Page 56 of Detective Daddy Next Door

I lift my head up again. She's staring at the ceiling, her lower lip caught between her teeth.

She looks at me. "What's wrong?"

I run my hand over her face. "Nothing." My heart aches so badly.

"I think your phone light is on," Bria says, breaking eye contact.

I look over at the kitchen counter. It's indeed on. I'd put the phone on silent. The constant ring was beginning to get to me. When I get to the counter, I slide the phone into my hand. It's Jon.

"Milley. Did you toss your phone in the ocean? The deputy chief has been trying to reach you. He needs to talk to us."

I see Bria leave the living room and go toward the bedroom.

"What's up? What's going on?"

"He's been calling your number. He says since we did really well with the last case, he wants us to handle another one."

"Another one. Wait. Another case in Long Beach?"

"Yes. Another case in Long Beach. Get dressed and get your ass over here."

I end the call smiling because it means more time with Bria.

Chapter 23

Bria

Mylescomesintothebedroom, joins me in bed and kisses me. "That was Jon. I have to go into the office."

"Alright. Something came up?" I say and kiss him back.

He nods. “Something did.” He goes to get ready, and soon he's hurrying out of the house.

After locking the door behind him, I walk toward the kitchen. I stand over the sink looking out at my house. I've not been there for weeks now, except for the time I went over to get Winny’s business card. The house does nothing for me anymore. I feel like it was tainted the day I saw the face at the window. Although there's no face lurking at the window anymore, the house isn't my place of refuge anymore, either. It's now so strange to me. Despite its close proximity to Myles's house, it hasn't managed to ruin Myles's house for me. In here, I’ve found peace. In here, I've found love. In here, I'm at home.

But at the back of my mind is the dreaded reality I've been pushing away. I've been suspending the thought as though I don't know what's to come. But I do. Myles will be leaving soon. And I'll have to go back to my house. I wish he could stay in Long Beach. I wish some sort of miracle could happen. I haven't come to terms with it yet, and I don't think I ever will. I know that when he finally leaves because he has to go work somewhere else, I'll be miserable in my house. I've been thinking of getting another place, but it's been a lot lately, and spending money on another house doesn't seem like the right decision right now. Plus, the stress I'll have to go through to find a new place and move. I'm stressed already just thinking about it.

My phone goes off. I rush for it on the dresser. It's Ava. She is wailing into the phone when I pick up.

"Ava? Ava. What's the matter?"

"I'm done. I'm so done with men. I'm just so done!"

"Calm down. I'm coming over."

I end the call and go to the closet I share with Myles to get dressed, then rush out and drive out of the driveway.

Ava opens the door with red eyes.

"Oh my God. Come." I usher her back into her living room after shutting the door.

She is sniffling and hiccupping in between sobs. "You know…I…act as though I'm so tough. I am tough…I…but I'm human too, and I have feelings. I just don't know why I get treated like this all the time. Am I ugly, Bria? Please, tell me the truth."

"Stop. You aren't ugly. And you know that."

"Then why do I keep getting treated as if I am?"

"Even if you were ‘ugly,’” I say, quoting the air with my fingers, “because I don’t think anyone is ugly, we are all just unique—we can't all look the same, right?—but even if, you still deserve love."

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