Aiden escorts me to my borrowed car, and I can’t drive to Devlyn’s place fast enough.
Devlyn
Married to my job. Check. Nonexistent social life. Check. In love with my best friend and unable to date anyone else. Check. Though if I count my upstairs neighbor Mecca's cat hanging outside my window on the fire escape, then I have a gorgeous pussy purring for me.
Thursday will be my first official day with my new unit. I’m the newest member of the Elite Emergency Services Unit. I’m damn proud to be a part of New York’s finest. I’m prepared. I’ll be patrolling Central Park West in street clothes, checking for suspicious behavior. After the recent attacks in Chelsea, the city is doubling our efforts to thwart any potential danger. I did a walkthrough of my route earlier today. It wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be, since the sun was peeking through the clouds. Tomorrow, other members of my unit will be spread throughout the span of the parade route. Some ready to take down any threat from the rooftops armed with their sniper rifles. Others armed with radars to detect bombs as they swept the streets. The cool autumn air was heavy in my throat this morning as I breathed in my surroundings, reminding me of what I protected.
A heavy knock sounds at my door, breaking me from thoughts of the job. Glancing at the clock, whoever it is they are an hour early. Opening the door, I come face to face with a teary-eyed Fiona.
“Hey,” I say, pulling her into a hug, rubbing my hand across her back.
My nose brushes against her hair, she smells so good.
“I’ve had the worst day ever,” she cries into my shoulder.
Kicking the door shut behind her, I lead her to the couch. “Sit, I’ll pour while you talk.”
She sniffles and smiles meekly. “You know I don’t drink.”
“You do tonight, no ifs or buts about it. We’re celebrating, remember?” I wink as she wipes away her tears.
After grabbing the bottle from the freezer and our shots, I sit next to her. Fiona kicks her heels off and curls her legs under her.
“Drink,” I order, thrusting the glass into her hands.
She tosses it back making a sour face.
“Whoo! That packs a punch.” Her face all twisted and contorted as she speaks.
“So, tell me about your
day from hell.”
“Where do I start…let’s see my car battery was stolen, I flushed my phone down a toilet, and my potential boss tried to feel me up over drinks. Oh, and let’s not forget my electric was shut off, and I will be kicked out of my apartment any day now.”
“Fiona,” I reply, shaking my head, reaching for the whole bottle. “All fixable things,” I tell her.
She groans. “You’re always saving me.”
“It’s what I do. I serve and protect,” I joke.
“Is that what you tell the damsels in distress you save?” She mocks.
I start to tell Fiona she’s the only damsel worth saving but think better of it. We slept together once, and it was a disaster. She puked in my bed, and I spent the night taking care of her.
“Tell you what. Your car is a piece of shit. Slap a for sale sign on it. You don’t really need it. Take that money and save it. As for your apartment…you can move in with me.”
Her doe eyes widen. “Live with you.”
“Sure, I work a lot and you need a place until you get back on track. We’ll make a pact. A roommate pact to keep things from getting awkward.”
“Dev, you’re too good to me. I can’t, you’ll get sick of me,” she argues.
“Terribly sick, but I can suffer it, if you agree to cook for me. Starting tomorrow.”
“But tomorrow’s Thanksgiving. Aren’t you going to your mom’s?”
“Yes, and so are you now. You can give her a hand in the kitchen.”