Page 41 of The Love Losers

As if he hears my thoughts, the Shit on a Shingle officer says, “Now, I’ll read you your rights—”

My breath starts coming in pants, my palms get slick with sweat, and—

Anthony takes my hand and squeezes it, just as Officer Richards tugs her partner a few feet away and says in a very audible undertone, “Nutman, the chief said we’d be on night shift next week too if you bring in another false arrest. We just need to verify that this man is who he says he is, and if they’ll come with us willingly, there’s no need to escalate the situation.”

Two things. One, this man’s name is Nutman? The universe can be cruel, but it can also be kind, bestowing unexpected giftsin the worst moments of your life. Two, I want to give this woman my first child.

Okay, maybe not my hypothetical child. But I’ll send her a fruit basket or a bouquet of Claire’s cookies. I’ll send her so many flowers her porch will sag under the weight. I’ll draw her a shitty picture and frame it.

“We’ll come willingly,” I say, just as Anthony firms his jaw and repeats, “I own this building. It’smybuilding.”

But he must see the desperation in my face, because he takes one look at me in the dim light cast by the stars and his face changes—losing the aggrieved upper-class edge. He nods slowly. “It’s an unnecessary inconvenience for all of us, but we’ll come.” His hand squeezes mine slightly in reassurance, and I squeeze back, and for a moment, I let myself pretend everything’s going to be all right.

They hustle us into the backseat, and Anthony attaches my belt for me, probably because I’m breathing fast again, my exhales more like gasps. When he’s done, he takes my hand and soothes his thumb over my knuckles. “It’s okay,” he says softly as Officer Richards pulls out of the parking lot and she and her partner start bickering about the best way back to the station. My money’s on her.

“We haven’t done anything wrong,” Anthony continues, his hand still on mine. “My sister Emma’s a lawyer, and she—”

“Nicole,” I say, sitting up straighter, my worry lessening the second the answer hits me. My brother would flip his shit if I called him, and he’d be more likely to make a scene than get me out of one. But Nicole has wiles, and her sister is in love with my brother. Shehasto help me. Maybe she can even be coerced into keeping all of this to herself. “Nicole…she and Damien know people in this station, and your sister is a full two hours away. I’ll bet they can help us.”

He considers this, then nods. “They can vouch for my identity. I filled out paperwork when I hired their agency.”

We don’t say anything else until we get to the station, where Officer Richards leads us back to her desk. Officer Nutman peels off to get coffee for himself and his partner, but he promises he’ll return for our “interrogation.”

“You can make your call now,” Officer Richards says, pushing her phone toward us.

“You can call her,” Anthony tells me with a nod.

I look her number up on my cellphone and then dial it. Maybe she’s at Declan’s house right now. Maybe they’re drinking around a bonfire, and she’ll announce to everyone that Wild Rosie is in trouble again, and this time she got arrested. And then…

“This better be worth it,” Nicole grumbles into the phone. “I was about to fu—”

“Nicole, it’s Rosie,” I burst out, aware of both Anthony and Officer Richards listening in. “Anthony and I are at the Asheville police station. We need someone to come tell them who he is.”

“Does he have amnesia?” she asks. “Why don’tyoutell them?”

“We did! We were inside this warehouse he owns, and I guess someone called the cops. He doesn’t have his ID on him, so they didn’t believe him when he said he owns the building. We need someone to come help us, but please, please, please don’t tell my brother.”

“What were you doing in the warehouse?” she asks, pouring plenty of insinuation into it. “Does this meanyouwant to marry Anthony? You know, I had this elderly aunt who used to say a guy would never buy the cow if he got the milk for free, but I think she was just a bad lay. If you ask me, most of the world’s problems can be solved by good sex. Get him hooked, and he’ll go all in. Good strategy.”

My cheeks heat, but I ignore her. “Will you come?” I ask, very aware that our conversation is probably being recorded. Nicole would know that, too, of course, but Nicole also doesn’t care.

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll be there in five.”

“Andpleasedon’t tell my brother. I don’t want him to worry.”

A pause hangs over the line as Officer Nutman approaches the desk with a single cup of coffee.

“They only had enough left for one,” he tells his partner as he takes a gulp from the cup.

Officer Richards looks like she’d enjoy murdering him slowly and creatively.

“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter,” Nicole tells me over the phone. “There’s more to this than big brother-little sister shit, and we both know it. I’m going to get you out of there, and then you’re going to tell me everything.”

She probably expects me to object, but I don’t. Because I intend to tell her everything.

I’ve already decided she might be the only person in the world who can help me.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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