Searching for Always(20)

“Yes, a wonderful decision we all applaud.”

“I’d say I’d like to change my choices with fast food.” She looked so relieved and happy, he almost felt bad for her. Almost. Her smile seemed much closer to real. His gut clenched. Funny, he had an urge to make her do it again. For him. Her eyes sparkled, and her lips relaxed, and that amazing energy shimmered around her, setting off something deep inside.

Whatever. He was probably hungry again.

“I’m thrilled you want to make those changes. Gentlemen, let’s break for lunch and try to use some of our newfound knowledge. Again, the power of our choices affects all aspects in our life. Even anger.”

Luther and Eli agreed with way too much eagerness, but Stone was already leaping from the chair and to the door. One hour of freedom. He’d pop back into the station and see what was up. It was also time to get the bastards back for the poop in his trunk incident. Devine had identified the two main culprits—McCoy and Make It Work Dunn. He’d keep this round simple and classic.

All he needed was a trip to the grocery store.


ARILYN FINISHED EATING HER bulgur salad with edamame, bought some doggy treats from the Barking Dog Bakery, and headed back to the firehouse. Now that she’d gotten some fresh air and protein, she was back in good spirits. Yes, the morning had started as a challenge, but at least it ended on a high note. Just having Stone admit he was trying to change some of his bad habits eased her stress. He’d spent most of the morning zoning out, rolling his eyes, and being generally surly.

Usually she worked well with clients who hated the process and even ended up winning them over. She’d never been annoyed or lost her temper before. The only explanation was her crazy schedule paired with trying to heal from a broken relationship. Yes, the man was clueless, but it wasn’t his fault. Her job was to enlighten him so that he could come away from the course with some tactics to make a better life.

She couldn’t lose her focus.

Humming under her breath, she took a deep breath of the crisp fall air. She loved this time of year, with apple picking, pumpkin harvests, and the gorgeous golden light that bathed the earth. The river nestled between a wall of bright red and burnt orange climbing high to the massive mountains that made the Hudson Valley home. Verily was filled with the lunch crowd grabbing an espresso or wrap or strolling past the gift stores for a bit of window-shopping. Who could be unhappy on such a day?

Her step lightened and she turned the corner. Then stopped cold.

Stone Petty sat on the curb outside the firehouse. He held a Dr Pepper in one hand and a huge sandwich in the other. As he shoved the awful fried mess into his mouth, he barked into a cell phone propped between his ear and shoulder. Instead of backward, his hat now perched to the side like some sort of gangster. He alternated between bites and screaming.

“I don’t give a crap what the dickhead said! I clocked him going thirty miles over the speed limit and then the little shit called me names, practically challenging me to make that ticket stick. Who cares if he got a pretty-ass lawyer? I’m going to court, and I won’t be changing it to a faulty headlight no matter who his father is. You got it? Good. Nah, I’ll be there. Yeah, forced vacay is a bitch, you know? See ya, Sam.”

In horror, she watched as he gobbled the rest up, slurped some soda, and this time used a napkin to wipe his face. Her shadow fell over him. He looked up.

“Oh, hey. I’m on time. Just finishing lunch.”

Arilyn blinked. A hazy red fog swarmed her vision. Breathe. She just needed to breathe. “I thought you wanted to change your fast-food habits?” she asked. Her voice sounded high and pitched. Definitely not normal.

He squinted in the sunlight and unrolled himself from the curb. Stretching a bit, he studied her with those intense eyes that probed under her clothes and beyond. “I do,” he said. “I got a fish fillet. Eating Nemo instead of Elsie the Cow’s better, right?” He took a loud, obnoxious sip of soda. “Or do you have a problem with that, too?”

And she knew right then and there he was screwing with her.

He’d set her up for a fall. He thought her methods were stupid, and he wasn’t about to try any of them. This was war in all its bloody forms. He’d fight her for every inch, every class, and try to drive her insane.

Did she expect him to embrace her philosophy on the second day? No. But he was deliberately baiting her. He enjoyed pissing her off and making a mockery of everything she passionately believed in. He wasn’t even going to be polite about it.

The Arilyn she’d made herself into with all that work would’ve swallowed it. Bowed her head to his ignorance, prayed for his health, and moved on. She’d take his ribbing with a smile and a peaceful serenity because she was the better person.