Page 16 of Champagne & Handcuffs
Like Seth.
After I’d graduated high school, and for a week during the summer before I started classes to become a dental assistant, I wanted to visit Seth and Joss. After a year of back and forth phone calls, I was finally going to see them in person. Though, the phone calls had mostly consisted of Seth. Joss was just—odd. I wasn’t sure why she was being the way she was, but whenever I’d call, she didn’t really want to talk. You’d think that since she wasn’t under Cruella’s thumb anymore, she’d be the happiest person on the face of the earth.
Seth had been a cop for over a year, and whenever we’d chat, he always had some story to tell me.
“Gibbs and I were dispatched to some dude’s house today for a 10-10. Thought we were going to break-up a fight. Come to find out one of the guys had doll’s heads scattered throughout the house. And not just any doll heads. No. This weirdo had sewed the hair of his dead relatives and friends into the head of the dolls.”The only question I asked to that weird tale was if the weirdo killed those people for their hair. Apparently, he hadn’t. He just had some sort of fetish about keeping dead people’s hair.
The plane touched down, and I grabbed my bubble gum pinkRazorflip phone from my purse.
Me:Landed.
A few seconds later my phone vibrated.
Seth:Almost there. No sense in parking. Text me what door you’re at.
Me:Joss too?
Seth:Nope. Just me, Kitty Cat.
Me:Where’s Joss?
People started to finally move down the aisle of the plane, and as I made my way to the front, Seth texted me back.
Seth:She sleeps a lot now and said she’d be at home waiting for us.
After getting my bag from baggage claim, I walked outside and texted Seth my door number. Excitement filled my body as I waited those excruciating minutes. I just wanted to hug him because I missed the shit out that boy. Though, he wasn’t a boy anymore. No. He was a twenty-two-year-oldmanwho was trained to fight criminals.
A black Chevy Tahoe pulled up to the curb, and when I glanced to see if it was Seth, a huge grin split my face in half, and my belly fluttered. It was him. He got out and rounded the hood. My arms wrapped around his neck as he picked me up off the ground, hugging me for dear life.
“I’ve missed you, Kitty Cat,” he said into my ear.
I smiled against the crook of his neck. “I’ve missed you too, 5-0.”
Seth set me down and grabbed the handle of my rolling suitcase. As he put my luggage in the backseat, I climbed into the front. I couldn’t believe that I was finally in D.C. Hell, I couldn’t believe that it had been over a year since I’d seen him. Seeing him for a few months out of the year ended after he’d graduated high school.
When Seth got into his seat, he turned to me and smiled. My heart tightened in my chest. Seth was a man now. A fine piece of a man. His piercing green eyes light up his face, and he had a light beard which made me want to reach out and run my fingers over the stubble.
What was I thinking? This was my best friend, and he was four years older than me. We’d practically known each other since we were kids. And yeah, when I’d first met him I was smitten. That never went away.
We stared at each other for a beat and just smiled. I wasn’t sure why he was staring at me, but I was looking at him in a whole other light even with the sky black.
“Hungry?” Seth finally asked as he pulled away from the curb.
“Starving.” I shook my head to clear my naughty thoughts.
“Pizza sound good? We can bring it back and see what Joss is up to.”
“What’s her deal anyway?” I asked, looking in his direction.
Seth turned his head to me. “What do you mean?”
“Doesn’t she seem off?”
He thought for a moment, looking back at the road. “I think she just misses Bryce. I’ve tried to locate him, but since he’s a minor, I can’t find him.”
“What about Cruella?”
Seth sighed. “It’s like they just vanished, Kitty Cat.”
