"I have no idea what's got her so hysterical," Liz shrugged as we cleaned up Exam 2. "Something random just set her off."
"Alex, do you think that overnight shifts are a little too much for you to handle?" Leslie asked. "Maybe you aren't cut out for late shifts."
"There's a lot that's a little too much for her to handle," Liz muttered under her breath. "But it ain't overnight shifts, I'll tell you that."
This sent me into a new fit of laughter and made Leslie giggle too. Liz continued sweeping the floor as she looked at both of us and shook her head sadly. For the rest of the night, anytime Liz look at me and said, "But seriously," I broke down in laughter.
On the walk home, Liz chattered about exams and the hope that Violet would fail all of hers, but nothing was said about what had happened outside of the pharmacy. I worried about her, but decided that if she needed something, she'd ask. It was Liz, after all, and she knew she could ask me for anything.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Cam
"All right, girl, here goes nothing," I said to Tesla as I pocketed my wallet and grabbed my keys. "I don't know how this is gonna go, but one thing is for sure: I won't forget about you."
Tesla let out a short bark and then went and climbed up on the sofa. She sighed as she dropped her chin between her paws and stared at me. I laughed at her attempt at emotional blackmail as I tossed a few cookies her way. It always amazed me how quickly accusations could turn to love when food was involved.
I drove over to Alex's apartment and parked. She buzzed me up and when she opened the door, I was struck by how beautiful she looked no matter what she was wearing. She had chosen a soft blue dress that hugged her curves and high-heeled, leather boots that made her hips sway gently as she walked around the apartment gathering her things. Watching her move, I wasn't entirely sure that we would make it out the front door.
"So, where are we going?" Alex asked as she pulled her coat out of the closet. It took me a moment to snap out of a fantasy involving me removing the blue dress and seeing Alex in her lingerie.
"Huh? Oh, dinner, yeah," I said as I grabbed the coat out of her hands and held it for her. She laughed as she slid her arms into it and then buttoned it up. "Dinner, I thought we should try someplace a little nicer than O'Neil's so I got us a reservation at Villains over on Printer's Row."
"I've heard of it, but never been there," Alex smiled as she locked the door and we headed to dinner.
Over beers, we talked about work and school, but the conversation soon turned toward getting to know one another better, and I felt myself pulling back even though I wanted nothing more than to have Alex know me.
"So, have you always been single?" she asked before sipping her beer.
"Not always," I said shaking my head. "Just for a really long time. Too long."
"Why is that?" she asked tipping her head sideways so that her long hair fell across one side of her chest. She looked like a Nordic painting. I swallowed hard and tried to answer her question.
"I've just been really involved in my career," I replied side-stepping the reality.
"So, have you ever had a girlfriend?" she continued. I could feel the heat rising under my shirt collar as my desire collided with the guilt I felt being so attracted to her.
"Sure, I've had girlfriends," I said. "Nothing worked out."
"Is that because you leave your wet towels on the bathroom floor or because you leave the toilet seat up?" she asked as a hint of smile played at the edges of her lips. It made me want to kiss her even more.
"You want the truth?" I sighed as I gave up the ghost and decided that maybe, just maybe, Alex Pierce was the woman I could tell this story to and not have her look at me with pity.
"No, just lie to me. It's so much healthier," she deadpanned. For a moment, I was confused, and then I saw the smile on her face and a chuckled.
"Fine, but just remember that you asked for it," I said shaking a finger at her.
"I'll do that," she said wagging her finger back at me with a smile.
"Ten years ago my fiancée died in a fire," I said quickly ripping the band-aid off the conversation. "I was new to the fire squad, and I wasn't there."
"I'm so sorry, Cam," Alex said quietly as she reached out and laid her hand on top of mine. There was kindness in the gesture, so I didn't pull away. "It must have been awful for you."
"It was pretty terrible," I nodded as I debated whether or not to tell her the whole story.
"How did it happen? The fire I mean?" she asked sparing me the decision. "I mean, if you want to talk about it. I don't mean to pry."
"No, no, it's just..." I began as I looked across the table into her soft blue eyes.