Page 22 of Don't Look Back

We’re both quiet as I try to figure out why I called him. What was I planning to accomplish with this call?

“Les? Is everything ok?”

“I’m here… I just…” I trail off again, wishing I wasn’t so awkward all the time.

“What, sweetheart? Talk to me.”

“I don’t like knowing you’re hurting.”

“I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Then who will?”

“Worry about me?” I can hear the surprise in his voice and it makes a smile tug on the corner of my lips. “Shit, Les, I don’t know. I don’t have anyone to worry about me.”

“I think you need someone to.”

“Are you applying for that position?” I can hear the smirk in his voice.

“I don’t know. Maybe in the future.” I slip my bottom lip between my teeth and bite down, trying to contain the smile that wants to spread across my lips.

“Well, I can tell you now, if you apply, you’ll get the job. So, you should probably fill out the application while we’re talking.”

“Sheriff Brown, are you flirting with me?”

“I was trying to, but if you have to ask, I'm clearly doing a shitty job at it.”

A shrill scream fills his side of the line and I freeze. What the hell was that?

“Is everything ok?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure the idiotic boyfriend just gave Jenny a mirror. I told him not to and he kept insisting she deserved to know what she looked like. They never want to listen to me. I'm just the dumb Sheriff.” He sighs, sounding so defeated and exhausted.

“Hey, Colton?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you come back over when you’re done with the accident?”

“Yeah. Are you good?”

“I will be when you get here. I think you need someone to worry about you tonight.”

Chapter 13

Colton

I drop my head in my hands and try to reign in my emotions. I don’t want to get back out of my truck to check on Jenny, but I can't leave Pecker out there all alone. She’s still screaming and I have a feeling that isn't going to stop any time soon.

I slip my phone back into my pocket and climb out of my truck. Zippering my jacket a little higher, I stuff my hands into my pocket, wishing I had some gloves or a hat. Anything to keep me a little bit warmer. I'm lucky I found this coat in the bed of my truck. I don’t remember when I put it there, but I'm happy I did.

“He gave her a fucking mirror, didn’t he?” I growl as I stomp across the distance between my car and the ambulance.

This boyfriend has been a pain in my ass since I showed up on scene. He keeps trying to leave even though I told him he needs to go to the hospital. I think he just wants toget away from Jenny, he’s having a hard time even looking at her right now.

“Yeah.” Pecker rubs at the back of his neck. I don’t think he’s ever responded to a call like this and I can tell it’s really bothering him. “I’m sorry, Colt. I was trying to take notes so I wouldn’t forget anything. I should’ve been watching him more carefully.”

Pecker’s an amazing cop and he hasn’t done anything wrong since he started in Maple Springs, but he’s new to the town and is trying to figure out how we do things here.

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