadn’t gotten laid.
I turned into my apartment complex and noticed Natalie getting out of her car. I wanted to bolt into my apartment—her wanting us to get to know each other had sent me into a panic—but that would’ve been rude. Instead, I got out, and said an awkward, “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.” She bit her lip. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I know we aren’t…we aren’t anything but neighbors. So, if you want to come over, I promise I won’t ask you anything about yourself.”
I thought it over. It probably wasn’t the smartest decision, but I really needed to get my mind off Miranda. “Sure,” I agreed before following her inside her apartment.
Thirty minutes later, I was climbing off her bed, looking for my clothes. Apparently getting laid wasn’t my problem, Miranda was. And wasn’t that just fucking great. As soon as I had closed my eyes, I had imagined it was Miranda beneath me instead of Natalie. I was a lost cause. What the fuck am I going to do? I thought as I jerked my underwear and jeans on in one swift motion. I had to get out of there and sort out my thoughts. Or at least climb into bed and hopefully forget about my teenage crush.
“Why don’t you just stay?” Natalie asked me. She was still lying on the bed with, thankfully, a sheet over her. I really didn’t want to look at her any more.
“I’m gonna go,” I replied as I slipped my shirt over my head.
“Then come back tomorrow? After work?”
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “Yeah, I don’t know.” I paused for a second and debated what to say to her. I hated being an asshole, but sometimes it was necessary.
“Look, this has been fun, but I think it’s run its course.”
She sat up. “Excuse me? Run its course?”
“That’s what I said.” I turned, walked out of her room, and the apartment.
***
The next morning, I walked into work and sat down at my desk. I hadn’t been there but five minutes when I was called into my sergeant’s office.
I sat down in the chair across from his desk. Sergeant Kirk and I were friends and I worked my ass off for him. Over the years, I had absorbed myself in work—it was all I could think about most of the time. That’s why my obsession with Miranda was baffling. I had never thought about a woman so much—not even my past girlfriends. “What’s up?”
“Detective Haroldson from Norman PD called. She was hoping you could drive down there and help her with a case. It might have connections to a case you’ve been working.” He handed me a paper with her number on it.
I nodded. “Sure, no problem. I’ll call her and set up a time.”
“Thanks.”
I stood up and walked out of his office, heading straight to the coffee pot. I was tired and needed caffeine. “Hey, handsome.”
I rolled my eyes. I knew that voice. I had dated Maria Santos a while ago but it hadn’t worked out. She was a lawyer and had wanted me to be a suit and tie type of guy like the lawyers she worked with. That wasn’t me at all, therefore we ended it. I hadn’t really cared that much, and I didn’t think she had either. Except she missed what I could do to her in the bedroom.
“Maria,” I said before taking a drink.
“How have you been? I haven’t seen you in a while.” She oozed sex. That’s why I had dated her in the first place.
I shrugged. “I’ve been fine. Great actually, you?”
“Good.”
I took another drink and smiled. “It was great seeing you, Maria. I have work to do.”
“I guess some things never change,” she said as I walked away.
I ignored her and went back to my desk to call Detective Haroldson.
After setting up the meeting, I sat back in my chair and ran my hands over my face, sighing.
“What’s up, man?” Rob asked as he sank down in the seat next to me. Rob was another detective and a good friend. He was known for being a player and had no desire to settle down—ever.
“Just working on this Zimbow case,” I stated through a yawn.
“Yeah, about that. I have a security video you need to take a look at.”
“Let’s go.” I immediately logged off my computer and stood from my chair. I seriously needed a break in this case.
He stood up and we began walking toward his desk. “It looks like her getting into a truck, but I can’t be sure due to the position of the camera.”
“Just let me see it.”
***
The next morning, I drove down to Norman to meet up with Detective Haroldson. She hadn’t been a detective long, but she knew her stuff. We spent the day combing through the evidence collected for the case she was working on—which was definitely connected to a case I had recently been assigned.
Before I realized it, it was five o’clock. “I think I have it covered. Thank you so much for coming down here.”
“Not a problem. I’m positive our cases are at least related. Way too many similarities. I’ll call you tomorrow to discuss everything.”
She looked at her watch. “You want to go grab a bite to eat?”
“Sure. Have you ever been to Mario’s?” I knew what I was doing and even though I shouldn’t have, I suggested it anyway. “It’s pretty good,” I added, honestly having no idea. I had never been there, but the staff was pretty good—at least, the one waitress I knew.
