Page 67 of Another Love, Another Time
He catches me looking at him and gives me his trademark smirk.
“What?” I ask. I wonder how many times he has smirked at Melissa. I can tell he knows where my thoughts took me, andhe clears his throat. I shake my head. Wanting to change the subject, I start, “Your mom invited me to a family barbecue this Sunday. I guess they think I’ve been here long enough, that I need to face the firing squad.” I chuckle, steering my thoughts from our past.
“Yeah, I got the same invite. Did you not tell them I was your partner?”
I scoff. “No. I don’t want them knowing where I work.”
“You didn’t tell your mom where you work? Riv, she needs to know. What if something happens to you, and they call her? What does she think you do?”
“She thinks I work in an office. I told both of our moms I didn’t want them to know because I don’t need them showing up.”
“You’re right.” He smiles and shakes his head. “They would have shown up.”
“Have you told your mom?”
“No, but I haven’t had a chance to talk to her. I’ve been busy. I got the invite through text, and I just responded with a thumbs up.”
I sigh. “I really missed your mom’s cooking. They don’t serve food like that overseas.”
It has been a week since I started at the HPD so far. Everything’s going well. I love the team; they remind me of my last team. All of them have a sense of humor, and they enjoy playing jokes on one another. You can tell they all have a tight bond, and they have welcomed me into the fold seamlessly. This morning, Mackey invited some of the team over to his house to hang out and watch baseball tonight. I responded that I’ll join.
My thoughts are interrupted by my phone vibrating, and I see that it’s Baxter.
“Hey, do you mind if I get this? It won’t be very long.”
“Yeah, go ahead. We have another ten minutes before we get there.”
I hit the green circle to accept. I really don’t want to have a conversation with Baxter in front of Auggie, but I don’t really have an option. I don’t know when I’ll be able to speak with him again, and I haven’t been able to talk to him all week. He got special permission to text me the first day I was here to make sure I arrived safely.
“Hey, Bax,” I say softly.
“Hey, Rhondy,” he says a little too loudly. I have to pull my ear from my phone.
“Wow. You’re really loud today.” I know Auggie can hear every word he’s saying. I laugh awkwardly.
“Sorry. I just missed you. I haven’t had a chance to call all week, and I don’t have very long.”
“It’s okay. You know I get it.”
“I know you do. How are you? Have you seen him yet?”
My heart speeds up. Auggie can hear him. I glance at him. He’s focusing on driving, but I can tell he’s listening from the way his hands white-knuckle the steering wheel. There’s no use in beating around the bush.
“Yeah. Funny story. He’s a detective too. He’s, uh, actually my partner. He’s sitting right here; we are currently in the car.”
“Holy shit! Really? What are the odds?” He laughs.
“I know, right?” I force a chuckle.
He lowers his voice. “Have you talked to him yet?”
I know what he’s implying. We’ve had several conversations about me moving to the same town Auggie lives in. “Not yet.” I look back over at Auggie. “I will. I’m just not ready yet.”
“Don’t put it off too long. You’re no chicken shit. Not my Rhondy.” He says that last part a little too loudly.
“You’re such an ass!” I joke.
“Yes, but you love this ass,” he states confidently.
