Page 36 of Breathe Me In

“All right. Well, Oliver, Shelly’s boyfriend, is at work at the gym just round the corner, and he said he’s got time to talk with us in between clients.”

“Great.” I waved at Wes. “Thanks as always. Enjoy your day.”

“I’m sure you will,” he teased, and Bree looked at him, confused, but I pulled her along.

“Bree?” Officer Smith met us at the front doors. “You mentioned you had something for me to look into?”

“Yes, thanks, Adam. Can you maybe ID the guys in the background of this photo and find me a name to go with this phone number?” She handed him a photo and a copy of the phone number she’d found.

“Anything for you guys!” He smiled and whisked them away.

We didn’t need the car, so we walked down the road toward Muscle Gym. I was glad we didn’t drive, as it was hard to park there at the best of times.

Bree filled the silence as we walked. “Wes seems nice. You two seem close.”

“We go back a long way.”

“I got that impression.” She tucked her hair behind her ear as she fished through her bag for her ringing phone. After she read the caller ID, she sent it to voicemail.

“Everything good?”

“Yes.” She wouldn’t look at me and slipped her sunglasses on in a poor attempt to shield her face from me.

“Remember Wilson Saunders?”

She shook her head with a laugh. “Now, that name takes me back.”

“Remember how he asked you out, and when I asked you about it, you denied it?”

“I plead the Fifth on that one.” She chuckled. I didn’t say anything, and she looked up. “What was that trip down memory lane for?”

“I’m just pointing out that I know when you lie. You did then, and you’re doing it now.” I waved toward her bag.

“Pff.” She held up a hand as we slowed to cross the street. “You know jack shit.”

I stood behind her and lowered my lips to her ear. “When it comes to you, Bree Jaminson, I know more than you think.” I tapped her arm to get her to walk when the light turned.

“Is that so?” She tried to play it cool, but I could see that faint blush she got when she was excited. “You think you know me so well?”

“I know I do.” Bree and I had been good friends, and I’d always had feelings for her, but they were complicated. What if I made a move on her and it didn’t work out? I’d lose her altogether. I hated when guys would flirt with her. She was pretty and smart. She had a self-confidence most girls didn’t. She attracted a lot of attention, including from me, but she was the girl next door, the kind of forbidden fruit that I wanted to taste, but I was scared to go for the whole thing. I was protective of her and always made sure she was okay and no one messed with her.

Over the years in high school, I had learned a lot about her reactions to things. Like where she blushed or how she dipped her head to the side and used her hair as a curtain when she was unsure of her own feelings. I had known back then I wanted her, and I had been sure she wanted me too.

My head slipped back to the times we’d given in to our attraction back in high school. Once when we were in the basement watching a horror movie, the power went out, and she grabbed for me. I pulled her close, and our lips touched, but just as I started to deepen the kiss, the power flickered back on, and the moment was lost.

Another time, we rode horses way up into the hills to watch the sunset. A coyote spooked the horses, and they ran off and left us. We spent the night up there together. I made a fire, but with no sleeping bags, I wrapped myself around her body and held her all night long. It was a moment I’d never forget. It would have been the perfect time to move things forward, and I hadn’t taken it.

All that stopped after we stumbled on that double homicide. Things changed between us. We both pulled back from one another, and, I realized later, I’d thrown myself at Sherry and shut Bree out. Sherry had been my safety net back then. I hated the attention and desperately needed to be anyone but that boy who witnessed that terrible event with that girl.

“Well, I guess we’ll see how much you think you know about that, won’t we?” Bree turned to look at me over her shoulder.

“What does that mean?” I held open the door, and she marched through with the police-issued ID badge Captain had given her held up to the front desk. “We’re here to see your personal trainer, Oliver. He knows we’re coming.”

“Yes, okay.” The young guy behind the desk nodded and made a quick call. “He said he’ll be right over and that you can wait in that room right there.” He pointed across the hall.

“Thanks.” I nodded, and we headed to the glass room to wait. I was glad to have the nice, quiet place to chat. The fewer people who knew what was going on, the better. I couldn’t help but take a moment to tease Bree some more. It was entertaining to see her squirm, and the playful flirting made me feel young again. “I know you very well,” I went on. “One of my favorite things I notice is how you get this little bit of pink that spreads across your chest whenever you get excited or”—I hesitated—“turned on.”

“I haven’t had sex in almost two months, if you must know.” She folded her arms.