Page 30 of Burned By Fire

“Next time I see Chief Lloyd, I’m going to tell him I’m not interested.” I glance sideways at Sol to gauge his reaction, but he’s distracted by a dog running past us. The owner isn’t far behind, and once the canine is back on its lead, Sol’s attention is back on me.

“What changed your mind?”

“Armstrong is my home, and I want to stay here.” There’s more to it than that, but I seem to be choking on my words. If only we were back in the elevator surrounded by the blanket of darkness.

“I’m glad you’re staying. Do you think you’ll look for a permanent apartment eventually?” We stop to look across the water. It’s a beautiful evening.

“I don’t know. The office has its advantages. Nothing I can afford will be as nice or quiet as the space I have.”

“Have you heard from your mom?”

I shake my head. “No. She hasn’t contacted me since I moved out, but she will eventually. As soon as she needs something from me, my cell will be ringing non-stop.”

He gives me a sad smile. After a few minutes, he says, “Shall we head back?”

“Yes. The walk was good for me. I feel better now, and I’m ready to finish the movie.”

We join hands and take a slow walk back. When we get inside, I snuggle into his chest and finally enjoy The Hating Game the way I was meant to at the start of the evening. We fall asleep in each other’s arms, and sometime in the early hours, he tucks me into bed.

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