“I haven’t been there, but it sounds good to me.”
Fifteen minutes later, I was parking in the back lot of Mario’s. I turned my truck off and took
a deep breath. What the fuck was I doing?
I tried to reason that she was legal and looking never hurt anybody. Hell, I was friends with Mackenzie and she was a couple of months younger than Miranda from what I gathered. So, I could be friends with Miranda. I’d just have to reel in my thoughts about her next time I had sex.
Detective Haroldson, or Sally, was waiting for me by the door. “How’d you get here so fast?” I asked.
“I got lucky. A car was leaving the front lot as I pulled up. This place looks busy, so I bet it’s good.”
I opened the door to the crowded restaurant and gestured for Sally to enter. “After you.”
The cool AC hit me as I followed Sally inside, a stark difference from the heat outside.
“Welcome to Mario’s! We have immediate seating at the bar or it’s about a twenty minute wait,” the hostess greeted us.
I looked at Sally and shrugged. “Up to you.”
“We can wait. Thanks.” She turned to me. “I hope that’s okay. It’s just…”
“It’s fine,” I assured her as we sat down on a cushioned bench. A flash of blonde hair caught my eye and my head automatically spun, needing to know if it was her. And it was. Miranda was at the bar talking to some guy and I couldn’t help but stare at her. Her hair was hanging down her back with the front braided and pinned to the side. She looked beautiful.
“So…have you always lived in Oklahoma?” Sally asked, bringing my attention away from Miranda.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I’ve lived here my whole life. You?”
“I lived in Texas until I was a teenager. We moved to Oklahoma—”
“You’re table is ready. Follow me,” the hostess interrupted, a lot quicker than twenty minutes.
I let Sally go first and we followed the young hostess to a table near the back. After looking at how small the table was, I really wished we had sat at the bar. This looked like a table you would sit at with a date. All it was lacking was a lit candle.
I sighed and sat down. Grabbing a menu from the table, I began looking it over. I glanced up for a second and my eyes locked with a pair of big brown ones. Miranda was staring at me from across the room. I lowered my menu and smiled at her. She gave me a very small smile in return. She looked upset and a part of me wanted to go to her and ask what was wrong. The other part knew I couldn’t—I was here with Sally and it would be rude to ditch her for one of the waitresses.
She gave me a small wave and then disappeared into the back, the guy she was talking to earlier following her.
Chapter 7
Miranda
He was here with another girl. Was this some sort of cruel joke? He had to show up at my work and flaunt his date? I wanted to cry, but I knew I didn’t have the right. I wasn’t his friend. I wasn’t his anything, for that matter. I was just a girl he was nice to. And he was probably only nice because I’m Mackenzie’s friend. I seriously needed to let this crush go.
I walked into the break room and took off my apron, glad to be getting out of there. I might not have had a right to feel jealous, but I was. Completely.
“What’s got you running out of here so fast?” Gage asked, standing in the doorway.
I opened my locker and took out my purse, deciding humor would be my best bet. “I’m jealous of all the cougars flirting with you. I just can’t take it anymore.” I turned around to face him with a smirk on my face.
“I knew it! I knew you had the hots for me. No need to be jealous, baby. My eyes are only for you,” he said, jokingly, but I knew he was being serious by that last statement.
I didn’t want to lead him on in any way, even though I was positive he definitely knew I was not serious. “Well, I better get going before they put me back to work.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “Yeah, I better get back out there. Jerry will be pissed I left him.”
“I’ll see ya later. Have a good night. Now, go, before Jerry gets mad.”
He nodded again before leaving the room and I sighed. I leaned my head back against the lockers. It was nice knowing someone was crushing on me, but I hated the thought of hurting him by not reciprocating.
I pushed myself off the lockers, exited the room, and took the back door outside. Walking up to my car, I pushed the unlock button on my fob and tried to open the door, but it didn’t budge. I pushed the button again, but my door still wouldn’t open. What the hell? I gripped my key and unlocked the door manually. Once I was in the car, I put the key in the ignition and turned.
Click. Click. Click.
What the fuck?
I turned the key again, more clicking.
Fuck!
I hit the steering wheel in frustration and let out a scream. This day was turning shittier by the second.
