Page 15 of No Sweet Goodbyes

“Why two weeks?” I ask.

“You’re lucky it’s only two weeks, to be honest,” he tells me. “There happened to be a dropout for this BLETP. You’re taking the spot. Otherwise, you’d be waiting six months for another shot at it.” It sounds like he said blempy, but that can’t be right.

“Oh.” I bite my lip to keep from interrupting again. “The BLETP is the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program, right?”

He answers my question with a nod, then goes on with his thought. “You’ve already filled out all your forms, and your uniforms are waiting in the locker room.” The pen taps against his desk again in a steady rhythm, and he stares at me with his lips pressed tightly together. “I never thought I’d see the day that you came on as a police officer, Emma. We all thought you’d go to art school or run away to the other side of the country to start a new life. Away from Birch Harbor.” Chief Townsend scratches his nose. “Like I said, I’m glad you’re here.”

Unable to help myself, I smile. “You know, I never really liked art class. I only did it because it made Linc and Danny mad that they had to pick me up after school so my projects didn’t get ruined on the bus.”

With a chuckle, he picks up his phone and types out a message. “Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me as much as it probably should. And I’m impressed that you were able to wrap those brothers around your finger.”

A knock on his door a few seconds later, followed by the door opening, has me moving to the side.

Amie Lee, the officer who’d given me a ride-along and answered every random question I had for months while I prepared to apply, walks in with a smile on her face.

“Congratulations,” she says. “But the hard part is still coming. Waterville and the MCJA is no joke.” She winked at me. “You’ve got this. I’m so proud of you, Emma.”

I think she’ll close the door behind her when she walks in, but she isn’t the only one to come into the chief’s office.

When Dom steps inside right after her, I almost take a step back in surprise. There’s not even anywhere for me to run to, because he’s blocking the path to the door.

This isn’t how I wanted our first interaction at work to go.

There are too many people around to act as witnesses.

I can’t very well kick him in front of the chief of police.

And to top it off, Dom’s staring at me like I’m nothing.

He isn’t smiling.

He isn’t anything.

Just like every other time I’ve seen him over the last few years, besides when he was asking me to dance in my backyard and giving me the best kiss of my life, his face is blank. He watches me like I’m no one, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

Nothing I want to do about it.

At least, not in front of the boss and another cop who isn’t my brother.

Linc wouldn’t care if I hit Dom. He’d probably laugh and record it.

But Amie wouldn’t think it was funny. Probably.

“Amie’s going to show you around,” Chief Townsend says, drawing my attention back to him. “Then you’re going to head out with your training officer.”

“Great,” I say with a smile. “I can’t wait to learn everything Officer Lee has to teach me before I head to the academy.”

“Oh no,” Chief Townsend corrects. “I’m sorry for the mix-up. Amie isn’t going to be your TO.”

“What?” three voices all say in unison.

The entire time I’ve been working toward this, Amie and I have talked about how much I can learn from another female perspective in law enforcement. I think back to the countless text conversations, wondering if maybe I misread something, just got my hopes up, or am confused.

I glance over to see both Amie and Dom just as surprised as I am by what my new boss said. And honestly, I’m glad they’re confused, too.

“Dom is going to be your training officer, not Amie.”

Shit on a shingle.

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