Page 115 of Callahan

Maybe we could cross that proverbial bridge tomorrow.

I filled my cup and took a step toward her as she said, “Ask Brian.”

“Ask me what?” my new sergeant said as he walked in the kitchen dressed for work.

I automatically took a step back into my own space where I belonged.

“Women try to give you their phone numbers.”

He also retrieved a mug from the cupboard and poured himself a cup from the coffee pot.

“Eh, not anymore. Everyone knows I’m a grumpy fuck.”

Lainey tilted her head.

“Really? You are? I’ve never seen that side of you.”

“That’s because you’re not an idiot or a lawless asshole.”

She rolled her eyes at his explanation.

“I have a hard time believing most of the women in Haven Springs fall into either of those categories.”

“They are when they’re wasting my time with bullshit calls. Like do they really think wearing a teddy when they answer the door is going to make me take off my duty belt and fuck them right there in their doorway?”

Her eyes got big.

“Women do that?”

“Not anymore they don’t. Not with me anyway. Ever since I cited Cindy Cravens for filing a false report. Word got around fast.” He looked over at me and raised his cup. “Word to the wise—nip that shit in the bud.”

Lainey persisted. “But you still have women trying to give you their phone numbers.”

“Yeah, they give them to me, and they go right in the trash. I don’t have time to date anyone, Lain. You know that.”

She tilted her chin in my direction.

“Well, maybe now with Adam on the force, you’ll have time. You two can be each other’s wingmen.”

He took a long sip of coffee as he seemed to study us, then said, “Can I ask you guys something?”

There was something about the way he asked, like he was trying too hard to be nonchalant, that gave me a bad feeling about where this was going. Still, I replied, “Yeah, sure,” the same as Lainey.

“Is there something going on between you two?”

My voice was too high-pitched when I asked, “What?” and Lainey’s gasp of righteous indignation wasn’t convincing either.

With a ghost of a patient smile, Brian silently waited for us to answer his question.

I was first to respond. “No, of course not.”

“No,” Lainey echoed. “We’re just friends.”

He stuck his lower lip out as he nodded. “Okay. I wanted to make sure before I passed this information on. Justin Weaver wants to ask you out.”

Her eyebrows shot to her hairline.

“Justin Weaver wants to askmeout? Seriously?”

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