As we munch on homemade chips and salsa, the guys tell us about their morning calls and stops including the one where Maddox got whacked on the head with a telephone book.
“A telephone book? Seriously?” I ask.
“Yep. We had to pick up the husband for another failure to appear. When we were heading out the door, the guy’s old lady walked up behind Maddox and nailed him over the head with the phone book.”
I glance over at Maddox, my mouth gaping open, and ask, “Are you okay?”
He chuckles and says, “Yeah, I’m fine. She caught me completely off guard with it though. She didn’t say a word the entire time we were cuffing her husband and reading him his rights. Then Jake leads him out to the squad car, I turn to follow out the door and she whacks me across the back of the head with the county phonebook. When I turned around, a little stunned, she tried to kick me in the shins. So, we went ahead and took her on down to the station, too, for assaulting a peace officer and interfering.”
Our lunch arrives and we all dive into the delicious food. I keep catching Maddox looking at me out of the corner of his eye or whenever Jake is focused on Brooklyn. It makes me feel all schoolgirl giddy like when the boy you have a crush on is checking you out.
After lunch is finished and we’re starting to exit the booth, Jake’s radio squawks to life. “Well, lunch is over, ladies. Looks like we have a call,” Jake says leaning in to kiss my cheek. He bends down and grabs Brooklyn, kissing her multiple times all over her face. “Who’s your favorite uncle?”
“You,” Brooklyn giggles and kisses his cheek again.
Jake starts to hand her back to me, but Brooklyn has other ideas. She reaches across Jake for Maddox, begging him to take her. “Maddox!” she exclaims. “I need a kissy.”
Maddox reaches across Jake and takes my daughter. She grabs his face and gives him a big kiss on the cheek. He returns the affections and throws in a big hug on top of it. Jake looks over me with that eyebrow raises and says, “I didn’t realize Bean knew Maddox so well.”
“She doesn’t. She’s just an affectionate child,” I claim without meeting his eyes.
“Whatever. See you soon. Bye, Holly. Maddox, we gotta go,” he said as he walks out the front door.
Maddox walks over and hands Brooklyn to me. As he leans in, I feel his nose slide along my jaw. I hear him inhale as he kisses the spot just below my ear where my neck meets my cheek. “Bye.”
I take Brooklyn from him and give him a knowing smile. “Bye.”
“Bye, Holly,” he says as he turns to walk out the door.
We both watch as they go, get into their squad car and pull away. I feel the loss as I watch him get farther and farther away from me. But that view I was just treated to as he left? Well, let’s just say, I do enjoy watching him leave. Maddox’s ass in a police uniform should be illegal.
The first twelve hour weekend shift is finally over, and honestly, I’m beat. Jake and I are heading towards my house so he can drop me off. “Vanessa coming back over tonight?” he asks.
“Nah, I’m hanging at home tonight…alone.”
“Want some company?”
“Sure. Pull into the liquor store and grab some beer. I’ll call in the pizza while you’re inside.” Jake steers us towards the liquor store and while he’s inside, I call in a quick pizza order to the local pizzeria. Before he comes out, I also send a quick text to Avery.
How was your day?
She replies right away. Excellent. Met up with a hot guy for lunch today.
I love her playfulness. It’s sexy as hell. Really? Anyone I know?
Nope. Just some guy I’ve got my eye on.
Well, tell him to get in line. You’re gonna be busy every day and every night for awhile
Did you just get off work?
Yep. Jake is coming over for pizza and beer.
Sounds like fun. You boys behave
Always. Talk to you soon.
Bye
I’m slipping my phone back into my pocket when Jake opens his truck door and gets in, sliding the case of beer behind his seat. “Pizza ordered?” he asks.
“Yep. It’ll be there shortly.”
Jake parks his truck behind mine in my driveway, and we head inside. Jake puts the already cold case of beer in the fridge, leaving two out, and we settle on the couch, flipping through Saturday night primetime movies and sports channels. We finally settle on the Bulls game and are just waiting for dinner to arrive. The doorbell finally rings, so I jump up and retrieve our dinner, pulling some cash and a generous tip out of my wallet as I go. Jake and I can do some serious damage to a large deep dish meat lover’s pizza.
When a few crumbs of crust and a greasy stain of pizza sauce are all that remains in the box, I decide to try to get to the bottom of Jake’s quiet mood lately. He hasn’t said much at all tonight, and I can tell something is still bothering him. “So, what’s up with you, anyway?” I ask watching him to gauge his reaction.