Page 56 of F*cking Shattered

His head jerks in my direction. “I just moved from New York City. Nobody has a license!”

“Ma’am, is that alcohol?” the police officer asks.

I suddenly realize I’m still holding the open flask in my hand. “No!” I quickly answer.

He motions for the flask, but I hold it out the window, quickly pouring it out on the ground.

The police officer rushes around the car and grabs the flask from my hand. He raises it to his nose. “You know drinking in a motor vehicle is against the law, right?”

I bat my eyes at him and smile. “I had no idea.”

“Step out of the car ma’am.” He opens my door.

“Hey, wait just a minute,” River says, getting out of the car and rushing around to my side.

The cop, feeling danger, spins River around and presses him against the car. River thrashes against him, trying to explain, but the officer slaps cuffs on him and walks him back to the police car.

“I’m afraid you’re going in too,” he says while motioning for me to step out of the car. He allows me to step out on my own and I put my hands behind my back as he puts the cuffs in place.

“Can you grab my purse for me?” I ask nicely.

He takes my purse and puts it in the front seat of the police car before placing me in the backseat next to River.

He stands outside the car, talking on his radio.

“I can’t believe you don’t have a license!” I yell at River.

“I can’t believe you poured out my flask! Do you know how expensive that scotch was?” He rolls his eyes.

I shake my head, unable to believe this is where our day is heading. We’re being arrested and all he’s worried about is his scotch.

* * *

“At least we’re in the right place to keep you from popping a boner,” I say from inside the jail cell.

“You’re so not funny.” He lifts his head from the wall to give me a dirty look.

“Hey, this is all your fault. You shouldn’t drive without a license.”

“And you shouldn’t drink in a car, have your ass up in the air, or pour out good booze.” He lists them off on his fingers.

“Jovi?” an officer asks, walking by the cell.

I jump up. “Yes! That’s me!”

“You’ve made bail. Payment just came through.” He opens the cell, allowing me to step out. River stands. “What about me?”

“I’ll bail you out, babe. But it’ll cost ya,” I tease with him, still feeling my buzz.

He rolls his eyes before running his hand through his hair. “Never mind. I’ll hang here.” He sits back down.

I laugh and blow him a kiss before walking away with the police officer.

After my belongings have been returned, I pay the one-hundred and fifty dollars to bail River out.

It takes them almost an hour to process him, but finally, we’re able to leave with a promise to appear in court in a few months.

The first thing we do is head over to the impound lot and bail the car out of jail. By the time we get home, we’re both so exhausted, we go right to bed, too tired to even think of trying to cross off anything else on the list.

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