Hide Your Crazy (KPD Motorcycle Patrol 1)

Logan stopped at the dog park and opened the gate, gesturing for me to head inside first.

I did, and got the other gate, letting Lou off the leash.

Lou waited patiently for his new friend to be let off her leash, too.

When they were both free, he said, “And you realized that the weirdo worked at the UPS store?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, kind of. I called up there and asked for the manager. Bruno introduced himself as Bruno Marks and I remembered him. When I introduced myself, we got to talking. Anyway, I was in a bad place, and I told him about my ex. He told me about his…and now when I call, he asks if I’m all right. It’s kind of sweet, actually.”

“Sounds kind of creepy,” he admitted.

I snickered. “It is. Kind of. I don’t plan on going down there and talking to him anytime soon. If my package was only picked up, I wouldn’t have to worry about talking to him anymore.”

Logan set both leashes on the back of a bench and watched as our dogs ran around the dog play yard.

“This is the only thing nice about living here,” I told him honestly. “The quick access to the dog parks. He loves playing with other dogs.”

“Yeah,” Logan agreed. “My brother owns the apartment complex. I suggested he add the stairs to the trail, mostly for my benefit, but I’ve heard from more than one of the complex occupants that they loved the accessibility to the trail.”

“Your brother owns the complex?” I asked in surprise.

“Yep,” he nodded. “Luckily, when he asked if I wanted in, I hesitated. Otherwise my ex would’ve gotten half of it, too.”

“Your ex?” I hesitated.

“Yeah,” he murmured.

“Was that really who called you earlier?” I asked. “It looked like you were rushing out of there.”

He opened his hand and showed it to me.

I gasped and said, “Oh my God!”

His hand was burnt badly. So badly, in fact, that I could make out the indentions of the ‘Pyrex’ lettering that was at the bottom of the baking dish right in the middle of his palm.

“Hurt. And I didn’t want your mother to feel bad.” He shrugged as if what he’d just said didn’t melt my heart. “Today usually is the day that my ex asks to see Sister. However, that wasn’t her on the phone. It was a robo call.”

“What’s a robo call?” I asked curiously, my eyes still on his hand.

“A robo call is that new scam where people ghost local numbers and call you, hoping having a local area code will help you answer the phone,” he explained, closing his fist and beginning to pull his hand away.

I grimaced and stopped him, holding onto his hand as I continued to study it. “That’s annoying. I hate those. Though, saying that, I plain don’t answer calls, period. If you want me, you’re going to have to text me.”

His lips turned up into a grin. “Don’t worry, I put burn cream on it. Though, it’s probably going to fucking—errrm…freakin’ suck—tomorrow.”

I rolled my eyes. “I grew up with a dad who was a police officer and a brother who wanted to do everything like my father did. Trust me when I say, I’ve heard those words before.”

He shrugged. “I try not to say them too much. They make my captain angry.”

I snickered. “That happens, yes. Do you have to work tomorrow?”

He rolled his eyes and went to the bench where the dogs were circling.

“Yes,” he answered. “But luckily later in the day. It’ll give me the day to sleep in. Daylight savings time is going to kick my ass tonight.”

“Why?” I asked.

He took a seat on the bench and ran his hands over Lou’s back. Lou, the attention whore that he was, arched his back and leaned deeply into Logan’s knees.

“You know the answer to that,” he said. “I already sleep like shit. Two, three hours tops a night. Now I’ll get one or two, max.”

I thought about that for a second.

“Why do you sleep bad?” I asked bluntly. When he looked like he was immediately going to shoot me down, I held up my hand. “You know my reason.”

He sighed.

“My dad was in an accident and I witnessed it.” He swallowed. “The night that it happened, I was behind him. He’d pulled me over because I was being a complete dumbass. I’d just gotten back from my deployment. I was fucking dumb. Young and dumb. Thought I was integrating just fine into civilian life again. Came straight from deployment home with no idea what I was going to do with my life.” He shook his head. “That night…I’d finally realized that I wasn’t going to be okay by myself. I needed help. I’d seen a lot of sketchy shit over there. My head wasn’t in the right place…and I’d just wanted to escape it all.”