Page 6 of Saving You

“Oh, well, I’m sorry, but he’s out right now.”

As she says it, all the breath leaves my lungs as Officer Sutton walks through a door at the back of the room. His blond hair looks like he’s been running his hand through it and his shirt strains against his muscles as he walks. Like he senses me looking at him, his gaze snaps to me.

“Caleb,” Charlie calls, causing us to break eye contact.

He looks down at her, and a smile tips his lips. I’m not sure how someone his size manages to move as gracefully as he does when he comes to stand in front of us. He immediately crouches down to Charlie’s height.

“Hi, Charlotte. How are you?”

“I’m good. I brought you cookies and a card,” she says as she thrusts the container out towards him.

He chuckles as he looks at it. “You did, did you? That was very nice, thank you.”

“They’re my favourite flavours, too. Chocolate chip and M&M.”

His eyes widen playfully. “You made me two kinds of cookies? You know, chocolate chip cookies are my favourite.”

Charlie’s eyes go wide too. “They are? We have the same favourite cookie.”

“We do. This is my favourite thing this week. Thank you, Charlotte.”

He stands and smiles. “Hi. Thank you for the cookies.” This time, his words are directed at me, and a blush fills my cheeks.

“You’re welcome. Charlie came home from school the other day talking about Thanksgiving and said she wanted to do something to say thank you to you.”

“That was thoughtful.”

“Caleb, we are going to Sammy’s. Do you want to come too? They have really good chicken strips and chocolate milkshakes.”

I run my hand over her hair. “Oh, honey, I’m sure that Officer Sutton is busy. We should let him get back to work.”

“Okay.”

Disappointment fills her voice, and Caleb obviously notices, too, because he says, “Actually, I’m just getting off shift now. If you can give me five minutes, I’ll go change and we can head over there.”

“Yay!” Charlie exclaims as she does her happy dance right there in the middle of the reception area of the station. Caleb chuckles at her antics before looking at me and mouthing,Is it okay?I nod. A small smile tips his lips before he turns and makes his way to get changed.

CHAPTER 3

Caleb

After the day I had, I planned on going home, making myself some food, taking my black lab Finn for a quick walk, showering, and heading straight to bed. Not only did I work the evening shift, but I had an overdose call today and the girl didn’t make it.

Even after serving overseas, losing someone never gets easier. I’ve learned my ways to process it, and that usually means spending time by myself, but there was no way I could live with the disappointment on Charlotte’s face when Bailey said I couldn’t go to Sammy’s with them. So a change of plans it is. I’ll go to lunch with them and then head home.

When I join them again, Charlotte runs up to me and grabs my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Bailey watches us with a beautiful smile. I open the door for them, and we walk through the parking lot. When we don’t stop, Bailey asks, “It’s okay if I leave my car in the parking lot, right?”

“Yeah, you’re all good.”

Charlotte spends the entire walk telling me about her week at school and the new friends she made at the park today.She is so full of life and energy, something I’m not used to. When we get to the diner, we make our way to a booth. Bailey slides in on one side all the way to the window, and I sit across from her.

“I want to sit with Caleb,” Charlie says as she slides in beside me. Her little legs can’t reach the ground as she sits. She rubs her hands together excitedly as the waitress comes over to get our order.

“You have to get a chocolate milkshake, Caleb. It’s the best!” Charlie says.

I order one, and a giant smile spreads across her face. Charlie continues the conversation, requiring no prompting from her mother or me. When the waitress comes back with our drinks, Charlie insists I order the chicken strips just like her, so I do.

Just as our food is delivered, another person slides into the booth beside Bailey and steals a fry off my plate before plopping it into their mouth. Bailey stiffens. Not like she’s scared, but like she’s unsure of this new person.

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