Page 26 of One Night Redemption

“It’s okay.” Even as I’m checking in with myself, I know that’s right. I’m okay with him knowing what I feel for him. Or at least having a hint. “It’s not a secret. I’m fairly certain that I’ve been wearing my heart on my sleeve for the past twenty years or so. If he’s too blind to see that, then he’s definitely in the wrong line of work.”

She’s not wrong. “Let’s just see how it shakes out. Regardless, I’m taking the night off because I look more like an ER patient than an employee right now. Margaritas?”

“And queso. All the damn queso.”

“You’re on. Let Lizzie know, will you? I’ve got some errands to run.”

“On it ... and Cass?

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you beat her ass.”

I’m laughing even as the line goes dead. It wasn’t how I wanted to spend my evening, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It felt good and it had been a long time coming.

Chapter

Twenty

Cam

"What the fuck went down in Bellehaven last night? Heard Ford was ready to whoop some ass, heard your girl actually did whoop some ass. It wasn't a full moon, so what the hell, man? On my night off too?" Butler Jacobs, our new K-9 officer says as he comes into the station with his partner Atticus.

"Be glad it was your night off. I have no idea what half the county was smoking, but it was some good shit." I backspace about fifteen times, because the way I've written this report is not how I want it to sound if it's ever read back in court. "Are you on tonight?"

"Yeah, surprised to see you here though, because I thought you were off."

"I am." I sigh. "But I didn't have time to finish my reports last night before I had to go take care of a few things. I'm almost done, and then I'll be heading out. I think Troy and I are headed down to the cigar bar."

"Damn, why do you all plan to do that when I'm always working?"

I don't want to tell him it's because we value our time together as friends, without having to worry about others listening to what we're saying. Or that Butler is a little younger than the people we like to hang out with. Instead, I shrug. "We don't mean to, it's just when our schedules link up. Next time for sure."

"Alright, well I'm out. See y'all later. C'mon, Atticus."

The dog gives me a sniff before he follows his handler out into the afternoon. Glancing at my watch, it's almost time to meet Troy, so I need to get this done, and get downtown.

Troy, Cody, and I are sitting in The Cigar Shop, nursing Bourbon and the newest cigars they got in with their shipment. "Thanks for going over to help Cassie last night." I blow a perfect ring of smoke.

Troy gives me a look. "I didn't think it'd be good for you to be the one to go over there. It wouldn't have done any good for anyone."

"You're right about that. I swear if we could arrest Brandon again, I'd do it, and make it a little rough."

"I gotta give it to y'all." Cody takes a drink from his glass. "Some of the shit I see people say to you on social media and on those body cam videos. I don't know how you keep it together, and not just want to throw your hands up. Like half the time, people get themselves in trouble just not shutting up."

"You have no damn idea." I bite down on my cigar.

Troy's phone beeps with an incoming text. "Oh, Jesus. We gotta go get the girls."

"Why?" Cody and I ask at the same time.

"They're too drunk to drive home. Apparently, they had a couple of pitchers, instead of one. They're walking over here."

"The three of them?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Four. Ashley's with them too, but don't worry, I'll take her home."

We signal for the check and head out into the night. There's still a chill in the air, and I have to chuckle when I hear the four girls before I see them. They're in the middle of singing a rather off-key version of "Friends in Low Places"—the third verse.

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