Officer Davis looked from Octavia to the fiery glare in Jonathon’s eyes.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to throw a happy home into disarray.”

“Jonathon and I are not together. We’re close friends.” Octavia squeezed Jonathon’s hand affectionately.

Jonathon spoke to Officer Davis but kept his eye on Octavia. “Officer, I’m going to stay here and help Octavia with the hotline and help Adam here with the traffic. If you need me for anything, you know where to reach me.”

“Adam,” Officer Davis called, “grab the telephones from the van, son.”

Adam left the porch and walked down the street to the officer’s truck that sat on the corner. Back in the house, Octavia put out more bagels and fresh orange juice as Officer Davis and Jonathon set up a phone station in the living room with two lines. Going to her cell phone, Octavia made a call that was answered promptly.

“Hey girl, what’s going on?”

“Hey Selena, are you busy?” Octavia strolled to her living room window on the opposite side of the room and peeped out the blinds.

“If you call busy spending money I don’t have to grab these new Jimmy Choos, then yes I’m busy.”

Octavia smirked. “You only live once, right?”

“That’s my girl!” Selena chirped. “What are you doing?”

“There’s a missing teenage girl from my neighborhood, and Chicago PD is using my house as a station. They’re setting up a hotline as we speak. I was wondering if you could come over here and help me take some calls. After you purchase your Jimmy Choos of course.”

“Damn, Octavia, you should’ve said that first. I’m on my way.”

“Thank you, girl.”

“Who else is coming?”

“Jonathon’s here, and a volunteer is here, I would’ve called Santana, but she’s still on her honeymoon.”

“Call Claudia and Samiyah. They wouldn’t mind helping.”

“I know, but you know how I am, I don’t like interrupting people’s lives.”

“Oh, but you can interrupt my life?”

Octavia chuckled. “I knew you were probably having a lonely Saturday like me.”

“Oh, girl, please. Saturday just started about four hours ago. The time between midnight and 5 a.m. don’t count.”

Octavia laughed harder. “That’s why you’re always late to work right there.”

“Same as you,” Selena retorted.

“I’ll see you in a minute,” Octavia said, taking her eyes back across the room. She watched as Officer Davis walked Jonathon through proper procedures to handle the call volume that would ensue once the line was active. It was another rare time where Octavia found herself accessing Jonathon from head to toe. Her heart fluttered as her vision rose from his firm stand to his muscular torso that was slightly hidden behind the thin gray shirt he wore. Jonathon stood with legs apart and feet planted firmly. His arms were crossed as he and Officer Davis spoke. Octavia’s gaze continued to rise past his toned arms, masculine neckline to land on the sharp angles of his face.

Jonathon was all Octavia wanted in a man. Their friendship had quickly grown, and being attached to the hip was becoming common. She hoped he wouldn’t abandon her if she took too long to give in to their flirtatious repartee. Even if Octavia never got over her parents’ death, she hoped for her sake Jonathon would stick around. Being with him was so calming, and Jonathon treated her with the utmost respect. Anyone on the outside looking in would mistake them for a couple. Octavia had found herself correcting people with their assumptions on many occasions. But it didn’t pass her that Jonathon never did.

With everything that they discussed, sometimes in detail, Jonathon and Octavia had never broached the subject of a serious relationship. Although they both wanted it, and both felt the strong connection, they’d continued to walk the fine line of being ‘just friends.’

The front door opened and two women, medium in height in blue jeans and light jackets walked through the door. Snapping out of her fog, Octavia approached them.

 “Good morning, I’m Octavia, this is my home. Would you like breakfast, something to drink, or…”

The lady to her left held up a hand for a shake. “I’m Sandra Bradwell, Ayana’s aunt.”

Octavia accepted her handshake. “I’m so sorry about Ayana, how are you doing?”

“We’ve been better,” Sandra said. “We just wanted to stop by and thank you for all you’re doing to help us find our niece.”

