Page 20 of Digging Deeper

Me: Shouldn’t you be asleep?

Annoying Dude: Seriously? You’re the one that texted me first.

Me: But I didn’t expect you to answer tonight.

Annoying Dude: Then why send it?

Me: I wanted you to see them.

Annoying Dude: But you thought I was asleep. You make no sense.

Me: Hush, you. I make plenty of sense.

Annoying Dude: If you say so.

Me: I do say so.

Annoying Dude: Too bad I can’t see them in person.

Me: You’ll be here soon enough.

Annoying Dude: You think so?

Me: Yes. I have faith in you, Drix.

Since I can’t gettooserious with him, I send another follow-up text right away.

Me: I mean since you’re not acting like a mean asshat anymore.

Annoying Dude: You and the name calling. Who’s being mean now?

Me: Yeah yeah, I’m horrible.

Annoying Dude: You’re the opposite of horrible.

Annoying Dude: You’re actually really amazing.

My eyes widen as I stare at my phone. Did he seriously just say that to me? He doesn’t even like me. He never has. Well, he never did before, but I suppose I’ve won him over, haven’t I? Butterflies swirl in my stomach and my chest tightens in panic. Maybe hewaslooking at my ass the other day. Oh my god, what if he really was looking at my ass? Then what does that text mean? Shit.

Closing my eyes, I breathe deeply to push away the panic. There’s no reason for it; it’s not like he asked me out or something. He’s only being nice, being a friend. Right?

Me: Thank you. I hope you have a good night, Drix.

Annoying Dude: Sweet dreams, Gav.

I stare at my phone for a long time before shutting it off and throwing it on the nightstand. After I settle down, Nana curls up against my side and Brutus lays his giant head on my chest and licks my chin before snoring in my face and making me chuckle. I cuddle into both of them with a smile. I don’t have to be alone anymore in this house, thank god. And these two couldn’t be more adorable.

Nana and Brutus’s sweetness helps me forget the weird vibes I’m getting from Drix. At least enough for me to fall asleep cuddled between them.

9

Hendrix

“Come in,” I yell from my spot by the window.

The sight of Jameson’s brother, Jovany, shocks me. “Hey, Hendrix,” he says, his gaze darting quickly around the room.

“Uh, hi. To what do I owe this honor?” I ask suspiciously. I’ve always tried to be at least diplomatic with Jameson’s brother, on the off-chance that at some point he’ll pull his head out of his ass and restore his relationship with his brother. It wouldn’t be as big a deal, but he’s a detective out of the same police department that Jameson and I work in, along with their uncle—our Chief—and his cousin, Jovany’s partner. None of the family is good to my partner, between him being gay and him siding with his father, who Jamson and I believe to be in prison on fraudulent charges, his big Italian, law enforcement family has ostracized him.

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