Page 19 of Whatever You Want

“Well, you could be home, resting peacefully in a nice cozy bed, instead you’re out here in the middle of the woods getting eaten alive by mosquitos just because I was feeling sad. If you weren’t a nice guy, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

“You were upset.” I stared into her eyes. “I wanted to take care of you tonight. Not because I felt sorry for you, but because I didn’t want you to be alone.”

“See.” Her smile was smug, as if I had just proven her point.

I laughed. “Okay. Point made. Let’s just keep this conversation between us. I have a reputation to uphold and I need people to be afraid of me.”

“Your secret is safe with me, Detective.”

I looked at my phone and pulled the twin pack of Hostess CupCakes out of my pocket that I kept hidden along with a box of candles. I wasn’t sure how much longer she was willing to sit out here with me. I wanted to get this part over with before we had to pack up and leave.

“What are you doing?” she asked as I set a single candle into one of the chocolate cupcakes and lit it with a lighter.

“Happy birthday, Ava.”

Her eyes grew misty, and the smile that spread across her face caused one of my own to break out. She took the treat from my hand, closed her eyes, and blew out the candle.

“Thank you. This has been really nice and it beats going home to an empty bed.”

I reclined back in my chair and looked up at the stars. “A bed would definitely be more comfortable than these chairs. When you’re ready to head back, just say the word.”

“Surprisingly, my buzz is wearing off and I’m not even tired. Must be all this sugar.” She took a bite of her cupcake, closed her eyes, and sighed. “This is heaven. One of the best nights I’ve had in a long time.”

Ava and I spent the next few hours talking about Brina and Madison. We told embarrassing stories about Marco and Amelia, and about stupid stuff we did when we were younger. We laughed until tears leaked from our eyes and our bellies hurt from all the junk food we put into our stomachs. We stayed in those cheap folding chairs until the sun started to peek from the clouds. The sky turned red, and Keith Urban’s “Making Memories Of Us” played through my cheap Bluetooth speaker.

I watched her hair blow in the soft breeze. A smile touched my lips at the sight of her being swallowed in my green Eagles hoodie. By the time I pulled into her driveway and watched her walk into her house, I knew I would never forget that night for as long as I lived.

“Mom.” Madison rubbed her eyes, still half asleep. “Grandma and Grandpa are leaving.”

“Shit.” I pushed the covers to the side. My eyes squinted at the sunlight peeking through the blinds. It was only nine a.m. I’d only been asleep for a little under three hours. It’s been years since I’ve stayed out that late. I was going to be exhausted today, but it would totally be worth it. Closing my eyes, a smile formed on my lips, remembering how much fun I had last night with Logan. I leaned forward and kissed Madison on the forehead. “Let’s go say goodbye.”

I padded across the hardwood and rummaged through my dresser, searching for a pair of shorts and a tank top. I slipped inside my bathroom, ran a quick comb through my hair, and brushed my teeth. I was only going back to bed after they left, so there was no need to do anything else.

I made my way down the hall into the living room. There were boxes in every corner, reminding me of my upcoming move.

“Late night?” my mother-in-law quipped.

My face burned with embarrassment; I could only imagine what she was thinking. She was a light sleeper, so I was positive she heard me come in this morning. Suddenly, I felt like a sixteen-year-old girl getting caught sneaking in by her parents instead of a thirty-two-year-old who just woke up in her own damn bed.

“You only turn thirty-two once, right?” I smiled while walking past the coffee sitting on the counter. I really wanted a cup, but if I was going back to sleep after this, the last thing I needed was caffeine.

Karen’s eyes were on Madison as she helped herself to a Pop-Tart and went into the living room to watch cartoons. Once she was out of earshot, my mother-in-law turned and placed her hands on her hips.

“Don’t you think you should be setting a good example for your daughter?”

“Excuse me?”

I couldn’t help but stare at her. Karen has always had a sharp tongue, but it had never been directed at me. Sure, we’d had our differences like every mother- and daughter-in-law, but never in all the years I’d known her had she talked to me like this.

“You were obviously with someone last night.” She looked away. “I would have thought my son’s memory would have meant more to you than just a cheap roll in the hay.”

My jaw practically hit the floor. How the hell was I supposed to respond to that? I didn’t have the desire or the energy to spar with her, but she was way out of line. Yes, I was with a man last night, but nothing happened, not that it was any of her business. I refused to apologize for going out with my friends and having a fun time.

“Not that I owe you an explanation, but I was out with the girls. I didn’t feel like coming home to an empty bed, so a friend took me for a drive,” I explained, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. My head understood this hostility was coming from pain. She missed Drew, and I get it. I was sick of grieving too, but my heart hurt from her tongue lashing.

“You were gone all night?”

I rubbed my temples; maybe I should have had the cup of coffee after all. “I didn’t realize I had a curfew.”

---