20. Brock

Chapter twenty

Brock

W e stayed the entire night at the police station and into the day. It took them a while to track down whatever leads they were working on with Eddy. Plus, they started looking into the private investigator guy. I was super happy I'd already done paperwork on him. That could only help our case. Then, I had to have Jackie come pick us up from the police station, but he didn't come until after he closed the shop at five, but I couldn't complain given the circumstances. He strolled in like he owned the place. "What the fuck?" Then he slugged me in the arm. "I was fucking worried all day."

I lifted my hand, gesturing to where we were. "Couldn't help it, dude."

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah."

He grabbed me and hugged me hard. "Thank God. Don't do that disappearing shit again. And you." He pointed at Eddy, and I felt the heat rising. I would even fight Jackie for him. But he didn't attack my lover. He grabbed him up in another hug. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Uh…thanks…" Eddy pulled back from Jackie's over-affectionate embrace.

He said a quick hello to some of the police and Sharon, and then we left. I needed to get home. Get a shower. Get Eddy into bed. If he let me. We'd been up for over twenty-four hours, and we were beat. And I wasn't sure we were still going to be lovers.

I'd admitted I loved him, though I didn't say it, but neither did he. I had no idea how Eddy felt about any of it. Maybe he couldn't love me back. Now that his problem was solved, the intrigue was over, and Kurt was in jail, he might leave. He could go home. And leave me here. Again.

I insisted Eddy sit in the front with Jackie. It let me stew in the backseat all the way home. We didn't talk much. Eddy filled Jackie in on the basics of what happened without going into a lot of details.

Jackie squawked when Eddy said I disarmed Kurt. "What? So you're a hero now? I didn't know you had that in you."

"Me either. But. You know. Pops made sure I knew all about guns growing up. I could tell Kurt was an idiot."

Eddy huffed. "No. He's not. Maybe about guns, but not about a lot of other things. Not that I'm singing his praises. It makes him dangerous. That's all."

"Yeah. Maybe." Jackie said as he pulled into my driveway. "But not as dangerous as you two. I wouldn't put anything up against y'all. You make a great team." But when I grumbled under my breath, Jackie came back with, "Hey, I mean it."

We got out of the car, and Jackie hugged me again. "Call me if you need anything else."

"I will." I gave him lots of nods, so he knew I got it.

"I was talking to Eddy." He punched my shoulder.

"Ass."

Eddy laughed and hugged Jackie again before following me into the house.

Once inside, we stopped in the space between the living room and the kitchen and stared at each other. Eddy looked as exhausted as I felt, and he sucked his lower lip in his mouth. Was he going to say goodbye?

"So, uh…what now?" I asked, preferring to get it out on the table fast.

Eddy shrugged. He fucking shrugged. He was too fucking chicken to say it. Well, I wasn't.

"Fine. I'll say it then. Adventure's over and you don't need me anymore." I crossed my arms over my chest and cocked my hip out defiantly, daring him to admit it.

"What? What the fuck? What are you even talking about?" His voice rose steadily until he was yelling. "I don't need what?"

"Me. This. Whatever. Go back to Sacramento. Your cushy job awaits you." And now I was yelling. "I don't even give a fuck."

"Fine. If you want to be that way. You fucking idiot. I know how to get a room in this tiny town." He threw his hand in the air and stormed up the stairs, muttering as he went. "I'll call Nate." I didn't move. What the fuck had I done?

I could hear him up there. Something heavy dropped on the floor. Probably his suitcase. He was stomping hard. Then he came back down, suitcase in hand and made for the door.

"No!" I called out. "Wait, don't go. Let's talk."

Eddy turned around and stormed back in. He mirrored my pose, standing in front of me with a blank face, waiting for me. I had to make this shit right. I couldn't let him go. No way could I let him walk away from me again without even trying.

"I don't want you to go. I want you here. I want you in my life. I don't want you to ever leave." My hands were sweating. This meant more to me than I'd let myself acknowledge. "Let's take it slow and get some rest. I know we're both tired. We can talk more tomorrow. Please."