Page 79 of Red Snow
“HOW HAS MARCUS’Sphysical therapy been going?”
“Good,” I reply as I hand the waiter my menu and he saunters off to place the orders. “He should be back to work in no time. I do think he’s milking the therapy a little, though. I mean, come on, it’s been two weeks already. Get over it, man. It’s a knife in the back, no big deal!”
Stacey laughs as she sips her water. “Right, just a knife in the back, slicing through his rear deltoid. That’s nothing.”
“Just a scratch.”
“You’re impossible, Jarrod.”
“Maybe so,” I reply, smiling. “Anyway, enough about that guy. How about you? When can I call you Nurse Stacey?”
“Ugh, not soon enough,” Stacey replies with a huff. “I still have a whole year and a half to go before I get my degree. I’m so ready for all of it to be over. I could honestly fall asleep right here at this table. Seriously, I might just put my head down and sleep right here.”
“Oh, that’d be so messed up if you did me like that. Imagine me sitting here looking like I just slipped you the date rape drug with you passed out on the table. You trying to get me arrested?”
“What? Arrested? You’re Detective Jarrod Granger,” Stacey says, mocking me. “No one is going to arrest the great Detective Granger. You’re too awesome to be arrested.”
“Well, you do have a point there, Ms. Stacey.”
The waiter bring us our food, and Stacey and I spend the next hour eating and talking. Deep down inside, I want to be more than just friends, but I know she’s not ready to go there. We’ve been doing really well these past couple of weeks since the Snowman Killer case came to a close with Jeffrey Lee Chapman’s death. We talk on the phone at least every other day, and we always take time to get together for lunch or dinner just like this.
Stacey was right, I can’t imagine not having her in my life. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking with that whole closure thing. I guess I wanted to get over the hurt, but not having her be a part of my life permanently would’ve hurt more than anything else. So, I’ll take being her friend, as long as I get to keep her around.
“Alright, so now that dinner is done, I’ve got a little something for you,” I say as Stacey and I stack our plates on top of each other in the middle of the table to make it easier on the waiter.
“You got me something?” Stacey replies with raised eyebrows. “For what?”
Without answering, I reach into my pocket and pull out a jewelry box, placing it on the table in front of her.
“What’s this?”
“Just open it.”
Stacey picks up the box, and opens it to find a platinum and diamond bracelet resting neatly inside. I can tell from her loud gasp that she likes it. Mission accomplished.
“Oh my god,” she says, holding one hand over her mouth.
“Surprise! Happy early birthday!” I say, grinning from ear to ear.
“What? My birthday isn’t for another month, Jarrod.”
“I know, that’s why it’s a surprise.”
Stacey stares at the bracelet like it has placed a spell on her, and the look in her eyes makes me feel like I did something right for the first time in my life. She loves it, and I love her. Even if we’re not together right now, I won’t play the tough guy card. I fucking love her, and that’s all there is to it.
“It’s absolutely beautiful, Jarrod. Thank you so much,” she says as she pulls the bracelet out of the box and starts to put it on. I see her struggling to clasp it, so I lean over the table to help her.
“You’re very welcome.” I clasp the bracelet on her wrist, and to my surprise, Stacey looks up at me, locking her eyes on mine. She grabs my hand and leans in, placing a soft kiss on my lips.
“Thank you, Jarrod,” she says in a whisper.
“The pleasure is all mine,” I reply as I sit down.
I don’t know what the future holds. Not for Stacey and me, not for me and Marcus, not even just for myself. Life has a way of throwing crazy shit at you, and you’ve got to be ready to face it head on. You’ve got to be a soldier, ready for war to come to your doorstep at a moment’s notice. I feel like a soldier now. I’m ready for anything. With Stacey and Marcus at my side, I’m good to go, and I feel like I’m unstoppable.
So, bring it on, life. Bring on the next case, the next batch of drama, the next psycho killer. I’m ready for it. When the war comes, I’ve got my army behind me, and we’re going to kick life’s ass.
Fucking right.
THE END
