she wouldn’t have landed yet. She would still be in the air.
He could text her so it was waiting. Or leave her a voice mail.
He chose to text because she would at least see part of it on her notifications. She might not listen to a voice mail.
I love you, too. Please call me.
It was all he needed to say, and the minute he sent it off, it was like a weight had lifted and he could breathe again.
That had been his true mistake. Not what happened back when he was barely old enough to vote. His real mistake was not being open with her, not trusting them enough as a couple to get through whatever came their way.
“Good for you, man,” Cain said with a smile that quickly turned down. “There’s some trouble. Did I mention all those girls’ nighters? You’re one of the only men in a bar full of women who’ve had a few. Do you know what that means?”
It meant he should probably go home and wait for his lady to call.
“Hey, Zep,” a feminine voice said. Debra Griffiths slipped onto the barstool beside him. She was dressed to kill in a short skirt and a barely there tank, boots on her feet, and her hair teased halfway to heaven. “Happy to see you out in the world again. I’m partying with some of my friends. Maybe you want to come join us? Misty and I have been talking for a real long time about how hot you are.”
Dear god. “I have to get home. I’ve got a call I’m waiting on.”
He slid his beer toward Cain, but Debra reached out and stopped him. “Come on, Zep. Don’t be like that. I know all about the deputy and how she’s leaving. There’s no reason for you to play the good boy now. We’ve missed the baddest boy in all of the parish.”
“I’m going to need to ask you to move along, ma’am.”
His heart jolted at the sound of the voice. He turned and Roxanne was standing just past the doorway looking like the most gorgeous thing he’d ever seen in khakis. She was here. She was standing close enough that he could almost touch her.
“How are you here? You’re supposed to be on the plane to New York by now,” he said, taking her in like she was the sunshine and he’d been in the darkness forever.
“And you’re supposed to be at home watching our dog and cat,” she replied, her eyes narrowing. “I suppose Delphine got that duty.”
“Hey, now.” Debra stood up and faced Roxie. “I heard you were gone and that means he’s fair game, and we aren’t even on parish land so you can’t tell me what to do.”
“I said move along. I’m not saying it in a police capacity, Debra. I’m telling you plainly to get your hands off my man. Unless he’s been doing something he shouldn’t,” she began, sending him a look that had him answering in quick time.
Zep held his hands up. “Nope. I was crying into my beer because I love you and I couldn’t stand the thought of you leaving, and I didn’t even drink the beer.”
“He’s been perfectly innocent, Deputy.” Cain backed him up. “He was, in fact, pathetically lovelorn, and I think you’ll find he’s left you a text. Debra here was getting handsy. You know, Deb, that whole sexual harassment thing works both ways.”
Debra glared at Cain and snorted. “Yeah, sure. Because men don’t like it when you come on to them first.”
“Should I change?” Roxie stepped in, her hands on her hips. “Because the ass kicking I will give you if you hit on him again will not be parish approved. Do I make myself clear? Or should I say it again?”
Debra lost every bit of her courage at Roxie’s words and close proximity. “I am moving along, ma’am. Nothing to see here.”
She scampered back to her friends.
“Have you been drinking, Guidry?” She had on her stone-cold cop face.
“I had a few sips of one beer.”
“And were you planning on driving?” she asked.
Why was she asking him cop questions when they needed to talk about real things? “Rox, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in New York. Why are you in uniform?”
“Major’s father had to go to the hospital,” she explained. “He had a fall. He’s fine but no one else could take his shift and I happened to walk into the stationhouse at the perfect time to take over.