Page 86 of Playing With Fire
“I know it’s fast, but I’ve learned so much over the last few months. I’ve learned what falling out of love is like and I’ve learned what fallinginloveshould be.And regardless of what society deems appropriate, I love you, Hudson. I’min lovewith you.”
Cupping her face, I look her straight in the eye when I say it back.
We knew our peaceful moment wouldn’t last. In fact, we made it about an hour into our drive home, me following her after retrieving her car from the hotel when flashing blue lights pull in between she and I, forcing her onto the shoulder.
I don’t want any trouble, but she and I both are on edge today, so I pull off to the shoulder in front of her, not wanting the officer to feel like he’s caged in.
I roll my window down in case he wants to come have a chat about my presence.
A second officer arrives on the scene a few minutes later…to deal with me no doubt. My license and registration are already handy and I leave my hands in sight on the steering wheel as the officer approaches.
“There a reason you stopped when the vehicle behind you was pulled over?” he asks, straight to the point.
“Yes, sir. That’s my girlfriend. The last twenty-four hours have been pretty rough and we’re dealing with her soon-to-be-ex-husband. I just want to make sure she’s okay to drive after whatever citation she’s getting.” I know it isn’t speeding because our cruise control was set for five over, and no way we were the fastest cars on the road.
“Her soon-to-be-ex you say?” I nod in confirmation and he says, “Wait here. Donotget out of your vehicle.”
“Yes, sir,” I reply respectfully.
I watch in my side-view mirror as my officer approaches the one standing outside of Shannon’s window. She doesn’t appear to be panicking as he talks. My officer takes something from the other officer and walks back to my window.
“Can you verify her address?” I now realize what he’s holding is Shannon’s license.
I’ve never been so grateful for my job as I am right now. I’ve read Shannon’s address on numerous packages and am so familiar with that neighborhood by now I could probably give himeveryone’saddress.
I easily rattle it off and then add, “But your system may show an application for a new license with an apartment address listed. Their separation was recent.”
He gives me a look and I can hear the voice in his head.Innnnnteeresting.
He walks back to Shannon’s car and the other officer. I’m calm and collected until they open her door and have her get out. They give her plenty of space and don’t lay a single hand on her, so I’m not panicking quite yet, but we’re getting there.However, when I look back at the cops’ faces, they’re wearing expressions ofpity.
Shannon is gesturing, not wildly, but emphatically enough to tell me she’s pissed, but oddly, I don’t think it’s directed at the cops. She’s trying to hand her keys to the cop that pulled her over, but he’s holding his hands up, refusing to take them.
I’m startled when the second cop is suddenly at my window.
“Sir, could you come with me, please?”
“Um, yeah, sure.” I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb out of the car.
When I get within ear shot, I hear Shannon saying, “Take them. If he wants his precious car back, by all means, here are the keys.”
“Shan? What’s going on?” I ask as I approach.
She whirls to face me, looking fucking radiant in her anger. “Gregor called and reported my car stolen. His name is the only one on the title, technically making ithiscar even though he’s never driven the damn thing a day in his life. Joke’s on him though because I’ve hated this piece of shit ever since he brought it home.” Turning to face the officers, completely unfazed by the highway traffic ten feet from her, she says, “Do I look like a minivan mom to you guys?”
They smartly shake their heads no. My officer is fightinghardto hide his smile.
“So here, if he wants it back so badly, he can figure out how to get it off the side of the goddamn road because I’m going home to pick my daughter up and fuck my boyfriend.”
She tosses the keys at the officer’s feet because he still won’t take them.
“Ma’am, we see where you’ve requested a change of address through the DMV. But since the registration matchesyour current license, we aren’t planning to take this car from you.”
“That’s fine, but someone should call Gregor Hartley and let him knowhisvehicle has been abandoned on the side of the highway.” With that, she wrenches open the back door, yanks her duffel bag out and throws it to the pavement before climbing in the front over the console, grabbing her purse, her car charger, and a sea turtle air freshener she has clipped to the air vent.
Once she has both feet back on the ground she smiles sweetly at the officers. “Is there anything else?”
The officer who pulled her over finally loses the battle of holding his laughter in and he snorts as he says, “No, ma’am. You two have a good day.”
