Page 10 of No Take Backs

“We still on for fishing this week?” He moves around, taking me with him while he throws clothes onto his bed. “I gotta get out of here. It’s suffocating.”

Kyle’s life had taken a complete and absolute turn for the worse when his wife lost her mind and tried to kill herself and then someone else.

“Yep,” I tell him. “I’m dropping off my cruiser and department-issued gear tonight.” Tapping the steering wheel while I wait for him to pop back up on the screen, I sigh. “How are you doing?”

“Good,” he answers distractedly. “Well, shitty. But you know what I mean. I’ll be better when I offload the Sebago house and get a fresh start. How’s Blaine? Is he ready?”

My stomach pitches. “The dumbass decided to be a hero and get himself arrested for someone else’s drugs.”

Kyle’s face appears, too close to the camera, and I find myself looking at his eyeball. “What do you mean? What happened? Will he be out by the time I get there? Do I need to find him a lawyer?”

“We’re fishing next weekend, Kyle. You coming out for a vacation to get away from your shit has nothing to do with it.” I sigh deeply. “But yeah, he’ll be out Monday. When I filed the report, I made sure to document it in the right way. You know, the way that make sure he’ll be able to cover his own ass when he realizes the mistake he made.”

“Wait.” Kyle’s eyebrow raises. “You’re the one who arrested him?”

I tell him about everything that happened at Rockabilly’s and about Blaine’s stubborn insistence that the drugs are his, even though he has a history with law enforcement.

“I’ll bail him out if I have to.” Kyle is already muttering under his breath. “But we’re gonna have to get a beer tomorrow when I get there. Shit’s gone crazy for both of us, apparently.”

I nod and then clear my throat. “Look, man, as much as I love bullshitting with you, I gotta get back to the station and clear out.” I don’t mention my last-minute date with the gray-eyed beauty. But only because he’ll want details, and I don’t even know her name.

Yet.

By the end of the night, I plan on knowing a hell of a lot more about her than just her name.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Kyle fiddles with his phone before finally hanging up.

By the time I get back to the station, shower, and change out of my uniform, I have a lot of complicated feelings. For the first time in my career, I don’t wear my uniform home. Nor do I take my cruiser. Instead, I walk into the parking lot and see my truck sitting there, shining in the pale-yellow lights from the parking lot lighting.

“I meant it.” Bunk appears at my side, still wearing his uniform. “If you change your mind and don’t wanna fight fires anymore, you know you’ve always got a spot with our troop.”

A nod is all I manage.

We’ll still be friends.

We’ll still barbecue and shoot the shit during the day or when we see each other for some community event.

But I’m saying goodbye to the troop.

And even if neither one of us says the words, we both know I won’t be coming back.

“I’ll see ya later.” I wave him off and get into my truck, turning back toward the Belfast Inn & Suites.

This time, I park right in front of her hotel room, thankful that she is on the bottom floor, and I check the clock on my dash.

When the bright-red light showing 9:58 blinks back at me, I smile.

“Right on time.”

Yes, I’m talking to myself, but that is perfectly okay. I’ve spent the majority of my time alone in my car over the last ten years. Talking to myself is literally the only way I get to hear my own voice some days.

The lights in her room are still on, shining through the thick curtains and creating an almost orange glow that illuminates the door.

“You’re here.”

My hand instinctively goes to my left hip, reaching for the taser that I always keep there, and then I remember it was turned in with the rest of my gear. At the same time, I realize that not only am I not in danger, but the voice coming from behind me is the one I’ve come to hear.

I turn around, and if it wasn’t ridiculously cheesy to admit, I’d say that she strikes me breathless.

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