Page 75 of Heart Strain

26

Jameson

“Thanks for being willing to switch shifts with them for me, Aiden,” I say as I’m grabbing my pocket watch out of my locker after work. We had worked the overnight so I can drive with Holden today back to his apartment in Ithaca and get him packed up and out of his old apartment. With tomorrow being my day off, it gives us two days before I have to be back for work.

“No problem. It’s nice having a partner again. It’s been a while since I’ve had the same one consistently. I’m sure you can’t wait for Drix to get back, though.” He says it in a cheery voice, but the attempt at a smile on his face is fake and his eyes lack any kind of spark.

Shutting my locker door, I walk over to him and grip his shoulder. “Buddy, it’s no hardship being your partner. And I do miss Drix, but if something changed and he didn’t want to come back, I’d stay your partner in a heartbeat.”

“Thanks, Jameson.” His smile morphs and becomes more genuine. “So you and Holden are going to leave as soon as you get home?” he asks as we turn to exit the locker room.

“Yeah, Holds is going to drive while I sleep. You’re sure you don’t mind going to my house for a while later and then again tomorrow with Simba and Nala?”

“No, not at all. I wouldn’t have offered if I did. It’ll be nice to play with them again.” Holds had invited Aiden over for dinner after our second week as partners. He wanted to get to know him better outside of the hospital environment. Aiden had fallen in love with our pets, and they’d spent the whole night clambering on top of him.

“Are you sure? I know you plan on going to visit with Drix at the rehab center today and tomorrow, too. With how difficult he’s being, that’s a thing all in itself.”

Aiden chuckles. “Difficult is a nice way to put it. When I went by the other day, he was throwing his food tray across the room.”

Internally, I sigh. Drix’s temper since he went to the rehabilitation center is alarming. He’s always been strong, steady. “Yeah, he’s definitely not handling this well. Holds and I aren’t sure what to do for him. He’s blown off, or pissed off, all the PTs in the place, and his attitude is going to have a lot to do with whether he ever walks again. It’s like he’s doing the opposite of everything he’s told.”

We step out into the busy squad room in time to run directly into my brother and cousin—great. Cappi stalks right up into Aiden’s face, barreling his oversized chest into the poor guy. “Where you been, McGuire? I was running late this morning and needed you to go for my coffee.” The sounds of the area around us drop to a low hum in anticipation of the show Cappi always provides.

Aiden keeps his eyes down while responding, “Sorry, Detective. Jameson and I switched with Bruno and Josh so we could work the night shift.”

Cappi side-eyes me before advancing more on Aiden, hitting him with his ridiculous pecks and causing him to stumble back a step. “Good. Then you can go now.”

Pressure fills my head and my skin tingles with excess energy; I don’t give Aiden a chance to respond, saying firmly, “No, he can’t. We went to the gym last night before shift, then worked what ended up being a really busy night, and he has plans to go see Drix later. He’s gotta get home and get some rest. You want coffee, go get it yourself.”

Stepping quickly from Aiden, Cappi’s instantly in front of me, nudging me with his chest. His whole body vibrates against me as ugly splotches of red fill his face. “No one was talking to you, James. Or wait, maybe we should call you Jami.” He steps back, laughing, and knocks my brother’s arm with his elbow. “That’s perfect, right, Jovany?” He speaks louder. “Jami and Holly… Perfect couple. They were destined to be together.”

A strange expression twists my brother’s face, but he doesn’t respond to Cappi, his gaze remains steadily on me. Not sure what’s going on in his head, nor having the time or desire to dissect it, I give Cappi a once over from head to toe. “Good one, Cappi. Wow. Pointing out the obvious has always been your strength”—staring pointedly at his bulging biceps, I continue—“your only strength.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see panic flicker across Aiden’s face, but behind Cappi, Jovany bites his lower lip. As Cappi opens his mouth to rant, I continue, “Now, seeing as how my boyfriend’s—Holden, by the way—brother is still recovering and not walking yet, I’m sure Chief wouldn’t want to hear reports of you shaming his brother.”

Cappi huffs at me. “You gonna tattle to my daddy, Fox?”

“No, I’d do it officially, of course. Go to HR, bring my partner here with me as a witness, fill out the appropriate complaint form, you know… the works. Then they’ll have to bring Jovany in at which point I’m sure Chief, the man with the position, not just your father, will hear about it, and then…” I quirk a brow at him. For all the posturing Cappi does, we both know he’s terrified of pissing off his dad. Where my father had been kind and nurturing, Cappi’s had been hard and punishment had been swift.

Cappi’s beady eyes narrow at me before swinging back to Aiden. “You get a pass this time, McGuire, but next time I expect—”

Cutting him off, I say, “There won’t be a next time, Cappi. Aiden’s my partner, and even once Hendrix is back to work, Aiden’s still my friend. He’s an officer, and a damn fine one, and you’ll show him respect. Now if you’re done, we’re off duty.”

Turning to Aiden, I tilt my head toward the front door, hoping he’ll follow me as I head out. As I pass Jovany, I catch the subtle nod of approval he gives me. The minute we’re outside, Aiden says, “Holy crap, Jameson. That was awesome. I’ve never seen you stick up to him like that. Thank you, though.”

I take a deep breath of fresh air and my shoulders untighten as I blow it out. “Yeah, um, I don’t know what came over me, but… it felt good,” I say through a nervous laugh.

“I bet it did. Did you see your brother’s face? Even he was trying not to laugh. That was awesome. Oh man, I can’t wait to tell Hendrix this afternoon. I bet that’ll put him in a better mood, huh?”

“Hopefully. I’ll call and check in later, but I’ll see you at the gym before shift the day after tomorrow. Right?” Aiden agrees happily and we part ways.

As I drive to meet Holds, it’s not how proud of me Drix will be that’s running through my mind though, it’s Jovany. He used to practically gnaw a hole in his bottom lip so he wouldn’t laugh when we were younger and our mom screamed about whatever mischievousness she caught us doing. Then he didn’t back up Cappi’s stupid Jami and Holly joke. And what was with the nod of approval? What’s going on with my brother?

* * *

“Hey Foxy, we’re here.”A wisp of air skates across my cheek as Holds whispers into my ear to wake me up.

Blinking my eyes open, I see an apartment building directly in front of me. “I slept the whole ride?” I ask in amazement. Usually I don’t sleep well in a car.

Holds rubs his hand across my head, massaging my scalp with his fingers. “You must have needed it. You weren’t awake for ten minutes once we got out of the city.”

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