It’s almost midnight by the time we get her car back from the bar. She says she’s okay heading home, but what kind of date would I be if I didn’t see her to her door? She’s uneasy with the word “date.” I know because of the small flash of panic that appeared after I said it. I can’t help but smile to myself but in the end, I let her off the hook by changing the subject. We’re now standing a few feet from the entrance of her building. She’s hidden her sexy costume under her jacket but the light from the lamppost catches a glimpse and causes her to sparkle.

“I had a really good time,” she says.

“Me too.”

“Sorry I tried to ditch you earlier,” she says awkwardly.

“Wait, was that you?”

“Ha, ha. It was a stupid thing to do.”

“Well I met you diving in a dumpster, so my expectations were low,” I tease.

“Shut up!” She laughs as she playfully places her hand on my chest and pushes me away.

“I would ask you in but…”

“Yeah, I get it. It’s okay. I gotta get to work anyway.”

“Work? It’s almost 1 a.m.”

“We’re doing surveillance and my shift is coming up in an hour,” I reply, looking at my watch.

“Really? Who are you running surveillance on? Is it Donavan? Did you find out where he is?” she asks. She studies the expression on my face and then nods her head. “I’m guessing you can’t tell me.”

“It’s an ongoing operation, so I can’t go into details. But we hope to wrap this up by tonight.”

“So, what made you want to be a cop?” she asks.

“I wanted my job to matter and to help the community in some small way. I know it’s a really boring answer.”

“Yes but it’s also a good one,” she replies. “If you’re working tonight, shouldn’t you have slept in?”

“Maybe, but I knew if I didn’t make the effort to go tonight, you’d keep avoiding my calls.”

“I wanted to call you back,” she admits.

“I know.”

“I must be the most ridiculous girl you’ve ever taken to dinner,” she says as she frowns and bites her lower lip.

“You are the most interesting and the most engaging. Really, I had a great time. My only worry is that once I let you walk into your apartment, you’ll go upstairs and think of all the reasons to hide up there.”

“You think I’ll barricade myself in my apartment?”

“Yes, I do.”

“But if I did, you’d come and find me, right?” she says.

“Hell yeah, I would.”

“Glad to hear it. Hey, I meant to ask you, do you know anything about the Street Kings?” she says.

“Yeah, there a new gang, but what they lack in experience they make up for in brute force. They are really trying to make a name for themselves. They have a high number of new recruits, and they don’t care what it takes to expand.”

“Oh.” Fear and dread spread across her face as she looks towards the floor, lost in thought.

“What’s this about? Do you know someone in that gang?”

“Well, I’m not sure yet.”

“What do you mean you’re not sure? Winter, why are asking about the Street Kings?”

“It’s nothing, I just heard about them and thought I’d ask,” she says with a brand-new smile.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. I’d like to ask a follow-up question, but the fact is, I need to go now or I will be late. Decker must be tired as fuck right about now and I need to relieve him.

“I hate to end here, but I have to go,” I say as I take her hand.

“It’s okay. I understand,” she assures me. She’s nervous again. I’m guessing it’s because now is the part when we kiss, or so it would normally go. I kiss her on the forehead and tell her I will call her when I get off work. She’s beaming like a fucking angel. My angel.

***

I think I floated into work this morning. I didn’t use my feet at all to get me around. I suddenly had wings and everything was perfect. I can’t believe I had that much fun last night. I also can’t believe I stuffed my face in front of a guy. But I didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable. It’s the best I’ve felt in a long time.

The moment I get to my office and sit down, Jana sneaks into my office with two cups of coffee and a thousand questions. I’m pretty sure she was waiting for me by her classroom, peeking out to see when I would be coming down the hallway. Stalker. She places the coffee cups on the table and takes a seat as if she’s just paid for tickets to see the greatest show on Earth.

“Okay, so I looked out the window and saw the two of you in the parking lot talking. You looked trashy yet sexy with your bunny tail, and he looked extra fuckable in his ‘I’m too manly to wear a costume’ and ardent stare. Take it from there; okay, go!” she says excitedly. I run down the events of last night to her. She listens as if she will later be quizzed on the story. When I’m done, she’s beaming with pride.

“I knew it! I knew this would work. You know, I try to be humble about the whole thing but the fact is, I have a gift,” she says as she studies her manicure.

“I did have a good time, and yeah you may have a gift of some kind. But it was wrong not to tell me he’d be there,” I remind her.

“If I did, would you have come?”

“Probably not,” I admit.

“And hence why I do what I do,” she says with a big smile.

“Jana, it was so much fun and I can’t even remember all the things we said to each other. It was just…effortless.”

“That’s great, honey. I’m so glad. Now, I love a ‘suspend the kiss’ moment like any other romance hound, but when are you gonna kiss him, on your next date? Or the one after? Hey, don’t make him wait past three dates, that’s just wrong,” she insists.

