Unconditional

“Holy hell!” She giggles through her tears.

“That’s our girl.” I stop. “We did a good job I think.”

“She’s a great girl.” Aria smiles and I nod. “You’ll…take care of her.” She blinks rapidly and the insinuation is loud and clear.

“Of course. Always.”

She nods and stands up slowly. “Tell Maddie…I miss her and I’m always on her side.”

I was never an affectionate person with the exception of Maddie, so I know Aria is surprised when I pull her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her. “You’re family Aria, alright? No matter what happens between you and Henry, you’re family. I’m still on your home team.”

She pulls away and wipes at her eyes. “Thanks, Cal.”

The night turns into morning quickly, and before I realize it, the sun is rising and I still haven’t seen Maddie. And I see she has also noticed.

“You never came,” she says into the phone. Her voice is sullen and I can just see the pout forming on her lips.

“I never left the station. I had a lot of things to t

ake care of once I got here.”

“Evidently, I was not one of them.”

“Maddie…”

“I told you I needed you. Here. With me.”

“I know, baby, I…”

“Just forget it, I have to get ready for school.”

“Are you okay to drive?”

“I’m fine, Cal. I’ll see you whenever, I guess.” I can’t help my eyes from rolling at her guilt trip. I know she’s upset, but she also knows that I’ll see her before day’s end.

“Today, Madeline.”

“Sure, Cal.” I know she wants to hang up on me, but she doesn’t, yet. I wait for the inevitable words to leave her lips. “I love you.”

I smile into the phone. “I love you.”

“Who do you love?” The door closes from behind me and I spin in my chair to see my best friend, Ryan, biting into an apple with a cup of coffee in his other hand.

“I’ll talk to you later.” I hang up the phone and stare at my best friend who is currently dressed like he just came from the gym. “Can’t you knock?”

“And miss out on who you’re clearly having phone sex with?” Jesus Christ, this is not what I need right now. I’ve been calling this asshole all night, and now he shows up.

“I told someone I loved them, and I’m having phone sex now?”

“That wasn’t an I love you. That was an I love plowing you from behind, send me a picture later.” He points at my phone. “Now, who was it?”

“A woman. Why are you here?”

“Well, you rang the alarm last night over Maddie, and this is me responding to said alarm. What woman?” He takes another obnoxious bite of his apple.

“Five hours later, thanks.”

“I was coming off of a ninety hour week, and you said Maddie was fine and at your mother’s. It could wait. You had half the force on the street last night. You didn’t need me.”