Page 3 of Nocere

Ainsley chuckled, setting her napkin on the table. "You're both sweet and gentle. I can see how that could leave you in a stalemate at times."

"It does. She's very indecisive. I mean, I am too, but not about my own stuff. Just when I'm with other people. She's always indecisive and wants someone to choose for her, even if it's just what shoes to wear." I shook my head. "I'm not explaining it well."

"You are. Alex is very passive about life and waits for things to happen for her."

I nodded my agreement. "Right. I mean, I do that sometimes, but not with my career or general life situations. If I like a pair of shoes, I'm going to buy them."

Ainsley let out a soft laugh and nodded. "I'm aware. You have great shoes."

"Thanks." I chuckled and relaxed into our conversation after that.

Lunches with Ainsley were usually the highlights of my work week. When I first met her, she was newly gay and dating Jordan. The two of them could hardly keep their hands off each other no matter where they were. Now, they still continued to act like that, but it didn't make me blush as much.

We returned to our respective jobs and I ended the day as I always did, entering data into my crime map. A soft knock sounded on my office door and I looked up to see Rebecca, otherwise known as Detective Santoro, and my former foster mother.

"Hey, dollface. You coming for Jason's birthday bash on Monday night? And by bash I mean pizza and cake with the four of us?"

"I'll be there." I smiled at her as she dropped down to sit on a chair on the other side of the desk and crossed her legs. "I got him a subscription to one of those gamer boxes. Think he'll like that?"

"Oh yeah. No doubt." She yawned and stretched while she watched me. "How's my girl?" Rebecca's terms of endearment lifted my spirits as they always did. I never quite processed how she ended up fostering me when I was sixteen and she was barely thirty. No matter though, she never made me feel uncared for or excluded. From day one, we were family and it meant more to me than anything.

"I'm good. Work has been really good," I told her, closing my laptop after saving my work. "It usually is."

"Because you're exceptionally good at it. Walsh told me about your report on the street gangs. He was tickled." She grinned and snapped her fingers. "A tickled Walsh is a giddy department."

I laughed and shook my head. "At least temporarily. Sadie agreed with my suspicion at least."

"Good. One day you'll be Lead Analyst. I'm convinced."

"How is work for you?"

"D.V. is D.V.," she said, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Violent men, victimized women, it's painful, but we get through. The new detective on my team seems promising though. Maya Brody. Know her?"

"I don't. I'm glad that's working out though."

"Me too." She nodded toward the door. "Ready to bolt, dollface?"

"I am." I packed up my messenger bag and tossed it across my torso.

On the way out, Rebecca wrapped her arm around my shoulders. "What's got you so quiet?"

"I'm not sure. Ainsley is having a dinner party tomorrow and she invited me."

"Not up to socializing?"

I shrugged and allowed myself to lean into her on the way to the parking lot. "Not much."

"Well, sweetness, you do what makes you happy. Hear that?" Rebecca kissed my cheek and released me by her car.

"I'll try," I said, before climbing into the passenger seat.

***

Every Friday, I looked forward to dinner with Rebecca. She called it our girls’ night out. When I was younger, we would go to the movies or the arcade, sometimes to a carnival or to get our nails done. Over the years, it morphed into more adult activities like dinner and drinks. No matter what, I always appreciated it.

After rousing late with pangs of hunger in my belly, I made my way to the kitchen. I glanced at the clock which told me I slept well past noon, which wasn't all that unusual. Nearly two in the afternoon was a little new though.

My phone chirped beside the coffee pot and I lifted it to see a text from Ainsley.

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