Page 73 of Redeeming Melodies

Way to take advantage of someone who just needed a friend.

My reflection in the window looked exactly like I felt - tired, confused, too old to be having a sexual identity crisis over one kiss. But it wasn't just the kiss, was it?

Mom would know what to say. She always did, even when I was screwing up everything else. But she was lost in her own fog now, probably didn't even remember me mentioning Elliot. Probably better that way.

The badge sat heavy on my dresser, watching me pace like it knew I was falling apart. Some cop I was - couldn't even protect my own heart from walking into traffic.

Should've known better. People like Elliot didn't settle for small town life and simple sheriffs. They burned bright, raced fast, left the rest of us in their dust wondering what hit us.

But that kiss...

No. Focus on work. On the case. On anything except the memory of Elliot's hand in mine under the stars, the way he leaned in first, how right it felt until reality came crashing back.

Even the coffee I made tasted wrong.

Tommy's room drew me back like a magnet. Stood in the doorway looking at the space that was his for such a short time. The posters we hung together were still up - must have forgotten them in their rush to leave.

Should text them. Make sure they got home safe.

Except I didn't have his number. Never asked, like some teenage kid too scared to make a move. Professional distance, that was the excuse. Look how well that worked out.

Work. I needed to work. Needed to focus on the case, on Jimmy lying in that hospital bed, on real problems I couldactually solve. Not on the way my heart cracked a little every time I thought of Elliot's smile.

I pulled up Caleb's number. He was probably exhausted, dealing with Liam and Jimmy and everything else. Last thing he needed was my sexual identity crisis on top of actual life-or-death shit.

But he answered on the second ring anyway. "Hey stranger."

"Bad time?" My voice came out rougher than intended.

"For you?" There was rustling, like he was already getting up. "Never. Grove in twenty?"

The Grove looked different this morning. Gemma was behind the counter as always, but she just nodded instead of her usual cheerful greeting.

Caleb was already there, tucked into our usual booth. Dark circles under his eyes told stories about hospital chairs and sleepless nights. Made my own problems feel small in comparison.

"You look like shit," he said by way of greeting.

"Speak for yourself." I slid into the booth, grateful when Gemma appeared with coffee without being asked. "How's Jimmy?"

"No change." His hands wrapped around his mug like he was trying to absorb its warmth. "Finally got Liam to go home, but only because Nina threatened to slip sleeping pills in his coffee."

"Should've called first, man. If you need to get back-"

"Don't." He cut me off with that quiet authority he'd always had. "You're family too. And something's eating at you."

"They left." The words came out small, not like me at all. "This morning. Didn't even say goodbye."

Understanding crossed Caleb's face. "Elliot and Tommy?"

"Yeah." The coffee burned going down, grounding me. "Vanessa filed some emergency motion. No contact for a month while the court reviews his case.”

"Shit." Caleb leaned back, studying me. "That why you look like someone kicked your dog? Or is there more?"

"I fucked up." My voice cracked embarrassingly. "Last night, we were talking and there was wine and stars and I just-"

"You kissed him." It wasn't a question. When I looked up sharply, he just shrugged. "Been watching you two dance around each other since he got here. Figured something would break eventually."

"He ran." The admission tasted bitter. "Packed up Tommy and left before sunrise. Didn't even leave a note."

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