Lie With Me (Stonewall Investigations Miami 2)

“All right, well, keep me in the loop. I’ve asked Beckham about it, but he doesn’t want me to worry too much. Especially not since I’ve got my big licensing exam coming up.”

“Are you ready for it?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve been brushing up and studying a lot lately. Plus, all the practical experience I get at the clinic really helps. I’m sure I’ll do fine.”

“I’m sure you will, too.” Jonah shot a glance off camera. “And then when we go adopt a puppy, you can take care of it as an official vet.”

My eyes went wide. “Ohhh bitch! You better let me come to the shelter with you guys. I want to be there. I love that gooey Hallmark stuff, especially when it involves a dog finding the perfect forever home.”

Jonah laughed. I could hear Fox laugh off-screen, too.

“All right, well, what time does your movie start?”

“We got ten minutes. What’s up?”

I didn’t want to bring it up, but talking to my brother had me thinking about my parents, and I felt like if I was procrastinating, I might as well get some good advice at the same time.

“I want to introduce Beck to Mom and Dad.”

If Jonah was surprised, he hid it well.

“Good, they’ve already been asking me a few questions that I’ve had to dodge.”

“How do you think they’re going to act?”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine. They’ve always been supportive of us.”

“I know, I know. And it’s not like Mom and Dad are reality show parents or something. I know Mom’s not going to start yelling, “He’s dark sided! Get him out! Dark sided!’… Although that would be pretty funny.”

“I’m not entirely sure where that reference is from, but either way, you’re right. Mom’s not going to yell.”

I sighed. “It’s from Wife Swap. Google it when you guys get home.”

“Do I have to use a private browser for that?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Ugh, this is so stressful. Why does love have to be so stressful?”

“It doesn’t. Also, I don’t think it actually is. I think you’re just imagining all these crazy scenarios in your head and bringing the stress along with them. You know our parents love us, and you know they’re level-headed and open-minded. I don’t think they’ll have any issues.”

“You’re right, you’re right.”

And he was right. My parents were totally cool with everything we did, and I’m sure they wouldn’t care about me bringing home an older man, especially since that man happened to be the one of my dreams. They’d clapped and cheered when I had come out to them using confetti cannons full of rainbow confetti, so I could see how Jonah was right. I may have been overthinking things.

“I’ll set a dinner, then,” I said, making up my mind. “Sometime next week. I’ll introduce them. I think it’s definitely time.”

Jonah smiled at that. “How’s Beckham been anyway? Our schedules haven’t matched up at Stonewall. I’ve barely seen him.”

“He’s good. There might be a big break in the case, Jojo. He went this morning to talk to a shop that said they potentially have footage of that night. They might have caught the two thugs walking past on their camera.”

Jonah’s smile flashed brighter. “That’s great news.”

“Yeah, it’s looking good. He’s actually celebrating a kickball game win tonight, too.”

“You didn’t go to cheer him on?” Jonah said, noting my scrubs.

“Duty called.” I lifted my arm and showed Jonah the pink scratches and teeth marks, already disappearing. “And Duty happened to be a fifty-seven-pound Great Dane puppy who decided my arm would make a good teething toy.”

Jonah started to laugh before making his expression seem remorseful.

“Anyways, I’m going to try and catch him and his friends at the bar. Thanks for picking up my rando FaceTime call!”

“Anytime.”

“Unless you’re in the shower or with Fox, or in the shower with Fox, then please, please, for the love of Tia and Tamara, don’t ever pick up my FaceTime call.”

Jonah barked out a laugh and was about to say something, but I cut him off with a loud and extended “byeeeee” and hung up the call.

I loved my brother to bits.

What I didn’t love? Having to go up to my apartment.

Fuck it. I’ll just go to the pet store.

I put my car in reverse and was about to pull out of my parking spot when someone caught my eye. A girl, her hair falling in bright red locks down over the spaghetti straps that clung to her shoulders, one hand waving at me and the other holding the leash of a drooling bulldog.

It was Janet, Will’s ex. And she seemed to be waiting for me to get out of the car.

I sighed and put my car back in park. I grabbed the bags I’d brought to carry the cans of food in and stepped out of the car.

“Hey, Oliver! Glad I caught you.”