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"I've… loved you… for a long time, Kayla," he whispered into my hair, his voice soft and raw with emotion.
I looked up at him, surprise flickering in my eyes. "You have?"
He nodded, kissing my forehead gently as my eyes closed. "I never stopped.”
I woke up to the soft rustling of fabric and the muted clinks of a belt buckle. Jake was getting dressed, his back to me as he pulled on his shirt. The sunlight streaming through the window cast a warm glow across his broad shoulders, highlighting the contours of his muscles. I propped myself up on one elbow, watching him for a moment, admiring the way he moved with a quiet confidence.
"What's going on?" I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.
He turned to me, a smile playing on his lips. "It's my day off," he said, shrugging into his jacket. "A buddy of mine from my rodeo days is in town and wants to grab lunch."
A pang of disappointment tugged at me, but I masked it with a smile. "Rodeo days, huh? That was what, like a year ago?"
"Yeah," he chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Feels like a lifetime ago, though."
I sat up, pulling the sheets around me. "Well, have fun. I'll miss you, but I guess I can get a head start on digging more into Jude and Mandy's connection."
He paused, looking at me with concern. "You sure you're okay with me going?"
I nodded, trying to sound more enthusiastic than I felt. "Of course. Go, catch up with your friend. I've got plenty to keep me busy here."
He leaned down and kissed me, a soft brush of lips that lingered just long enough to make me wish he didn't have to leave. "I'll miss you too," he murmured against my mouth. "But I'll be back before you know it."
As he headed out the door, I lay back down, letting out a long breath. It was just lunch, nothing to be worried about, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to hold on to him a little longer.
Shaking off the feeling and pushing the thought aside, I rolled out of bed, determined to make the most of my day. I had a mystery to unravel, and every minute counted. I went to the kitchen, brewing a strong cup of coffee before settling at my makeshift workspace.
My laptop hummed to life, and I began to sift through the information I had on Jude. The more I dug, the more I realized how little we actually knew about him. There were the arrests Jake mentioned, but nothing concrete tying him to Garrett's disappearance or the stalking incidents.
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. And then there was Mandy. Her connection to Jude seemed tenuous at best, but something in her behavior nagged at me. Why did she lie about knowing Jude in high school? What was she hiding?
I opened a new tab, deciding to delve deeper into Mandy's background. Maybe there was something there, a clue that we'd overlooked. But where to start? Her social media profiles were a dead end, nothing but surface-level posts and smiling selfies.
I glanced at the clock. Hours had slipped by, and I was no closer to finding anything substantial. With a sigh, I closed my laptop, frustration knotting in my stomach. This was going to be harder than I thought.
But I wasn't one to back down from a challenge. As I stood up, stretching the stiffness from my limbs, I resolved to keep digging. There was a story here, and I was going to uncover it, piece by painstaking piece.
Chapter Thirty-One
JAKE
The moment I stepped into Rosie's Diner, the familiar scent of coffee and fried food hit me, grounding me in a sense of normalcy that had been rare these days. The bell above the door jingled, announcing my presence, and a few heads turned my way, offering nods and smiles of recognition.
I scanned the diner, spotting Chris at our usual booth by the window. He hadn't changed much since I last saw him, still wearing his trademark cowboy hat and a grin that could light up a room. I made my way over, feeling pleasant anticipation at seeing an old friend.
"Jake! You son of a bitch, look at you all cleaned up!" Chris exclaimed, standing up to pull me into a firm handshake that quickly turned into a back-slapping hug.
I laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Yeah, well, the chief's badge requires a bit less dust and a bit more polish."
We settled into the booth, and Rosie, the ever-present waitress, ambled over with two mugs of coffee. "On the house, boys. Good to see you, Jake."
"Thanks, Rosie," I said with a smile, taking a sip of the steaming coffee.
Chris leaned back, his eyes scanning the diner before settling back on me. "So, how's the new gig? You catchin' bad guys now or what?"
I shrugged. "Yeah, something like that. It's been... intense, to say the least."
He raised an eyebrow, a silent prompt for me to elaborate, but I wasn't in the mood to dive into the complexities of the case. Instead, I redirected the conversation. "How about you? Rodeo life still treating you well?"
