Page 9 of Dad's Cop Buddy

“What the fuck, man? That’s police brutality,” he says, holding his face as blood spills from his lips.

“First, bitch boy, she’s not my daughter. She’s my date. Second, let’s just pretend that I’m not a cop. Let’s pretend that I’m just some guy whose date you offended. Will you fight me, then?”

“No. Look at you. Who would want to fight you?”

“Nobody smart. Now, since I am a cop, I’m going to dispatch an officer over here to babysit you boys. If any one of you gets behind the wheel of a car, you’re all spending the night in jail. Is that clear, ladies?”

“Jesus, sorry man,” the guy from my chemistry class answers.

“Yeah, you’re sorry. Now, go sit on the curb. An officer will be here shortly.”

Kent and I get in the SUV, and he calls the dispatcher. There just happens to be a patrol car seconds away, and it pulls in before he turns off the radio. Kent grins as he watches the car roll up to the guys in front of the bar, and then puts the SUV in gear and drives away.

“Are you sure you don’t have some sort of relationship with that guy?”

“I’m completely sure. He’s just drunk and acting stupid. That’s exactly why I don’t date anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“College guys. Some of them don’t seem that way, but eventually, everyone that I’ve gone on a date with turns out just like that. I don’t have any interest in hanging around some sloppy drunk, or worse, drug user, who just wants to get in my pants and move on.”

“That’s good to hear,” he tells me. “I don’t take that kind of disrespect lightly. If you’re with me, you are with me, and I won’t tolerate any man who tries to take your attention away from me.”

“I think you just proved that.”

“Oh, baby, trust me, that was just a small taste of what I’m capable of.” His shoulders tense, and I can see that he’s upset by what just happened. Maybe this type of aggression should worry me, but all I’m worried about is whether or not he still wants to be with me. Besides, he quickly jumped to my defense, something no one has ever done for me. I already knew I’d be safe beside him, but what happened earlier just cemented that fact.

The moment of truth arrives. He pulls up to my driveway and kills the engine. We sit quietly for a moment as I contemplate my next move.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask him.

He looks at me and replies, “Yeah, for just a minute. It’s dark and the lights aren’t on. Once everything is lit up and the cameras are rolling, I’ll hit the road. I’m sure you’re tired.”

Now, I’m faced with another problem. How do I tell him I want him to stay without making him think that I’m easy? Maybe I’m in over my head here. I’ve never been in this position before, but right now, my head is too foggy with desire. I want him. I want him so much.

5

TOO GOOD NOT TO TASTE

KENT

With Kendal’s yard lit up like an airport and the trail cameras recording, I should be on my way home, but I just can’t bring myself to leave her.

So, I kiss her goodnight, pull up the road a bit, and park. This Timothy Sanders character has pulled a disappearing act and that makes him even more dangerous. Right now, the only way to stop him is to catch him in the act.

Two hours go by and I get a call from Kendal.

“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask her.

“I don’t want it to seem like I’m paranoid, but there’s a truck just sitting across the road from the cabin. It’s been there for a while.”

“Well, hell. I guess I’ve been found out,” I tell her.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s me, darling. I didn’t want to worry you, but I thought I would stake the place out for a while. Your unwelcome guest doesn’t know about the lights and cameras yet. I thought he might sneak over, and I could nip this thing in the bud.”

“Oh, well, don’t just sit out there. Come back inside. You can leave your truck parked there so he doesn’t see it in the driveway.”

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