Page 113 of Friends Don't

“Please.” I’m begging now. “I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Then you’d do well to do as I ask so we can get this over with.”

I press my lips together and reach for my purse. I produce my license and smack it into his outstretched hand. I have to rummage through my glove compartment, but eventually I find my insurance card and registration paperwork. In the couple minutes it takes me, the cop is getting drenched.

Like it’s basically approaching levels of waterboarding torture for him out there.

I can’t help but take some smug satisfaction in that.

Serves him right for being such a stick-in-the-mud.

“Here you go.”

He takes my documents back to his squad car and leaves me fuming.

Here’s the rub. I know cops. I work with them daily. So I know that the minor infraction I committed doesn’t merit anything more than a light slap on the wrist…if that.

The rain lets up so I can see out my windows again, and I study him in my rearview mirror. He’s got the light on in his squad car, and he’s typing something into the computer that’s built into his console.

He looks very official, and my best guess is that he does everything by the book.

A classic overachiever.

He’s hot too, and I bet he knows it.

I hate this man on principle, and I really hate him because I’m going to be out real, live money when this is all said and done. Not to mention what it’ll do to my insurance premium.

All that, and I’m surely missing Poppy’s engagement at this point.

Curse this hot cop. Curse him real good.

By the time he strolls back to my window, I can practically feel steam billowing from my ears.

He hands over my license and other documents, along with a brand-spanking-new citation. In spite of my anger, my cheeks burn. I hate being in the wrong, and though I still don’t believe I did anything majorly wrong, the ticket says otherwise.

“You’ll need to pay this online or in person at the Cashmere Cove Police Department.”

“Fine. Yeah. Whatever.” I face the windshield. “Are we done here?”

I should respect the police, I know. But I’m over this guy. I’m over his approach. I want to get to my sisters’ house.

When the cop doesn’t answer me, I swing my gaze to him.

He’s staring back at me with a look I can’t quite read. “It’s my job to keep the community safe, ma’am.”

I fight off an eye roll. And it’s my job to try to be a good sister and be there for Poppy on the biggest day of her life thus far, buthere I am.“Of course it is. Can I go?”

He holds out his hand, motioning to the road ahead as if to say,By all means.

As I start to roll up my window, he says, “I’m just doing my job.”

I cut him with a disdainful look, praying I never see this guy again, and take off.

I make it to the duplex that Poppy and Mack share in less than fifteen minutes—no speeding required.Take that, hot cop who I hate!

Poppy flings the door open and engulfs me in a giant hug. “We’re engaged!” she shrieks, and my heart clenches and then expands.

I’m so happy for my big sister. No one deserves to find this sort of joy more.

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