Page 48 of The Interns

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead then squeezed her hand before letting it fall to her side as he walked across the room to step into his boots and show himself out, leaving her feeling reassured, but even more uncertain than ever about where they stood.

* * *

December 12, 1:55 PM

Reed: hey. you doing ok?

Maya: Little better after breakfast and a nap. You?

Reed: same

Maya: What are you up to today?

Reed: gonna meet up with my friends to watch football later on

Maya: Sounds fun.

Reed: you don’t mean that

Maya: The friends, not the football.

Reed: i know it’s a long way and not your thing, but you’re welcome to come

Maya: I’d love to.

Reed: really?

Maya: Yeah. I want to see this hometown of yours.

* * *

They made their way down Main Street which was lined by one- and two-story brick buildings, some facades painted and some left as plain red brick. Maya read the hand painted wooden signs that marked each building they passed: Clayville Medical Office, Miller’s Package Store, and Clayville Post Office. The strip wasn’t busy by Philly standards, but there was a steady flow of traffic down the street and people coming and going from the stores on this sunny Saturday afternoon.

“You really haven’t bought a single Christmas present yet?”

“Nope,” Reed answered almost proudly.

“Not even for your mom?”

“Now you’re makin’ me feel bad,” Reed said as they strolled along. “In my defense, I’ve been busy working our case on top of school. I think she’ll be happy just to see my face.”

Maya started to laugh. Only he could say something like that and not sound conceited. She reached up and pinched his cheek. “It is a nice face, but I still wouldn’t show up to Christmas empty handed if I were you.”

He looked down at her and made a curious face. She responded with a flirty shrug. Yes, she had basically just called him cute to his face.

“Hey, Reed.”

They both turned to see an officer walking their way. Her eyes moved from the officer dressed head to toe in beige and brown to the sign of the building he had walked out of: Carter County Sheriff’s Office. The man tipped his wide-brim brown hat at them. There was something familiar about his tall, lean frame and easy stride. As he neared and pulled the hat from his head, she could finally see his face. It was a very familiar face. Clean shaven, dimpled cheeks as he smiled, bright blue eyes, and sandy brown hair cropped close to his head.

“I didn’t realize you were on today,” Reed said to the man.

“I picked up a shift. Deputy Wayne is out with the flu. Hi, I’m Emmett.”

She reached out and shook his outstretched hand. His eye contact and firm handshake told her that he was raised with good manners. “Maya. Are you two…?” She looked between them to compare their similar faces give or take a few years and wrinkles.

“This is my brother,” Reed said. The Stanton brothers smiled in unison.

“Yeah, I can see the family resemblance,” she said, motioning between the two men.

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