I grabbed my cell phone, but I didn’t know who to call. I knew Carson would be out, probably drunk, Kristin had went back home this morning to her parent’s house, and I hated calling Mackenzie or Hayes. I knew they would help me in a heartbeat, but I didn’t like bothering them. They had a little girl to care for—they didn’t need to care for me, too. My brother was in another state, and the thought of calling my parents sucked.
I took out the money I had made in tips. It was probably enough to get a tow truck but I still had no clue what to do with my car. Where would I take it? I guessed my only option was to leave it and call a cab.
I pulled up a few cab companies on my phone’s search engine. I was about to click on the first number when tapping sounded at my window.
“Ahhh!” I screamed, glancing out the window. Brad was on the other side of the door, a small smile playing on his lips. I took a deep breath and slung the door open.
“What the hell? You scared the shit out of me!” I yelled.
He was laughing—hard. “I’m sorry…” he started, laughing some more. He took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m sorry. I had no idea I would scare you so much. The look on your face...”
“You’re an ass,” I told him, a grin pulling at my lips. He looked so cute when he smiled. It made me want to smile, too. Well, cute wasn’t the right word. More like sexy.
He took another deep breath and cleared his throat. “Why were you just sitting in your car? I thought you left a while ago.” He had noticed when I left? Holy shit!
He inched closer and I looked up at him. “Um…my car won’t start. I was getting ready to call a cab when I was scared half to death.”
He moved in even closer and my breath hitched. He leaned down and goose bumps spread across my skin as I thought he might kiss me. Instead, he grabbed the door of my car. “Let me take a look.”
You dumb fuck, why would he want to kiss you? “Okay,” I said, shaking my head at my stupidity.
He turned the key still dangling in the ignition. Click. Click. Click. Nothing.
“It’s the battery. Why don’t I take you to the auto store and get you a new one?” he suggested. “It won’t take but a few minutes for me to replace it.”
I shook my head. I didn’t want his pity. “I’m not crashing your date.”
“My what?” he asked, his eyebrows bunched.
“Your date,” I repeated, raising a brow. Had he forgotten about her already?
He grinned. “Not a date, sweetheart. She’s a detective I was helping with a case.” He called me sweetheart. Although I knew he meant nothing by it, my stomach still flipped at the term.
“Oh,” was all I could say.
He grabbed my arm, causing my stomach to flip again. “Yeah, oh. Now, come on, let’s get you a new battery.”
I didn’t respond, but I did walk with him to his black truck. I didn’t know much about trucks, but I could tell it was new. He opened the door for me and I stepped up and sat down. He closed the door as I put on my seatbelt and looked around. It had leather seats and looked fancy, but what the hell did I know? My old truck had been nice, but not this nice. I frowned as I remembered the truck my parents had gotten me for my sixteenth birthday.
“What’s up with th
e frown? That upset about riding with me?” Brad asked as he sat down.
“I was just remembering my old truck.”
“What happened to it?” he asked, clicking his seatbelt into place.
I bit my lip. “I, um, wrecked it,” I answered, hoping he wouldn’t push any further. That was about all I was willing to say.
“That sucks.”
“Yep. But I guess that’s just life, right?”
He pulled out of the parking lot. “Right. The important thing would be that you weren’t hurt. Trucks can be replaced.”
“Are you always so positive?” I asked.
He scratched the scruff on his chin as if in deep thought. “Pretty much. Why be negative?”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I’m always right, sweetheart.” He winked. I loved it when he called me sweetheart. It made me feel special even though I knew I wasn’t.
“We’re here,” he announced, completely oblivious to how affected by him I was.
“Yeah,” I replied as he placed the truck in park. We both took off our seatbelts and got out. I took a deep breath, hoping the night air would cool me down.
“You coming?” he asked from the front of the truck.
“Of course,” I answered, feeling like a dumbass. Way to go, loser. Just stand there like an idiot. That’ll make him want you.
He opened the door for me and I stepped inside the store. He placed his hand on the small of my back as he followed, sending shivers down my spine. “You cold?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Just adjusting to the air conditioner.” That was the stupidest answer ever.
His only reply was a smirk as he walked us toward the counter.
The guy behind the counter gave us a tight smile. “Can I help you?”
Brad explained that we needed a new battery and I gave all the pertinent information about my car. The guy walked to the back to get the new battery, leaving Brad and I in awkward silence. Brad was probably weirded out by my behavior. I would have been.
The guy hefted the battery onto the counter and began ringing it up. “That’ll be one-twenty-three fifty.”