The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew #5) - Piper Rayne Page 0,13

O and I know she’s gonna want me to rehash this story all over again. “The waitress makes a reappearance, huh? Plot twist.”

“Let’s talk about Nate. What’s he up to? Still looking to move you two to New York City?”

She laughs and drives down the road. “You’re not getting off that easy, Whelan.”

“You can’t make me talk.”

“I could hold a gun to your head.”

My head flies her way and she laughs so hard I fear we’re going to drive off the road. “Kidding. Of course.”

I nod, but I’m not so sure. “Has anyone told you, you should’ve gone to school for psychology? Put some people on a couch and torment them?”

“Only you and Nate.”

“Must be because you torture us the most.”

She glances over and nods, a huge-ass smile on her face. “So what’ll you do now that the waitress is back in town and Leilani’s likely gonna have a warrant out for her arrest?”

I stare out the window into the darkness of Cliffton Heights. Leilani having a warrant out if she skips bail is my biggest problem. I feel bad for Kamea, but I’ll never hear the end of Leilani’s arrest from the guys at the station. Not to mention, I want the promotion to detective. Ex-girlfriend has a warrant issued after I arrested her? Not a good look.

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

Patrice says nothing for a few seconds, and I hope she’s deciding a change of topic is necessary.

“I think a do-over is a good plan.”

Should’ve guessed Patrice wouldn’t take my cue about when she should leave shit alone.

“A do-over?”

“Yeah. I mean, the other day you had that look in your eye when you were talking about the waitress, and now, she’s here, in your apartment. She could be naked right now in your bed.”

“She’s sleeping in Seth’s old bed.”

She huffs. “Get the point I’m making. Rarely do people get second chances. Maybe this is yours.”

“First of all, I’m not gonna date anyone associated with Leilani, and second of all, I’m sure she just wants to get her money and go back to her life.”

Patrice hums. That’s my cue that she’s annoyed or thinks she’s right. Then again, Patrice always thinks she’s right.

“Stop humming and let’s finish this shift.”

We get off duty in about two hours, and it’s been slow other than Kamea thinking she was brave enough to sleep under an overpass. Patrice is right though—all I can think about is the night I first met Kamea and Leilani. That pull I felt to Kamea until Jimmy said she was more like the girl next door rather than a good time for the night. I’m ashamed now that a quick fuck was all I was looking for back then. I can’t help but second-guess my decision that night, especially since Leilani weaving herself in and out of my life has screwed me over.

When our shift is almost done, Patrice and I walk into the station to file paperwork on a DUI we pulled over, and on my desk, I find a box with a black ribbon tied around it.

“A gift?” Patrice asks, sitting down and booting up her computer.

“Probably not a good one.”

I untie the ribbon and open the box to find a save-the-date card printed on regular paper. There’s a copy of Leilani’s mug shot along with a picture of me in my uniform above words in big black bold lettering—Metal bars can’t even keep these two apart. Come witness them vow their undying love at Cliffton Heights Police Station. BYOBM – Bring Your Own Bail Money. Cash only. Thank you.

I tear it up and shove it in the garbage.

DuPont walks by like he wasn’t the mastermind behind it, but his smirk is so deep, it gives him away.

“You really need to kick his ass. You’re double his size.” Patrice types away on the computer.

“That will just add to my problems.”

I’ve dealt with guys like DuPont and Milliken my entire life. They were the pricks making fun of me in elementary school for being “stupid.” I kicked their asses in junior high after I grew six inches in height and three in width one summer. But I don’t do that shit now. Not unless someone is hurting the ones I love.

“Whelan, get in here,” Captain Donnelly calls from his office.

Patrice eyes me across the desk. “I got this.”

I stand and head across the room to the captain’s office. He’s a stout man with a beer belly. Although he’d never be able to pass the physical test anymore,