Page 9 of Devoted

Angie

The soundof the front door and Silvana's cheery tone wake me from a deep sleep. I stretch my feet out only to discover that my legs are on Maddox'slap.

Maddox looks up from his phone. "You were out cold, lady." His hand rests on the leg of my jeans. Suddenly I wish I was wearing shorts so I could feel his warm, callused palm on my skin. "I'm glad you got somesleep."

Silvana marches into the room beaming with pride at the box of Hostess cupcakes he's holding. "I hope you like these because they were having a two for one sale." He taps his temple. "And I quickly calculated that if I bought three boxes, I could get three forfree."

I pull my legs off of Maddox's lap, throw off the blanket and sit up. "You wonderful shopping guru. Toss meone."

Silvana rips open the box and tosses me two individually wrapped cupcakes. "Two for one, remember?" He returns to the tiny kitchen to put away thegroceries.

"You're right. That requires me to eat two in one sitting." I rip open the package and catch another eye roll from mypartner.

"What?" I say as I chomp down my first bite. "I'll balance it by eating a banana fordessert."

"Ten, the doctor released you with stern warnings that I needed to make sure you ate well and got plenty ofsleep."

I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh and avoid spitting cupcake. "Mother hen does not look good on you, Maddox. It doesn't work with all that hot manliness. Besides, I just took a longnap."

"It wasn't thatlong."

"I'm an adult. I don't need you to look after me." The second I say it, his eyes flicker with hurt. He stands up from thecouch.

"Don't bemad,Maddox." I smile up at him hoping to jostle him with some humor. "That never gets old." My jostlingfails.

"I've got to make somecalls."

As he walks past, I reach up and take hold of his hand. "I just don't want you to feel responsible for me,Maddox."

"No? I thought that's what good partners do." He pulls his hand away and heads outside to make hiscalls.

For the longest time, we could finish each other's sentences, practically read each other's minds. We were always on the same page. Now, it seems I never know the right thing to say, and he never knows the right way torespond.

I carry the second cupcake into the kitchen and drop it into the box. "I'm not proud to admit this, but it seems, for the time being, one cupcake is my limit. These are my favorites though. Gluey, plastic preservative packed treats that theyare."

"It's the nostalgia. It adds to the enjoyment," Silvana says as he straightens from the refrigerator. His cheeks are wind burned from the beach air. "At least that's what it is for me. Whenever I was going to have a math test or my mom knew I was having a tough time making friends at school, she'd stick a Hostess cupcake into my lunch. I'd get to the lunch room feeling miserable and sad. Then I'd open that lunch box. It was like thatyippeefeeling you get on Christmas morning. That's why I still love them. And I still save the thick patch of icing for last. It's like eating the crummy vegetables first so you can savor the delicious mashed potatoes and gravylast."

"My mom stuck cupcakes in every once in awhile too. You're right, it was like finding Christmas morning in your lunch box." I take a box of cereal out of the bag. "I think you and I would have been friends in school,Silvana."

His round apple cheeks flatten some. "Nah, you would have been with the cool kids. I was never on that side of the lunch room. Far from it." It's rare to see Silvana frown. That alone should give him the coolest kid status in any school orprecinct.

"Hey, Sil, I'm sorry the guys rib you and joke around so much at the station. I guess it's because you're so damn good-natured abouteverything."

Silvana glances through the glass door at Maddox, who is still on the phone. He smiles but it's taking more effort than usual. "You've always treated me with kindness and respect, Ten. I want you to know that I really appreciateit."

His unexpected words cause a lump in mythroat.

"And I think some of that has rubbed off on your partner," he says. "My partner too, I guess. For now. Until you're back on yourfeet."

I lean forward and kiss his cheek. "It's not that I've rubbed off on Maddox. It's that you've rubbed off on him. You're a good person and a good detective and he sees that. You earned that respect all on yourown."

"Thanks,Ten."

I reach into the grocery bag and pull out a bag of barbecue potato chips. "And you have earned my respect as the premier shopper of all time. Barbecue are myfavorite."

"I know. I've seen your vending machine habits. Let me just say, on behalf of junk food junkies everywhere, well done,you."

I take a bow before popping open the bag. I lean against the counter and snack on a few chips. My stomach has still not recuperated from the long weeks without much solid food. I've found small portions are all I canhandle.

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