The other woman held out her hand, and Octavia took it. Jonathon eased into their space and read the name tag on the woman’s jacket.

“I couldn’t help but notice your name, Janet,” he said. “My mother’s was Janet. It’s a beautiful name.”

Janet smiled. “Thank you. I’ll have to agree.”

The ladies chuckled.

“Come inside and have some breakfast. There is orange juice and water this way,” Jonathon offered.

“Thanks, but I just need a restroom,” Janet said.

“I’ll take a bottled water if you have it,” Sandra added.

“Janet, I’ll show you to the bathroom, and Jonathon will take Sandra to the breakfast table.”

They all departed, going separate ways. Before long, the house was abuzz with different people coming in and going out. Earlier when Jonathon had come in with a shipload of bagels and crème cheese, Octavia thought he’d lost his mind. But now she surmised that the food would most likely be gone before lunch. And that was saying a lot.

Selena rushed through the door just as the phone rang and Jonathon answered it. Everyone in the room turned to Selena as she bent over to catch her breath as if she’d run a marathon.

Octavia glanced at the clock on the wall and approached her.

“I called you two hours ago, where have you been?”

“Girl, trying to get to this street is like fighting cats and dogs at the same time, you hear me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can tell you’ve been stuck in this house and not outside if you don’t know.”

“Know what?”

“It’s a traffic jam out there. Because of the search, several streets are blocked off. Not only are people searching the wooded area out back but they’re all through the city and park, girl. Took me an hour just to navigate through traffic, and another one to find a parking spot. Which ended up being at Greenhouse Square Park.” Selena paused to catch her breath.

“How are you out of breath as skinny as you are?” Octavia said.

“Skinny?” Selena said. “Where?”

Octavia chuckled.

“Just because my hips aren’t as full as yours don’t make me skinny. Matter of fact, I think I resent that. Hell, I’m out of breath because I need a good man to whip me back in shape if you know what I mean.”

“Oh my God, you are too much.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Oh, I believe you.” Octavia waved her over. “If you want to put your stuff up, take it to my room.”

They strolled to the back, and Selena left her purse in Octavia’s walk-in closet.

“Have I told you how much I envy your walk-in closet?”

“Don’t. It only makes me add more shoes and handbags when I should be saving up,” Octavia said.

Selena slinked closer to Octavia and whispered. “When are you going to give up the goods to Jonathon?”

“Please don’t start,” Octavia countered.

Selena grabbed Octavia’s hand and the left the room. Standing in the doorway to the living room, Selena whispered again, “I know that you deny it whenever we’re out with the girls. But are you telling me you’ve been dating this man for a year, and you haven’t given up the goods?”

“We have not been dating,” Octavia whispered sharply.

“Bullshit.”

Octavia rolled her eyes. “I’m not having this conversation right now. We should be focused on finding Ayana Bradwell,” she continued to whisper.

“Honey, how can you concentrate on anything with his fine ass in the room?”

Octavia didn’t need coaching. She’d observed him well enough today as it was. She might have set a record for the number of times she’d found herself staring off into space at him.

“Not now,” Octavia said.

“Well when? You’re not getting out of this conversation this time.”

Octavia sighed harshly. “Later. You’ll spend the night, right?”

Selena tossed her hands. “I guess I am. It’s not like I can make it out of this area anytime this year!” she fussed quietly.

Octavia put her hands together. “I know, but I needed you, and because you’re my good girlfriend, you came to help me out. Now, let’s take the phones off of Jonathon’s hands so he can take a break. He’s been doing everything. We have a door man, and still, every time someone walks in, Jonathon checks them out.”

“That’s what’s he’s supposed to do,” Selena said. “He’s protective by nature, and it’s sexy, and I swear if you weren’t my girl, I’d take him home with me tonight.” She half-purred.

Octavia arched a brow and cut her eyes at Selena.

