Page 24 of Finding New Dreams

I walked into the police station first. Walls the color of wet sand housed a small reception area and two holding cells, and the whole place smelled like stale coffee and microwave burritos.

My lips twitched into a grin when I saw who was there.

A tall lumberjack of a man in a plaid flannel shirt, work pants, and thick boots stood hunched over a dinosaur of a computer, swearing. A clean-cut Captain-America wannabe sat behind the desk in his sheriff’s uniform, offering mild advice, which was poorly received.

Shoving his thick, dark hair out of his eyes, Carter snarled, “If you had just done the updates like I told you to—”

“—I wouldn’t have the pleasure of your sweet company,” Wyatt finished calmly, his blue eyes glinting with humor. “And I told you that I did the update, and it still won’t load programs any faster than Old Meryl can deliver mail.”

Carter threw his beefy paws up in the air. “That’s because this machine is older than Old Meryl! How many times do I have to tell you? You need to get. A. New. Computer.”

“Probably as many times as I’ve told you there isn’t room in the budget.”

“I’ll donate one if it means I don’t have to keep coming here and fixing this same piece of shit!”

I stepped further into the room. “But then whose shit would you fix, Carter?”

They both turned toward me.

Wyatt grinned and immediately came over to shake my hand and slap my back. “Good to see you, man.”

Carter leaned back against the desk, scowling. “’Bout time you showed up. Sarah texted me an hour ago that you were running loose around town with flyers.”

I smirked. “Congratulations, by the way. She’s an absolute angel.”

Silence filled the room. Then Carter burst out laughing. “She’s my kind of angel, that’s for sure.” He sauntered over and gave me a bear hug.

Surprised, I returned it, clapping him on the back. “Since when did you get all sweet and cuddly?”

He stepped back with a shrug, smiling beneath his black beard.

But I knew. It was Sarah. It’d always been Sarah for him. And despite his generally grumpy exterior, my friend seemed lighter and happier than I’d seen him…ever.

“I’ll take one of those,” Wyatt said, holding out his hand for a flyer.

I handed it over, and he tacked it up on his giant board.

“Beers at Tall Tales later?” he asked over his shoulder.

“After I check in with my boss, sure,” I said.

He came back to stand next to Carter as they both folded their arms. “That’s right, you’re working for our Rose.”

I blinked, taking in their defensive postures and serious looks. “Our Rose? Is this where I get another lecture? Sarah already did that. And smacked me.”

Carter’s smile flashed again. “That’s my girl,” he said, before turning serious again.

I sighed heavily. “You can cool it with the good cop-big brother routine. My intentions are…mostly pure.”

Carter growled while Wyatt leveled his calculating sheriff stare at me.

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, come on, it was a joke! You guys know me.”

“That’s why we’re questioning you,” Wyatt shot back. “We were in the same grade, remember?”

My voice took on an edge. “I told you, there’s nothing to worry about, Sheriff. Regardless, she doesn’t need you two dictating her relationships for her.”

“No,” Wyatt conceded. “But she’s our friend, and you have a reputation.”

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