22. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

W ednesday morning came too soon. Will had played basketball with Logan for entirely too long the night before, considering their day shift started at six in the morning. Apparently being over thirty meant he couldn't play as hard as he used to.

He laughed at himself and pulled his pickup into the police station parking lot. He was excited to finally see Zara. He felt bad their evening hadn't ended up the way they had imagined. Hopefully, she'd had a chance to connect with the other women.

He parked close to Zara's car. Maybe he could make it up to her this evening.

Once inside, he kept an eye out for Zara. He turned down the hall toward the locker rooms, and there she was.

His heart zinged at the sight of her in her shorts and T-shirt. If they weren't at work, he'd pull her into his arms and kiss her like he'd never kissed her before, full dip, sweep-her-off-her-feet kind of kiss.

She was talking to Jenna and Megan but looked in his direction.

He smiled.

Their gazes caught. Her eyes widened, and she looked away, lips tight.

His excitement to see her crashed to the floor. He approached her.

But she walked away.

"Zara."

She kept walking and shook her head. She disappeared into the women's locker room.

He smacked the wall beside the door with his palm. Was she mad because he hadn't texted back right away last night? He would have, but he didn't see the message until midnight because he'd left his phone in his truck. It had fallen out of his pocket and slipped between the seats.

Had they really not gotten to the point that she would give him the benefit of the doubt?

He changed into his uniform and gear as fast as possible and stood outside the women's locker room. Another female officer came out. He asked, "Is Zara still in there?"

The woman nodded.

Good. Maybe they could get this straightened out before their shift began. He leaned against the wall opposite the door. God, did I screw up? Haven't I made it clear enough how I feel that she can trust I'll be there for her?

The locker room door opened, and Zara exited in full uniform, hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.

He pushed off the wall.

"Not now, Will." She walked toward the briefing room.

He followed. "At least tell me what's wrong."

She stopped and spun toward him, her brow tight and jaw locked. "The fact that you have to ask is ridiculous." She shook her head. "I'm not having this conversation now. We have to work." She turned and strode off.

A wave of hurt crashed into him, making it impossible to follow for a moment.

Logan came up beside him. "What's with her?"

"I have no idea."

"I'll talk to her." Logan walked ahead.

A moment later, Will got his legs to work and moved to the briefing room.

Zara wasn't sitting in her normal spot, and there wasn't an open seat next to her, but he sat as close as he could.

Logan leaned on the table in front of her. The intensity of her gaze said she was mad at Logan too.

Will strained to listen to what they were saying.

Logan said, "I'm sorry I reacted so strongly to your comment last night. There's more to it."

Zara raised her hand. "So I've heard. But I'm not talking about it right now."

"Zara."

"No, Logan. It's time to work."

Logan straightened.

"I can't believe you guys just abandoned me like that."

Will's gut compressed like he'd been punched. That's what this was about. Why hadn't he run back in and said they were leaving? He'd thought she understood he might not come back. But with her history, he should have known better.

At the end of her shift, Zara turned her squad car down another road heading back to the police station. The day had gone well, nothing outrageous, just run-of-the-mill traffic stops and a few assists on medical emergencies. But it had been busy enough to keep her mind off Will for the most part. And whenever her mind did venture to him, she'd changed the radio station and redirected her thoughts.

But now she'd have to face those thoughts and possibly Will himself. She hoped to avoid him. Not that she didn't want to see him, but she didn't want to blow up at him either. She probably should talk it through with someone else first, but AJ was still on duty. Then again, she didn't want to talk to AJ either because then she might have to explain what sent the guys off in the first place. But who could she talk to? Maybe she should just talk to Will and let it be. Perhaps she'd processed enough to have a reasonable conversation.

She pulled into her parking spot, and her phone rang. Her heart raced. Was it Will?

Grabbing her phone, she was surprised that Miley was calling her.

"Hello."

"Zara, is that you?"

"Yes, I'm losing my voice."

"Oh okay. It's Miley. Could you come over?" Miley's voice was tight.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, sure. I just would like someone to talk to."

"All right. But I'm finishing up my shift. Can I come over in about twenty minutes?"

There was a pause and then Miley said, "Yeah, that's fine."

"I'll see you then." Zara hung up, relieved that she had a mission after work and wouldn't have to confront the issue with Will yet.

She went inside the station.

Logan spotted her and came over.

She sighed. She didn't want to talk to Logan either.

He came up beside her and bumped her with his elbow. "You need to talk to him."

"I'm not ready."

"Don't blame him. It's my fault we left."

Zara stopped walking. "He knows me well enough to know he handled it all wrong. There are things he could have done—oh, like reply to my text in a reasonable amount of time. But he didn't. I don't know if I can trust him. I'll talk to him when I'm ready."

She bolted away. After her paperwork was done, she went to the locker room and changed.

She slid her shorts on and stuffed her hands in the pockets to straighten them out. There was something in her pocket. She pulled it out.

The twisty-tie ring. Right. Same shorts as yesterday.

Her spirit wilted. She loved him so much, but her heart couldn't handle a man that would ditch her when he felt like it.

Maybe she should throw the ring away.

But she didn't want to. She wanted to work things out with Will. But that couldn't be. But maybe she should at least talk to him first. Maybe even give the ring back.

She shoved it in her pocket, finished dressing, and slammed her locker shut. She needed someone she could count on, who would be steady. And above all, who wouldn't abandon her. He was supposed to go talk Logan down and bring him back to the party, not leave.

She darted out of the station as fast as she could.

As she processed Miley's voice on the phone, she realized the young woman's voice was not quite her normal tone. Like something was wrong.

Zara shook her head. Had she made a mistake in making Miley wait? Should she have gone over in a formal police manner instead of friend-mode? Then at least her gun would be holstered on her side. But at least she had it in her purse.

She drove across town to Miley's home. Surely Brett was still at work anyway. Maybe Miley was simply having a rough day or Corbin was being an extra handful. Little boys could be that way. Not that she had much experience with kids on a personal level.

Giant raindrops began to fall against her windshield.

Great. This wouldn't be the relief from the heat they needed. That's not how the summer weather seemed to work in North Carolina. No, this would just take the humidity from bearable to suffocating.

She turned on her wipers and turned into the mobile home neighborhood.

Shoot. Brett was home.

She parked beside his truck and strapped her purse across her body, tugging the strap a little tighter so the gun was easy to access.

Praying as she went, she climbed the steps and knocked on the door.

"Come on in." Miley's voice shook.

Something wasn't right. Zara unzipped the compartment that held her gun, leaving her hand right beside it. She opened the door with her left hand.

Miley stood across the room in front of Brett, who held a gun to Miley's temple.

Brett glared at Zara. "Hands up."

Zara obeyed and followed the next directions one by one.

"Close the door. Drop the purse to the ground. Lift your shirt and spin around slowly. Come here."

She took five steps until she was barely out of his reach.

He shoved Miley across to the couch. Stepping forward, he clutched Zara's throat.

Jesus! Help!