me. My arms go around her and she tightens up, but I don’t let go. I can’t. “I was so scared tonight, when I thought something happened to you. Please, even if you push me away after this, please just let me hold you.”
We stand there, just like that, for so long that she finally starts to soften in my arms. I take advantage of it and hold her closer, hold her tighter.
She starts to pull away, but I only let her have a little room. I can’t let go of her, not yet.
“Are you supposed to be at work?” she whispers against my chest.
“Fuck.” I loosen my hold on her. “Yes, Captain Benson is going to kill me. I have to go.”
She nods her head and drops her hands to her sides.
“When I call you tomorrow, will you please answer the phone?” I plead with her.
She just shakes her head, sadness filling her face. “There’s no reason to. I’m sorry, but I just can’t, not after everything.”
I want to argue with her, but I know now’s not the time. “I’m not giving up, Heather,” I tell her right before I kiss her forehead and let her go.
I stride over to my truck and drive away without looking back. I know if I look at her, I’m not going to be able to leave.
7
Heather
I’ve never been so confused in all my life. I want to believe him. I wish what he’s trying to tell me is true, but I saw it. I saw them together and there’s no reason that Jamie would lie. I can’t stand out here all night though. I walk toward my apartment and as soon as I get to the door, Jamie’s standing there.
“Hey, was that his truck I saw out there?” she asks me.
I simply nod my head, unlock my apartment door and walk in. Jamie follows right behind me. “You know you’re a cop. You can make him leave you alone.”
I shrug. “I know.”
She just rolls her eyes. “Forget about him. Go out with me tonight. I have a bottle of Tequila.” She pulls a pint out of her purse. I know I should probably talk to her about how much she’s been drinking lately, but I can’t do it tonight. Tonight was already too much.
I start to tell her about my night, but she’s not really interested. When I don’t give in, she leaves to go out and I make her promise not to drink and drive and to call me if she ends up needing a ride home.
It’s only a few hours later, after I’ve showered and changed into my pajamas, that I get the call. “Hey, your friend gave me your number. She’s had a little too much to drink.”
I’m already grabbing my purse, running out the door before I remember that I at least have to put on my sandals.
I no sooner get to the bar and a man is walking Jamie out, kicking and screaming. He tosses her to me. “Here you go. She’s your problem now. She’s lucky I’m not calling the cops for the damage she did.”
Jamie starts laughing. “Oh yeah, she is the cops.”
I thank the man and grab Jamie, pulling her to my car. The whole way to the house, I know I sound like her mother, but I’m telling her about what could have happened to her if some guy had taken advantage of her and how stupid it is to go out drinking by yourself. I don’t stop until we’re pulled back into the lot at our apartments.
“You’re such a party pooper,” she says as I help her from the car.
I’m walking with her, almost carrying her. Surely she didn’t drink that whole pint, did she? “Yeah, I’m the party pooper.”
“You are. I still can’t believe that he didn’t want to sleep with me because he wants you. I mean, look at you,” she says hatefully.
I lean her up beside her apartment door and pull back from her, not caring if she falls to the floor at this point. “Wait. Baker? Are you talking about Baker?”
“Who’s Baker?” she asks as she peeks at me through her heavy eyelids.
I use my keys with her extra house key on it to open her door. “Baker. The one that brought you home the other night. The one you said you made out with.”
She throws her head back in a laugh and it bounces off the brick wall. I’m sure that’s going to hurt tomorrow, but it