Page 18 of Screw Christmas
Maya
The alarm clock on my phone blaring next to my head interrupted one of the most restful sleeps I’d had in a very long time. Groaning, I turned from Dylan and snatched up the phone, quickly silencing it before it woke him.
Six o’clock came way too early. Why in the hell did I have to take overtime today?
Oh wait… Yeah. Because I had nothing better to do with my holidays. Or at least that had been the case.
Looking over at Dylan sound asleep next to me, I regretted that I had to get out of bed and go to work. We hadn’t had sex last night, but we spent a lot of time exploring each other’s bodies and then cuddling on the sofa while naked watching movies until we decided it was time to sleep. It was strange and erotic, but at the same time felt so normal that I had to keep reminding myself that we were still getting to know each other again. There was less than ten minutes of cuddling in bed before I was transported into dreamland.
I was very tempted to call in sick and just snuggle back up into his arms, sleeping the day away, but knew I couldn’t. My attendance was pristine, so on a normal day no one would ever blink an eye or question whether or not I really was sick. However, that was before I was caught frolicking in the park with a random guy in the middle of a snowstorm. That would be news, more like gossip really, and I knew without a doubt the moment I arrived at the station, virtually everyone would know about my little adventure. If I didn’t go to work the rumor mill would really be churning when I did go back. Better to shut it down before it really got started.
Everyone would know, including my ex Aaron.
But did that really matter? Screw him if he knew. Hell, it would be good for him to know that I’d moved on.
In the end, I had no choice but to throw the covers off myself and carefully crawl out of bed, doing my best not to wake Dylan. If he was anything like he had been when we were teenagers, then he’d be dead to the world until at least noon. I’d be home by suppertime. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle what happened between us last night, but I didn’t want to obsess over it for now. I deserved a little slice of happiness whether that happiness ultimately included Dylan or not it was way too early to tell, but I was hopeful. Besides, there was nothing wrong with just enjoying the moment.
I had less than an hour to shower, get dressed and get my ass to the station, so I hustled while trying to remain as quiet as possible. When all was said and done, I found myself panting and bursting through the front doors of the station with seven minutes to spare. In my mind, arriving any less than ten minutes early was being late and gave me anxiety.
As luck would have it, I had barely gotten into the front door when I bumped into Aaron, who seemed to be lingering around my desk. I tried to keep my expression as blank as possible when I greeted him. “Happy holidays, Aaron.”
Brushing past him, I shrugged off my jacket and placed it on the back of the chair before sitting down. Silently, I prayed that he’d just go about his business and that his unusual lingering had nothing to do with me.
“You too.” There was a glimmer in his eyes that told me he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. At least not until he said his piece or had his fun. Whatever it was that was on his mind.
After attempting to ignore him for a few minutes I eventually sighed loudly for his benefit and looked up to see he’d shifted position and was now leaning a hip against the desk looking down at me.
“Can I help you or are you just planning on standing there and staring? I’ve got a ton of work to do before going out on patrol. I’d like to get it done.”
“I heard you had quite a night last night. Do anything, or anyone, special?”
Yup, there it was. Sitting back in the leather-like black swivel chair, I crossed my arms over my chest and glared up at him. “It was a good night. What did the hens have to say that you found so interesting?”
His smirk widened. “I heard you and some mystery guy were getting busy in the park. That’s a felony.”
“Actually, it’s a misdemeanor at best. But considering we were both dressed it really was nothing aside from a moment of passion that got the better of us and just happened to catch the attention of Derek.”
“Still very unbecoming of an officer of the law.”
“I wasn’t in uniform.”
“Very unlike you.”
Was that his way of calling me a prude? Anger boiled within me. Well, fuck him. “Then let me ask is screwing a prostitute when you’re in a relationship acceptable behavior for an officer of the law?”
“Boy, you’re really hitting below the belt today. Guess last night didn’t turn out to be as satisfying as you’d have liked. And you know as well as I do that she’s not actually a prostitute, she’s a cop who was undercover.”
“As a hooker. She performed in that role so well, I might add.” With a smirk and a shrug, I added, “Maybe a side gig for her?”
“You’re such a good person, don’t let pettiness get the best of you.”
Damn this man was infuriating!
“Is there anything else I can do for you, or do you plan on just standing there staring all day?”
“I do miss our banter.”
I froze, my stomach turning just a little bit. “Is that so? You really do?” Raising a brow, I looked back up at him. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have been such a pig and a cheat.”
