Page 18 of Tequila & Lace
Before I could think about it further, the cab pulled to a stop at the next station. I paid and exited the taxi. I didn’t ask for it to wait. If this wasn’t the correct one, I’d flag down another cab. I entered the station and walked up to the counter like I had at the last station. “I’m looking for Officer McKenna.”
The desk officer pointed behind me and my eyes became huge as I held my breath and turned. He was walking through the doors with another officer.
“McKenna!”
I jumped at the sudden yell from behind me. Seth’s gaze met mine and his eyes widened. “Joss?” he asked. “Shit!” He rushed to me and grabbed my hand without another word, leading me outside to a parking lot and to a police cruiser. “Inside!” he barked when he unlocked the doors with the key fob.
This wasn’t what I was expecting. I wanted him to hug me; wrap me in his arms and tell me it was going to be okay. Tell me that I didn’t have to go back and live with Cruella any longer.
“Seth—”
“Just wait, Joselyn.”
Fuck. He’d used my full first name. This wasn’t going to be good. I was fighting back the tears yet again. I hadn’t cried so much in my life and I feared I’d never stop. My world felt as if it were ending and everything and everyone was against me—even my best friend.
I glanced at him a few times as he navigated the streets in silence. I wanted to ask him why he wasn’t questioning me about being there; it wasn’t like I’d showed up for afternoon tea. We finally pulled into an apartment complex and after he’d parked, he grabbed my two plastic bags.
“Is this all you have?”
I nodded. Before I could slide out of the car completely, he came around and reached for my hand, finally pulling me into the hug I longed for. My throat tightened as I continued to fight the tears that were pricking my eyes, but there was no use. They spilled over and I started to cry against his shoulder. I felt safe for the first time in seventy-two hours. I was crushed hard against him, pressed into things that were hurting me, but I didn’t want to move.
This was Seth.
My Seth.
“Grandma called and said you never came home on your birthday,” he murmured into my hair. “I was trying to get some of the guys to cover my shifts so I could go down to help look for you.”
“I ran away,” I whispered.
“Come inside.” He kissed the top of my head before he reached for my hand and led me toward his apartment.
“Why are you mad at me?” I asked.
“I was surprised to see you.” He reached up and wiped a tear from my cheek.
“But you didn’t talk to me the whole way here.”
“I was thinking, Josie. I have so many questions, but it’s better if we talk in my apartment.” He nudged his head toward his car.
I didn’t know what he meant. Cameras? Audio? I let him lead me to his apartment. Once we entered, he set my bags down and I looked around the living room while he went to the kitchen. I finally smiled because this was definitely his apartment. A big screen TV hung on the wall across from a giant sectional couch. On the coffee table, empty beer bottles sat scattered, but what made me smile was that the picture that I kept in my purse of the three of us was framed and sitting on the end table next to the couch.
“Here.” He handed me a glass of water. “Sit and tell me what happened.”
I took the glass and looked at him for a beat. “Do… Do you have to be dressed like that?” He still looked like the Seth I remembered, only a little older. He had the same short dark brown hair that was almost black and the same sea green eyes. The only thing that had changed was the stubble from a lightly trimmed goatee that framed his perfect smile and teeth. And his body… well, he was a cop who worked the streets. I was sure his tight uniform covered a nice body.
“Josie.” He smiled.
“I ran away and you’re dressed like a cop.” I waved a hand in his direction.
“I am a cop.” He reminded me.
“Am I in trouble?” The question spilled from my lips before I knew it. I wanted to know because I wasn’t sure what my mother had told his grandma. I was a minor who had run away after all.
He looked straight into my eyes. I wanted to tear my gaze from his. I didn’t like that he was dressed in his uniform. I couldn’t take it. I had a feeling I was in trouble. If he wanted to take me back, I was going to beg him to let me stay. If he forced me to go back, I didn’t know what I would do.
“No.” He shook his head. “I’ll go change, but you need to tell me what really happened, okay?”
I swallowed. “O… Okay.”
