Page 65 of Spencer

Tabitha laughed, picking up on one thing. “You left your truck in the impound lot? For two years?”

Spencer shrugged. “Well, once I gave up my apartment, I didn’t want it to be in anyone’s way, so I asked the chief if it would be okay to leave it there. He gave me the go-ahead, hung onto my keys, and said he’d drive it for me every once in a while.”

“He sounds like a nice guy,” Tabitha said.

“Yeah. The Chief is awesome. He didn’t blink an eye when I told him I was leaving.”

“Did you give him any explanation?” Tabitha inquired while Spencer brought up the ride app on his phone.

“I didn’t have to. He’d been around and had seen me slip into a funk. He’s friends not only with my family, but with Chief Ildavorg of the Orono PD where Mason works, and I think he understood how lost I was feeling, even before I did.”

“Will he want you back?” Tabitha asked, chewing on her bottom lip.

Spencer reached over and took the tender bow from between her teeth, soothing it with his thumb. “He might, but I’m not going there,” he assured her. “I’ve already made up my mind where I’m headed, Tabitha. I’m making a promise to you right now. Nothing he says will entice me back. Unless,” he grinned, “it’s on a contractual basis for my new company’s help with local water rescues.”

Tabitha smiled and heaved out a happy sigh.

Spencer felt like he’d passed some kind of test, and he was glad. He didn’t want Tabitha doubting himorhis dedication toward his new endeavor.

Spencer tapped a few buttons on his phone, then filled her in. “Seven minutes until our ride gets here,” he said with a satisfied nod.

Uber was great. It had saved his ass any number of times when he’d been on shore-leave with Pietro and they’d been a bit too tipsy to find their way back to the ship.

An hourand a half later after taking care of business, their ride-for-hire which they’d kept, approached the BPD.

Spencer wasn’t sure exactly how he felt as the building loomed large before him. Part of him yearned a little for the good old days, where this edifice was his home-away-from-home. But another part of him wanted to turn around and run away, remembering how his final months here had eaten at his soul.

“Hey. It’s okay.” Wasn’t it amazing how easily Tabitha intuited his mood. “If you need to vent, I’m your girl.”

Spencer was dragged temporarily out of his doldrums. He covered her hand with his.

“Youaremy girl,” he repeated, squaring his shoulders.

He confidently assured himself that walking into the station was going to be a whole different ballgame this time.

Losing the smallest edge of his trepidation, they tipped the Uber driver, retrieved their duffels from the trunk, and headed around back to where his truck sat, covered in late-spring pollen but still a sight for sore eyes.

“Let’s ditch our bags, then I’ll go introduce you to whoever’s around.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed. “Unless you want me to wait outside for you.”

“Not on your life.” He shook his head, and taking the duffels one by one, he swung them into the bed of his truck. “You’re with me.”

He reached down and took her hand.

It felt natural—almost ingrained—their fingers entwining. The last of the dread that hung over him blew away like clouds disappearing in the breeze.

Hell, yes.

This was the beginning of his new life. He was walking into his old work-place as a different man; a man with a plan. And Tabitha was by his side. It didn’t get much better than that. Spencer was suddenly psyched, and he pushed through the front doors with confidence.

The first few officers who spotted him as they walked in, blinked and did double-takes before rushing him with huge smiles, closed-fist punches, and thumps on the back. Some of his old colleagues even embraced him.

So many of them were milling about?

Spencer glanced at the clock.Yup.He couldn’t have timed this any better. It was change of shift.

“What the hell?” Smitty, his long-time patrol buddy edged his way into the pack, chortling.

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