Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

BECCA

I'm between calls, which I'm thankful for. It's been a busy night. It's not as if Laurel Springs is as big as the cities south of us, so there are typically only two dispatchers on at any time. But tonight I'm by myself. The other night shifter called in because her baby is sick. It's been busier than usual for me. It's the perfect moment to take a bit of a break and do my new favorite pastime.

Watching some dude on the internet working out.

I'm still not sure where I was introduced to the guy who calls himself MadDog. I think one night I was mindlessly scrolling and the first video was recommended to me. At first, I was amazed by what he could do with his body. The way he controlled his muscles was the craziest thing I've ever seen. Now, it's just fucking hot, and I enjoy seeing it.

Which is why I'm not paying attention when the door opens and some officers come in.

"What are you watching?" A deep voice whispers in my ear.

I jump before I realize who it is. Madden. He always smells so good. I close my eyes and inhale deeply before turning in my chair. "Some guy I follow on socials. Believe it or not, he encouraged me to start taking my health a little more seriously. I know what it looks like..." I trail off.

"Like that dude is thirst trapping for views?" He quirks his brow, giving me a grin. "And you're enjoying watching it?"

My face warms. I'm not sure how to explain the weird, para-social relationship I seem to find myself in. "I wouldn't say that. He's promised nothing, he doesn't ask his followers for money, and he's very careful to never show his face. Although everyone asks all the time. It's funny when I see people I know commenting on the posts too."

He comes closer, propping himself up against the side of my desk. Leaning in, as if we have a secret between us, he whispers, "What if he's scared and disfigured or some shit like that?"

I've thought about this myself, and came to a conclusion that I can live with. "It wouldn't matter. He seems to have a good personality, and that's more important than anything else." I push my hair back from my face and behind my ears. "That's neither here nor there, anyway." I grin, needing to turn this conversation to something else. "Heard you had to break up some teenagers getting busy in the backseat."

He groans, tilting his head back on his shoulders. "I would rather have watched your thirst trap. Do you know how uncomfortable it is knowing what they were doing, and then talking to them? All I can think about is what they're probably thinking about. I hate it, and then sometimes you see body parts you do not want to see. Easily my least favorite part of the job."

I prop my chin on my hand and lean forward. I could listen to him talk all day. "I'm sorry you've been emotionally wounded."

"I should bill the Laurel Springs PD for my therapy, right?"

"Most definitely."

We're smiling at each other and there's this string of tension between us that pops up in the weirdest of times. He clears his throat. "I have to go write my reports."

"Yeah, I'll have a call soon, I'm sure." But what I really want is to continue talking to him. He's been the nicest to me since I took the job. I look forward to seeing him every day we work together.

"See ya." He waves before standing up straight and heading out the door into the commons area of the station.

I watch him leave, admiring the way his pants hug his ass. There's something familiar about him that I haven't noticed previously, but then again, maybe I wasn't paying attention.

A call comes in, and I answer. "Laurel Springs 911, do you need police, fire, or ambulance?"

"Police." The voice over the line sounds pissed. "This is Leigh at The Café. Someone just backed through my window. They are drunk as a skunk, and we're holding him here."

"Oh, my goodness. Are there any injuries?"

"No, thank God. We were closing, and there was no one sitting there. I just need someone to come get this asshole."

I'm typing and updating the system while still talking to her. "Okay, I'll send someone over. Do you want me to stay on the line with you?"

"No, I'm good, thank you."

She hangs up, and I get units dispatched over to The Café. Everyone in town knows the Thompson family, and most of the officers eat there every night. I imagine a lot that are on duty will go to make sure things are okay. That's confirmed when I see Caleb running out of the station. From what I heard, he worked there as a teenager, and has a vested interest.

The rest of my shift passes with me answering a few calls and playing around on my phone with an idea I've had for a book. Most of my life I've been creative. Off and on I've toyed around with the desire to write a romance novel. I've been researching it since the beginning of the year, and I've almost talked myself into giving it a shot. When we have down time here, I've been outlining and I think I'm ready to write the first chapter.

"Hey girl, I'm here to relieve you." Millie, the day-shift dispatcher, for the week, says as she comes in with a smile on her face. "How's it been?"

"Slow, so good luck."

She laughs. "From your lips to God's ears."