Page 28 of Making Home with You
It was a hell of a way to wake up.
Afterward, I’d reluctantly dragged my now late ass into the shower, before quickly dressing and leaving Sarah dozing in my bed.I’d told her to stay as long as she wanted, even as a part of me wanted to tell her to stay forever.
But at the same time, I didn’t want to freak her out with how fast this was all moving.We’d only just come clean about the fact we are dating and as much as I’m into her, I know we need to take things slow.Spend some time getting to know each other, especially with so many other things changing for her with the new job and a possible move to Boston.
Even if that last part is not something I‘m looking forward to.
My morning bliss however, rapidly fades the second I walk into the station and find Carla waiting for me.After last night’s phone call from Sam, I should have expected this to happen, but it still irritates me.
“Finn,” Carla says, jumping up as soon as I walk in.
I ignore her, heading back to my office as Mavis at reception wordlessly hands me a coffee, at the same time offering me a sympathetic smile.I grab the mug, a small nod my only response, before I go back.
Carla follows me in, her potent floral perfume filling the small space and making me nauseous.“Finn,” she repeats, stopping in front of my desk.
“It’s Chief O’Loughlin,” I say through gritted teeth.“And if you don’t mind,” I add, gesturing back out toward the waiting area.
Carla smiles and ignores me, practically laughing off my dismissal as though it somehow doesn’t apply to her.“I just wanted to touch base and see if you’ve managed to catch the vandal who defaced my shop?”she asks.
I don’t bother to hide my eye roll as I glance at my door before turning back to Carla.“This is what you’ve come in here for?”I ask.“To check up on your vandal?”
“Well, I called last night,” she says, shrugging as though she can’t possibly understand why I’m so confused by this.“And there was no new information,” she continues.“So I thought…”
“So you thought,” I interrupt, cutting her off.“You’d trot on down here and waste my time, did you?”Carla opens her mouth to speak, but I don’t give her a chance.“To be perfectly honestCarla,” I say, not bothering to hide my sarcasm.“Officer Corcoran is looking into your vandal and I’m quite certain he doesn’t appreciate your phone calls checking to see if he’s doing his job.Just like I don’t appreciate you coming in here and assuming that we have nothing better to do than hunt for some snotty little teenager who drew a cock on the side of your building!”
I know I’m being rude and possibly overreacting, but I can’t help it.For some reason, Carla’s appearance at the station this morning after her phone call to Sam last night really pisses me off.
Maybe it’s knowing she was likely one of the ladies gossiping in the shop that Sarah overheard yesterday or maybe it’s because I’m sick and tired of this woman bothering me and being unable to take no for an answer.
“Look,” I say, forcing myself to calm down, knowing I can’t afford to lose my shit.“Officer Corcoran is more than capable of doing his job,” I tell her.“And while it’s unlikely we are ever going to catch the culprit, that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to try.So please, Carla,” I say.“Go and do your job and let us do ours.”
Carla huffs when I finally finish as though she can’t believe I’ve had the gall to say all of these things to her.Just when I think she’s about to turn and leave, she steps closer and smiles at me, the gesture somehow simultaneously flirty and nauseating.
“Finn,” she practically purrs.
I clench my jaw.“What?”
She blinks at me, as though trying to play coy when I know she’s anything but.She opens her mouth to say something just as my phone starts ringing.We both glance down at my desk, see the nameSarah Summersnow flashing on my screen.
Shit.
I silence the ring, grabbing my phone and sliding it into my pocket, even as the look on Carla’s face tells me it’s too late, she’s seen the identity of my caller.
“Is that the woman I saw leaving your place the other day?”she asks.
“What?”I reply, shocked.
“She was leaving your house,” Carla says, a hand on her hip.“I was walking my dog and nearly ran into her.She seemed awfully flighty and quite frankly, disheveled.And then yesterday, she rudely interrupted a private conversation I was having.I mean I know she isn’t from around here, but still, she was incredibly crass, the things she said.It was probably all lies anyway,” she continues.“Gloating over what she’d like to think was happening.”
“Who she is,” I spit out, walking around my desk so I’m standing beside her now.“Is none of your business, Carla,” I add, my jaw tight.“And if you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate it if you could keep your mouth shut about whatever it is you think you know about me.”
“Don’t be like that, Finn,” she says, smiling as she steps closer and puts a hand on my arm.
“What the hell are you doing, Carla?”I ask, shaking her hand off.
“What do you mean?”she asks, as though she has no idea what I’m referring to.“I was only…”
“No,” I say, cutting her off.“Stop,” I add.“Stop with the shit.You and I are never going to be anything more than two people who went to high school together.Stop thinking that’s ever going to change and stop sticking your nose into business that doesn’t concern you,” I say.“My personal life and who it involves has nothing to do with you.”
