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I press my lips together. “There’s a girl.”
Her eyes widen.
“And I think I like her—”
“Holy shit, I never thought this day would come.” She grins, laughing softly and taking a seat.
My mouth drops indignantly. “You said you wouldn’t laugh!”
“I’m sorry, it’s just... I’ve never heard you say something like this before. What usually makes you the happiest is casual sex.”
“It was a simpler time,” I mutter.
“So what’s the problem? Does she not like you back?” Nadia asks, lip twitching.
“I’m never opening up to you again,” I deadpan.
“Decker, come on. You haven’t been the most...caring with women’s feelings, so it’s just kind of...karma if you happen to like the one woman who isn’t into you.”
“It’s not that she doesn’t like me. She just got out of a long-term relationship, and I actually care about her and don’t want to just be a rebound for her,” I admit, shrugging. “So I like her, but nothing is going to happen, basically.”
“You don’t know that. Just because it might not happen right now doesn’t mean that it won’t happen,” she says. “And I truly believe that. I’m not Trade’s first love. He didn’t think he would love again, but you never know what can happen. And it’s nice to know that you can have deeper feelings for a woman. I low-key thought you were broken.”
“It’s not nice on my end,” I grumble, wondering what Cara is doing right now. Did she head home yet? Or is she still at Clover’s house? “Caring fucking sucks.”
Nadia laughs, shaking her head at me. “It makes you human, Decker. And love is scary, but it’s worth it.”
I put my hands up. “Okay, who said anything about love?”
She flashes me an amused look and then gets up to go to her desk. Since I became her partner, Nadia redid the office space and our desks are now facing one another.
There is no escaping her now.
“Nice chat,” I mutter.
I almost feel worse than before because admitting this shit out loud makes it more real.
* * *
I head out to a dodgier part of the neighborhood to follow my client’s husband, taking photos for evidence and documenting all of his whereabouts. I knew this was going to be an all-night stakeout, so I prepared with coffee and snacks. My client suspects her husband of cheating on her instead of working late, like he has been telling her. She’s already right, he’s not at work, but now I just need to take her back the solid evidence of what he truly is up to instead.
Being left alone with my own company though has me wondering if I should text Cara and check in.
Me: Did you get home safely?
I hit send, and then instantly regret my decision. I said I was leaving her alone and here I am reaching out to her first. I do want to make sure she got home safely, though, and that’s not a crime. That’s being a gentleman, right?
When I see my mark leaving a club with a woman in his arms, leaning over and kissing her, I quickly record a video on my phone. Looks like the wife was right—then again, they usually are. I follow them back to a hotel and watch them disappear inside.
My phone beeps with a message.
Cara: Yeah, about that. I think I’m going to be staying at Clover’s for a bit until I sort everything out.
What?
So much for distance going to make this whole thing easier.
Me: Oh really. How come?