“I said if you weren’t my girl. But you are, so don’t worry about me taking your man.” Selena chuckled just as Jonathon ended his call and searched the room for Octavia. When Octavia’s and Jonathon’s eyes met, he winked, and Octavia blushed. “Besides,” Selena continued. “He doesn’t want me anyway. Too bad the girl he wants doesn’t want him.” Selena shuddered. “Foolish.”

Octavia left Selena’s side and made her way to the kitchen. Quickly, she brewed a fresh batch of coffee and made a cup just the way Jonathon liked it. Black coffee, no sugar, no crème. When she saddled up to him holding the warm mug, Jonathon was back on the phone. The receiver sat cradled between his ear and shoulder as he wrote down information from the caller. Standing next to him, Octavia inhaled his natural male scent, and her heartbeat kicked up a notch. She shut her eyes and listened to the rhythm of his voice as he spoke. The vibration in his vocals tickled her ear, and Octavia made it a point not to squirm next to him.

Still, Jonathon must have felt her because just as Octavia took a step to move away, his hand reached out and covered hers. The exuberant force of energy that coursed through them when they touched halted Jonathon’s words and Octavia’s retreat as their eyes pulled together. Jonathon took the phone off his shoulder but spoke through the receiver.

“I’ve got it down, Mr. Watts. Thank you for the tip.” Jonathon disconnected the call and tugged at Octavia’s hand. She took a step forward and offered him the coffee.

“You know you could have a seat while you’re answering calls,” she said.

“Thank you, but I’d rather stand.”

“I thought we could change positions for a while,” Octavia said.

Jonathon took a sip of the coffee while watching Octavia over the rim of his mug.

“Mmm,” his deep voice grooved, “thank you.” He reached over her shoulders and pulled Octavia close, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist. Soft and slow, Jonathon placed a kiss on her forehead. Octavia’s eyes shut, and she inhaled his warm, inviting aroma. “How are you doing, sweetheart?”

His voice drummed across her skin and nestled in her ear. “I could go to sleep right here,” Octavia said, comfortable in his arms.

Jonathon smiled and pushed another kiss against her forehead. “At any time, you need me to lay you down,” he kissed her temple, “and put you to sleep,” he kissed her temple again, “just let me know, baby girl. It’s your world.”

Octavia’s breath caught in her throat as a bolt of heat shot through her. She pulled her head back and gazed into his eyes. What would happen if they crossed that friendship line? Octavia continued to stare at him, and Jonathon held her steady. With their lips breaths apart, neither one of them moved, and the energy around them became immense. Octavia’s arms placed a tighter hold on him. She dropped her face and sat her forehead against his lips, and Jonathon placed another warm kiss there.

“Take a break,” Octavia said, taking the conversation back toward a safe place.

“Not without you,” Jonathon responded.

“How can we break together? Someone’s got to keep an eye on things.”

“You don’t think Selena is able?”

Jonathon and Octavia turned to look at Selena. She was standing over Adam’s shoulder rechecking people as they came in. Octavia smirked.

“Maybe you’re right.”

“Of course, I am.”

“Where will we go, traffic’s tight, we couldn’t move if we wanted to.”

“Then we’ll take a walk.”

Octavia wavered.

“Stop looking for excuses and just come.”

Octavia smiled and easily moved out of his embrace. She traipsed to the front door and grabbed Selena’s hand, pulling her off to the side.

“Do you mind watching the phones while we step out for a minute?”

A broad smile drifted across Selena’s face. She folded her arms. “Who’s we?” Selena turned her head to the side and squinted her eyes.

Octavia sighed. “Must you act like a child?”

“What? All I asked was who’s we.”

Jonathon approached and eased his arms around Octavia’s shoulders, effectively pulling her into his chest. “Me and her,” he responded to Selena.

Octavia’s nerves jumped. The way he touched her was becoming more personal, and she was having a difficult time trying to decipher his actions. With a broader smile, Selena nodded. “Okay, you two don’t get lost, ya hear.”

“I can’t make any promises,” Jonathon responded.