Page 38 of The Rookie's Second Chance

"I was there for her, always," I said to my reflection on the chrome fridge. "And I can be that for you, Jake. I'll be your goddamn haven."

My heart raced with a cocktail of excitement and nerves. I didn't just want to be present in his life; I wanted to be his confidant, his peace after the storm, the one he'd come home to—not because I was the only one there, but because he wanted me, needed me.

The table was set, the lights dimmed to the right ambiance. I brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear, my stomach fluttering. It wasn't just dinner; it was a testament to my resolve.

Tonight, I wouldn't be the girl from the party, overlooked and forgotten. I'd be the woman in his kitchen, impossible to ignore, someone whose presence was a comfort, a warmth he wouldn't want to shake off.

The moment I heard the door swing open, my heart raced. He was back—Jake was home. And despite the tinge of disappointment that he wasn't looking at me the way I wanted him to, I couldn't help the rush of excitement.

"Hey," I said, trying to make my voice as warm and welcoming as possible. "How was your day?"

He shrugged, his face etched with exhaustion. "Long. The case... it's a lot of work. I'm lucky I've got Kayla on my team."

As the words spilled from his lips, I couldn't help the pang of jealousy that surged through me. Kayla—always Kayla. It was like a broken record, one that wouldn't stop playing, no matter how many times I tried to tune it out.

I plastered a smile on my face, fighting back the urge to beg him to be with me. "That's great, Jake. You two make a great team."

He nodded, not really looking at me. It was as if I were part of the furniture, an object in the room that didn't require his full attention.

Dinner was served, the food untouched, the conversation limited to a few sentences here and there. The more I tried to engage him, the more I felt the distance between us grow. He was a planet, and I was just a satellite orbiting in his periphery.

The dishes clinked and clattered as I cleared the table, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm. I had to find a way to win him over, to make him see that I was the one who could be there for him. It wouldn't be easy, but I was determined. I couldn't be just a consolation prize.

As he retreated to bed, I watched him, longing and frustration swirling inside me. He was right there, so close yet so far away. I wanted to be the one to ease his worries, to be the person he leaned on.

Once the kitchen was spotless, I retreated to my temporary room, my mind whirring with plans and possibilities. I wasn't going to give up. I was going to find a way into his heart, to make him see me for who I was, not just as a friend but as something more.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and smiled to myself. It was just a matter of time. Jake would see me, really see me, and I'd be there like I was for Lexi, steadfast and true.

And until then, I'd wait with the patience of a saint and the subtle maneuvering of a chess master. Because I knew how to play this game—I'd been playing it all my life.

Chapter Eighteen

JAKE

Islipped through the door of the precinct, the familiar buzz of radios and ringing phones greeting me like an old, persistent friend. I looked over at Kayla as I shrugged off my jacket; she was hunched over her desk, papers fanned out like a deck of cards laid out for a fortune telling.

"Morning," I said, aiming for casual. But there was a warmth there, a private sunshine that I hoped reached her across the room.

She glanced up, a ghost of a smile flickering across her face, gone as quickly as it appeared. But it was enough. It was our little secret handshake.

I settled at my desk, trying not to look too eager as I booted up my computer. "What've you got?" I asked, leaning back to watch her, tired but gorgeous, the pretense of checking emails just a cover. I tried not to be obvious as I looked at her, the way, even in our standard issue police uniforms, she managed to look like a bombshell, all legs and curves, accented by the perfect placement of her belt on her waist.

She slightly adjusted the angle at which she sat, giving me the slightest peek down the “v” made by her top buttons. It could have been an accident if not for the slight curling of her lips at the sides to let me know she caught me looking.

She leaned back, rubbing her temples. "I kept digging into the society. And I..." She trailed off, meeting my gaze with a steady one of her own. "I think Lexi might've been involved with it."

"Christ," I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face. "If my little sister was mixed up in some Eyes Wide Shut bullshit, I—"

Kayla let out a soft laugh, a genuine one this time. "We don't know anything for sure yet. But, Jake, this is deep. And dark."

A leaden feeling settled in my gut. "Just how deep does this rabbit hole go?"

"We're just on the edge of it. But I have a feeling..." She paused, eyes narrowing as she scanned the documents again. "I have a feeling we're about to find out."

I nodded, my jaw setting firm. This was what we did – followed the leads, uncovered the dark. But it was personal now, and that made the darkness seem all the denser.

I rubbed the back of my neck, the world feeling like it rested squarely on my shoulders. Kayla caught the gesture, the corners of her mouth tipping downward for a split second before she squared her own shoulders.

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