“We didn’t really talk about another date. He might not call.”

“Are you kidding? Wyatt is on you like the first BBQ stain of the summer on a white dress. The situation is real and it’s serious.”

“I love that he was okay with us not kissing.”

“What? No! He wasn’t okay with it but he put up with it because he sees how fucking fantastic you are and he’s willing to wait to get him some. I admire his patience. I mean, he could have any woman he wants and he’s willing to wait to kiss you. That means he’s special.”

“Last night I dreamed about him.”

“Really, how was he in the dream?”

“So good. I mean, Jana, I couldn’t contain myself.”

“That’s the way it’s supposed to be. So stop getting wild in your dreams and do a little of that in real life.”

“God knows I wanted to last night.”

“Well then call him and tell him that.”

“What? No, I can’t do that.”

“Why not? Pick up your cell and call. Tell him you are ready to ride all the rides in the park,” she says as she moves her hips suggestively.

“I can’t do that.” I laugh as I sip on the hot coffee she brought me. A smile forms on my face as I picture what his reaction would be if I called and said what Jana wanted me to say.

“He went out of his way, Winnie. Now, it’s your turn. C’mon, call and say something...dirty.”

“Well, maybe.”

“Good, I’ll write down what you should say,” she says as she picks up a pen and begins to scribble on a notepad.

“I can think of something dirty to say on my own,” I lie.

“Really? Like what?” she challenges. Damn her.

“I’ll say, ‘I want you.’”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty dirty.”

“You need a lot of work,” she teases.

“Okay, I’ll say, ‘Hi, Wyatt, I had a thrilling adventure with you in my head last night. I really enjoyed it.’”

“You can’t say that.”

“It sounds courteous and satisfied,” I object.

“It sounds like you’re sending a thank you card to someone who gave you a blender.”

“I like blenders.”

“Keep it simple. Tell him you want to grind on him until his eyeballs pop out of his head.”

“Classy.”

“Isn’t it though?” she says as we share a laugh. When the laughter dies down, she looks back at me with a rare serious gaze.

“Winnie, you go as fast or as slow as you want. I just want you to be happy. And ever since you met Wyatt, you’ve been…glowing. Don’t push that feeling away, okay?”

“What if I can’t get past what happened with Danny? What if I’m too damaged—even for a guy like Wyatt?”

***

It’s a few hours later and the center is just about to close. All I need to do is sign off on some forms and I can get home. I thought about calling Wyatt but thought he must be tired, so why bother him. Okay, okay, I was afraid that calling him would seem needy. I was also afraid that I’d hear his voice and want to see him right away. I can’t do that because after hearing how bad these new friends of Carlos’s really are, I have to talk to him. This morning Luis told me he’d most likely see Carlos today and that he’d make him see me.

When Wyatt asked me about my interest in the Street Kings, I didn’t get into details because Carlos is my responsibility. I have known that kid for years and if he needs help, I will make sure he gets it. And besides, I get the feeling Wyatt would tell me to stay away from that whole situation and the fact is I just can’t. I look at my watch. It’s half past six. I get up and look through the shades. There’s no sign of Carlos.

On an impulse, I pick up my cell and call Wyatt. I quickly hang up, mid ring. Shit. Why did I do that? I should have just talked or not called at all. What the hell? Okay, okay, maybe he didn’t even hear—my cell rings.

Yup, God hates me.

“Hey, did you just call me? Is everything okay?” Wyatt asks. God, I love his deep voice.

“Did I? Sorry, I must have touched it by mistake. Everything’s fine. How um…how did last night go?”

“Went really well. We got what we needed.”

“Good. What time did you get home—not that I’m trying to monitor your every move or anything. I just thought I’d ask or whatever,” I reply, quickly feeling like a fool with every passing moment. He clears his throat in order to suppress a laugh but I catch it.

“I had to cover for my partner, Decker. I just got home about ten minutes ago,” he says.

“Wow, you must be exhausted.”

“I am. I’m gonna get some sleep but how about breakfast tomorrow?”

“Um…I’m not sure…”

“Great, I will see you in front of your building at seven,” he says, not taking no for an answer. I can’t help but smile.

“Oh and babe—it’s never wrong to want to know where I am. I’m good with most things,” he says just before he hangs up. I have a smile on my face that’s so goofy Jana would make fun of me for weeks on end. I’m glad she’s nowhere around.

I resign myself to the fact that Luis couldn’t get his brother to come see me. I was trying to avoid having to look for him. But I fear that’s just what I’ll have to do. I gather my things and head out the door. On the other side is a tall lanky kid with familiar brown eyes, round cheeks, and a stoic expression.

“Carlos! Please come in,” I say as I step out of the way so he can enter.

“I already know what you’re going to say, and I don’t care if you don’t like my crew, I’m still joining them—no matter what.”