Page 13 of Breathe Me In

“Don’t worry, something will show itself in time.”

“Mm-hmm. Gotta love the waiting game.” She chewed on her pen cap. “So how pissed were you today when you saw me?” She grinned, but it didn’t last long.

“I wasn’t pissed.”

“Yes, you were.” She called me out. “You never forgave me for leaving when I did and not going to your wedding.”

I felt the lash of that old scar. “I wasn’t pissed that you missed my wedding—I was pissed that you left without a word and just disappeared. Yes, I was just shocked to see you standing in front of me. The captain didn’t share his plan with me, and from the look on your face when you saw me, I take it he didn’t with you either.”

“Nope.” She puffed her cheeks out. “He specifically told me you were over in Rochester. I took that to mean you had transferred. Clearly, I misunderstood.”

I grunted when I realized what Cap had done. “I was in Rochester but visiting a friend for two days. He’s tricky like that.”

“And my being here, stepping in on the case, is that going to be a problem for you?”

I flicked my finger on the signal light before I crossed traffic and eased into the far-left lane.

“I’m confident enough at this stage of my career to admit when we need another set of eyes on a case. I’m fine with us working together, but you should know that I don’t bend the rules for anyone, so whatever happens during your stay here is on you. Just be sure whatever you do find, we can use it in court.”

“Understood.” She didn’t miss a beat, and the awkward silence settled between us again. Thankfully, I had just pulled into her driveway, but then a rush of memories flooded me from back when we were in high school together.

“I appreciate the drive home.” She gathered her things and opened the door. “I’ll drive myself home tomorrow, so you don’t need to put yourself out.”

She wasn’t putting me out. “I’ll text an hour before I leave in the morning.”

“Okay. See you then.”

“All right.” I waited for her to shut the door so I was concealed behind the tinted windows. I tipped my head back and took my first real breath of the day. Everything inside me had jolted alive at her familiar perfume. It lingered in the car and sent my memory back to when I first met Bree in Spanish class. Her beautiful smile had lit up the room, and when her gaze had found mine, her eyes had done this twinkling thing that had made my stomach flip.

I’d kept Bree at arm’s length after things took a bad turn that afternoon by the river. I’d pushed any thought of her away and hung on to the one constant thing in my life—Sherry Cummings.

“Stop.” I slapped the heel of my palm against my eyes in a bad attempt to stop my spiral. I slammed the car into reverse and headed home.

Chapter Four

Bree

I stretched out on the dock and dangled my legs over the edge into the chilly water. The cold felt good on my tired feet. The moment I had arrived home, Patrick had given me endless chores to do. I wasn’t complaining—I knew I had to show my brother I was sorry for leaving, and he was going to use me until he felt better.

“I can’t believe you’re back.” Maxine plunked a heavy cooler down, then sat next to me and gave me a huge hug. “I forgot how much I missed you.”

“Me too.” It felt good that Maxine and I could pick up right where we left off. “You’re looking really good.” I studied her short raven-black bob above her perfectly arched brows. She looked happy.

“Thanks.” She cracked open a bottle of something homemade and cocked a brow as she poured out some for each of us. “A toast to having you back home.”

“Cheers.” I tapped the little plastic cup against hers and downed the smooth, fruity drink. Crickets and an owl came out to join us, and their comforting sounds could be heard across the water.

“Is it true?” She studied my face, and I looked at her, confused. “You’re working at the SPD?”

“Yes, as a consultant.” I sighed. “Captain Robert totally lied to me.” I shook my head and sipped some more of her delicious cocktail. “The bugger told me Brad was in a different town.”

“Well, you can thank your sister for that one.”

“What do you mean?”

She handed me a slice of apple. “It was her idea to have you come back and work here.”

“Is that so?”