Page 33 of Sundowners
“There were no visible injuries and the other party won’t file a complaint, so there’s nothing.”
“Rey. It was like the woman downtown. They didn’t bite this guy, but if Creed and I had been a few minutes later…”
“Look, you two shouldn’t have gotten involved. The fucktards claimed you two came at them with golf clubs and they feared for their safety. The only reason we’re not having a convo with you in the back of my squad car right now is that neither of you raised those clubs or took a swing. You’ve got to be more careful than that, dammit.”
“I know, asshole,” I muttered, getting pissed that he’d question my behavior. “You didn’t see it, man. It was gonna be bad. That man wasterrified.”
Rey frowned at me, and then stepped away to answer his radio.
Creed came trotting back from the arcade.
“Where the hell did you go?” I pressed him.
He held up his hands. “I went out front to see if they kept walking down the boardwalk to the exit or if they were sticking around. I knew they would be let go with a warning. I wanted to make sure they actually left and weren’t a threat to that family.”
I wanted to smack him. “Creed! You can’t just do shit like that.”
“Did my partner get your statement?” my uncle asked, stepping back over.
“Yes, I met them out front.”
“Good.” Rey looked between us and smiled. “Was this a date?” He flicked a finger back and forth.
I rolled my eyes but Creed smiled.
“Yes, Officer Cabral. I let your nephew beat me at mini golf.”
“Let? There was no letting. Are you for real?”
Rey laughed and tilted his ear to his radio and listened. “Shit. Gotta roll. You two have fun and stay out of trouble. Oh, and no rides for you, Junior. You call the doctor?”
I wish he was not in uniform right now. “Don’t you have someplace to be, Officer Dicknaldo?”
Creed snorted and raised his hand to cover his laughter.
Rey waved as he strolled off to meet up with his partner.
“Doctor? Is something wrong?” Creed turned to face me and got, well,nursey.
“Fucking asshole. No, not you. Him. Nothing’s wrong. Nothing new, anyway. My tinnitus was just acting up.”
“The dizziness last night?” he asked, and he stepped closer. “Are you experiencing it now? Any blurred vision? Headache?”
I batted away his hands when he went to take a peek at my pupils. “Not you too. I’m fine. Old surfing injury. Undertow is brutal here. Smacked my head, hit a rock right here,” I said, placing a hand on my right ear. “Partial hearing loss from a ruptured eardrum. Had tinnitus off and on since. Part of why I didn’t go the law enforcement route like my uncle and aunt. Wouldn’t pass the physical. Figured maybe I could still be of some use in a research capacity.”
“Hey,” Creed said, placing his hands on my arms. “Roman, you are doing great things. You were amazing, by the way, the way you de-escalated the situation. You kept those kids from seeing their father get seriously injured.”
I shook my head and suddenly needed some air. “I’m so pissed though. They’re just going to walk away and do it to someone else.”
“They’ll have a reckoning. I have no doubt. Bullies always do.”
“I hate bullies,” I grumbled. But then I noticed the vivid colors of the sunset, and it did wonders to calm me. I took a deep, cleansing breath and instantly felt better.
Creed followed my gaze up to the sky and smiled.“It’s going to be a beautiful night.”
“Yeah,” I said, pressing my shoulder to his. Standing next to him seemed to make the anger and stress dissipate. I’d noticed it before. I wouldn’t say he had a calming effect on me, not at all. But there was an effect, and I wanted more. “The sky looks painted.”
“Indeed.” Creed wasn’t looking at the sky anymore. He smiled at me. “I believe a walk on the beach at sunset was mentioned.”
