I grab my wallet and keys, grumbling as I walk off. They’re wrong, and I’m not going to sit around with them as they try to convince me otherwise. All I know is her name, that she’s a cop, and her address, that’s it. How do you fall in love with a name? It isn’t realistic, and I have no intentions of ever loving another woman.
Been there, and I’d rather be broke than give anyone that kind of power over me again.
The last bitch wrecked me and almost destroyed everything I worked for.
“Hey,” Randy gets to his feet, “don’t be like this.”
“I’m going to prove you all wrong.”
His brow raises, and he grins. “Eli, stop being an idiot.”
“Untle Eli!” My niece runs over and leaps into my arms. “I missed you!”
“Hey, beautiful!” Daria is the only girl I’ll ever love. She’s three and owns my heart. I pity any asshole who ever tries to come near her. I don’t give a fuck if I’m in a wheelchair, I’ll kick his ass. “I missed you more.”
“You and Daddy sing me a song!”
I look over at my brother and see the same adoration in his eyes. Adriel may be spoiled, but Daria . . . she had him wrapped around her little finger. There’s nothing Randy won’t do for Daria.
“I need to get home, pretty girl.” I try to explain, but she crosses her arms and pushes her lips into a pout.
“Untle Eli, you don’t love me.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Puuuuuleeeeeease,” she begs and grabs my cheeks. “I lub you.”
I’m just as screwed as Randy. “I love you, too. One song.”
“Yay!” She claps her hands and wiggles for me to put her down. Three years old and has this whole world domination slash manipulation thing perfected already.
Eleven songs later, I’m finally standing at my car with my brother. “Listen, I know we gave you a load of shit in there, but you’re not the guy who has ever been hung up on a piece of ass.”
My blood pressure spikes a bit higher with each word, and I clench my fists. Heather isn’t a piece of ass.
Fuck.
What the hell am I even thinking?
That’s exactly what she is.
Randy smirks as if he expected this exact response and knows what I’m thinking.
He claps his hand on my shoulder and chuckles. “Go talk to her. If it’s nothing, then come here and we’ll tell Savannah how wrong she is. If nothing else, you’ll know for yourself.”
“You know that I refuse to do this again.”
“Because of Penelope?”
Just her name makes me want to punch something. “Yes.”
“That’s sad, man. You and her were a lifetime ago, and you’re older and wiser. No way you fall for another gold-digging whore like her.”
“This is a moot point anyway. I’m not in love with anyone.”
“Good.” Randy nods in agreement. “It should be no problem seeing her then.”
With that, my brother walks back up his drive, and I flip him off. I should’ve been an only child. It would’ve made life so much easier.
I start the car and turn all my focus to this Heather situation.
My eyes catch on the plastic card sitting in my cup holder, and I know exactly what I’m going to do.
Chapter 8
Heather
After Brody and I left Stephanie, we had back-to-back calls. We were nonstop all day, and I’m exhausted. Thanks to shift work, I have the next three days off, and I couldn’t be happier. Which is good since I need all those good vibes for the phone call I’m about to make.
I have to call Nicole back.
“Hey,” I say as I flop on my couch.
“Hey yourself. Where the hell have you been? I called you four times.”
I give her a rundown of the calls we had, purposely leave out the encounter with Eli, and lay my head back. “I’m beyond beat.”
“Is Stephanie okay?”
“She seems to be. We had a really good talk.” I fill her in on my hospital trip. It feels good that we got everything out in the open. I know both of us dance around each other sometimes. Stephanie a lot less than me. When her mind isn’t in the right place, she lets it all fly.
“I’m glad. So, since that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the other night.”
“Nic,” I grumble.
“No. You made me scale a freaking fence. You’re not getting out of this. I’ve given you space, but that’s not happening tonight.”
I can only imagine how much this has been eating at her, but I don’t want to get into this right now. Maybe not ever.
Thankfully the doorbell rings.
“Shit, my pizza’s here. Hold on, Nic.”
I put the phone on the coffee table and grab my wallet before opening the door.
“Good to see you again, Heather.” Ian the pizza delivery guy smiles. I try not to let the fact that the pizza guy knows me by name depress me too much. It’s my go-to food after a twelve-hour shift.
“You, too.” I return his smile, and he looks me up and down. He’s a nice kid, but his roaming eyes are a bit much.
Ian hands me the pizza, and I head inside for a night of Nicole’s interrogation.
“Okay,” I put the phone to my ear. “I’m back.”
“And you were about to tell me about your sex with Eli.”
I take a massive bite of pizza and moan. All the gooey cheesy goodness is like a party in my mouth.
“Heather!” Nicole yells as I take another bite.
“I’m eating,” I say as I chew.
“Pizza is not more important than my need for information.”
The doorbell rings again, and I thank God for small miracles. “Hold again,” I say as I hold the phone against my shoulder.
I walk over, smiling because I know that Nicole must be going out of her mind. “Did you for—”
“Hello, Officer Covey.” Eli grins as he leans against the doorframe. “I was hoping you were home. We didn’t get a chance to finish our conversation.”
Not even thinking, I close the door and stand there. Holy shit. What the hell?
“Heather?” Nicole’s voice is a buzzing in my ear. Or is that my suddenly frantic pulse?
“Hmm?” I can’t speak. Eli Walsh is at my freaking house.
“Is that who I think it is?”
I rise onto my tiptoes and peek out the peephole. Sure enough, he’s right there, smiling as if he has not a care in the world. “Yup.”
“Are you fucking kidding?” Nicole screams.
“Holy shit, Nic. What the hell do I do?” My heart continues to race, and I’m completely freaking out.
Nicole chuckles and then proceeds to yell again. “Open the goddamn door!”
I look in the mirror and groan. I have on shorts and an oversized sweatshirt, which now has a beautiful pizza stain on the front. My hair is in a messy bun, I’m not wearing any makeup, and I have my glasses on instead of my contacts. I can’t believe this.
Eli knocks again. “Heather, I can hear you on the other side.”
My hand presses against the wood, and I close my eyes. “What do you want, Eli?”