Page 30 of Stopped

His arms wound around my torso and tightened. “Let's bring this to the station. He’ll find it tomorrow when he comes into work.”

“Thank you, Lionel. You are a good man and a great friend.”

“I know,” he teased with a grin. “Someone is going to be lucky to have me one day.”

Searching his face, my lips mirrored his with a smile. “Damn right. And you'll deserve every good thing that comes from it.”

“God, this is so sappy. What are we doing? We’re supposed to be saving your relationship from your idiocy, not writing Hallmark cards.” He swept a hand toward a display rack on the wall. “I have enough of those already.”

“Brat,” I quipped with a smirk. “God help the man who sets his sights on you.”

“I know, right?” Lionel laughed and moved through the tiny shop to shut off lights as I collected the bouquet of blooms and candy, swiping up the folded sheet of parchment at the last second with an air of hesitancy. Maybe this would work. Maybe it was too late. Regardless, I had to try.

A few moments later, we walked into Town Hall with the massive bouquet, garnering oohs and ahhs from passersby and town employees alike. If all else failed, at least it wasgood advertising for Lionel’s little business. My optimism was tempered before we even made it to the staircase leading to the police headquarters in the basement.

“Aww, how quaint.” Brixton’s icy tone echoed through the hallway and caused us both to turn without thought. “I'd have assumed you'd be scrambling to work on your little campaign instead of wooing the local Sheriff.”

“Brixton,” I replied with a clipped nod. Lionel mumbled something inaudible under his breath beside me. It was likely for the best that he didn't say whatever it was any louder, at least judging by the scowl twisting his delicate features into a look of hatred.

“I'm looking forward to this weekend. Perhaps we should have a fun little debate? The townsfolk will love to hear our positions, don't you think?” Brixton sauntered toward us with cool confidence and a laughably sardonic grin.

“Or we could not and say we did,” I countered with my best attempt at a charming smile. If ever there was a time I wanted Will’s dimpled grin as backup, it was now.

“Not very cooperative of you, Thompson.”

“Don't you have things to do, Hayden?” Lionel stepped forward with a jerk of his chin. The poor thing was a full foot shorter than Brixton, but his attitude more than made up for his lack of height.

“Indeed. You gentlemen have a lovely afternoon doing… that.” Brixton’s fingers fluttered toward the bouquet in my hands with a smirk. “I'll be off. There’s an election to win.”

With a wink and a humorless laugh, he turned on his heel and swaggered away, the sound of his whistling echoing through the space and setting my nerves on edge. God, how I despised this man.

“Li, I hate to say it, but I'm really not feeling retail therapy or a confrontation with Ashley today.” I sighed and hugged the flowers tighter to my chest.

“I won't fight you on that. He has a way of sucking the joy out of everything.”

“Cake and coffee?” I glanced toward him out of the corner of my eye as we resumed our walk to the police headquarters.

“Perfect, my dear.”

Flowers delivered and hearts weary, we linked arms outside the doors of Town Hall and slowly strolled toward our destination. Did my waistline need any more sugar-laden indulgences? Not at all. But I definitely needed to eat my feelings if I had any hope of resurrecting some sort of drive or motivation. As if on cinematic cue, fat raindrops broke from the sky above to leave dark marks on the slate in front of us. Even the heavens found the burdens too heavy to bear. It was fitting, really. Something had to give somewhere.

Chapter Sixteen

William

After strongly considering callingin sick, I managed to drag my ass to work on my first scheduled day back only a few minutes late. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to be anywhere except my bed, to be frank. Even that was barely tolerable, but at least I could wallow alone and not have to pretend I was fit to interact with the public. Everything was such a pile-on, my brain and body both wanted to quit. My dad was not settling into the home. Our finances were a wreck. The stress was making me physically ill. On top of it all, my already tattered heart was bleeding out over EJ.

The drive to work was done on autopilot, as was the walk into the headquarters. My zombie-like state had me going through the motions without a single stitch of awareness for my surroundings. It was not the best place to be in for a law enforcement officer. I had to get my shit together, but I didn't know if I had the energy to do so. Awareness slammed back into me with the strike of a hand to the back of the head.

“Doherty! Did you even hear me?” Raine grabbed my shoulder and spun me in place. “Earth to Will.”

“Sorry, sorry. I'm good. What’s up.”

“Jesus, Will,” she murmured with a softer tone. “C’mere.”

Before I could protest, not that I wanted to, she had me wrapped in her arms and bent nearly in two to accommodate our height difference as she held my head to her shoulder. I sagged, letting her bear the majority of my weight as I melted into the embrace. I was so tired, I honestly could have fallen asleep right there, just like that.

“Will, maybe you shouldn't be here.” Her hand brushed over the back of my head as she rocked me to and fro. “We can do without the coverage today.”

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