Adrian — 6
“Love you, too. Bye.” I hung up the phone, trying not to get overly excited at the thoughts that were now running through my head. What were the odds? What were the chances? Could I really get that lucky?
“Yo, Adrian. How you doin’?”
And that right there made me cringe. I turned and glared at Bishop, knowing it really wouldn’t do any good. “You are not Rocky, and you’re definitely not from Philadelphia.”
“So? It’s still funny as shit.”
“Bishop, you’re from Texas for fuck’s sake. You sound ridiculous when trying to do a Philly accent with your twang. Now knock it off and get to work.”
“Man, you really do need to get laid. You’re too young to be this damn cranky.”
I continued to glare at Bishop, knowing he was probably right. I hadn’t been with anyone since I’d caught my ex-husband cheating on me though. At first, I was too hurt and raw, then too stressed with the divorce. Now, I only seemed to want one guy, and I wasn’t quite sure how to get his attention. Hell, I knew he was probably too young for me, but my mind wouldn’t let it go. I wanted Cody, and I was determined to get him. Now that I knew where he worked, that helped so much.
“Hey, Bishop?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing tonight?”
“Nothing, why?”
“Want to go see the fireworks?”
“Maaaybeee. What’s gives? You almost never want to hang out after hours.”
“Nothing. I’m planning on going to the fireworks tonight and thought you might want to go with. If you don’t, no big deal.”
“I’ll think about it.” That was all Bishop said before he went back to whatever he was doing on the computer. We always had paperwork; it came with the job. I just preferred to be in the field, as it were. But, sadly, fieldwork always led to more paperwork.
My biggest problem was exactly what Bishop had said: I needed to get laid. It has been years since I’d been with anyone other than my right hand or my favorite toys. Because a certain pastry chef had caught my attention, even they weren’t really doing it for me anymore. It wasn’t fun to be so sexually frustrated at my age.
When my phone rang, I answered it without even looking at who was calling.
“Fisher.”
“Deputy Fisher, it’s Sheriff McCoy.”
“Hey, Sheriff. What can I do for you?”
“I have the finalized report regarding former deputy Hamilton for you.”
“Former, huh?”
“Yes. He readily agreed that being a deputy wasn’t for him, and he’s now back in Gillette.”
“Really? Okay, that wasn’t expected, but after he pulled his weapon on me and Bishop, I can’t say I’m sorry.” They’d found Hamilton in his apartment, drunk as a skunk. When the sheriff first went to his deputy’s apartment, there was no answer. Thankfully he was able to get the landlord to open it for him though.
“No, me either. He only ever became a deputy because it’s what his dad wanted him to do. Not a solid plan for success. Anyway, with the parade, carnival, and everything else going on over here today, I’m not going to get to Jackson until tomorrow at the earliest. Do you want me to drop this in the mail?”
“Not necessary. I’m headed your way later, and if you have someone at the office, I can pick it up from them.”
“Cruz should be here. If he’s not, he shouldn’t be gone long.”
“I finish up here in about an hour. I need to go home and change, but I’ll be by shortly after.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
“Yep. Thanks, Sheriff.” I disconnected the call and tossed my phone on my desk with a sigh.
“Bad news?”
I looked up and over at Bishop, and got to thinking. “How old are you, Bishop? I know I refer to you as a rookie, but fuck, you’ve been my partner for close to a year now, and if I ever looked at your DOB, I don’t recall what it is.”
“Thirty. Why?”
“And this is what you want to do with your life?”
“Pretty much. I joined the Army after high school, did my four years, got out, went to college, and now here I am.”
I continued to wonder, and I couldn’t quite figure out what was bothering me so much. “You left Texas to become a US Marshal in Wyoming?”
“No, I left Texas to join the Army. I went to college in North Carolina after I got out of the Army. Then I became a marshal and got an assignment in DC. Trust me, Wyoming is better than DC when it comes to this job. Why the sudden interest in me?”
“You’ve been my partner for a year. I’ve read your file, but that was a year ago. And I’ve realized that I don’t know much about you.”
“What’s wrong with you? You’re acting weird. You don’t know anything about me—other than I’m from Texas and gay—because you’ve never cared to know. I’m the rookie, and the less time you spend with me, the better. Your words, not mine.”
I cringed because it was true. I’d said those things, and I was sorry I had. Bishop was away from his family and in a strange place, and I’d been a complete ass to him. Well, fuck.
“Bishop?”
“What, Adrian? Why are you so needy all of a sudden?” My partner turned and gave me a look that would freeze water if there was any around. I simply gave him a slow, sinful smile that let him know exactly what I was doing. He sighed and after clicking a few times on his computer, he turned toward me in his chair.
“Fine. I’m finished with my report. Let’s go.”
“Umm, where are we going?” I asked as I got up from my desk chair. I remembered I needed to log off my computer, so I sat back down to do that. By the time I was finished, Bishop was nowhere to be found. I finally located him outside, standing next to his SUV.
“You going to tell me where we’re going?” I asked.
“It’s the Fourth of July, we’re not busy and technically didn’t even need to come in today, and all of a sudden you want to become buddies. We’re going to each go home and change. I’ll be by your place, only because it’s bigger than mine, in about thirty minutes. You can then drill me and get all whatever-the-fuck-this-is, there.” Bishop rounded the hood of his vehicle and climbed in. He didn’t stop, didn’t hesitate, simply climbed in and left.
Well, hell. I sent a quick text off to my sister, letting her know I would be late to meet her. She replied saying she’d already made other plans, so it was okay. Other plans? Really? In only an hour? What the fuck? This day was weird, and I was really wanting a do-over.
I climbed into my own SUV, and on the drive home tried to make heads or tails of everything, and in the end, gave up. Knowing I was going to have to shower later, I decided against taking one now and simply changed into jeans and a light gray T-shirt.
Once I was ready, I plopped down on the oversized sectional that I spent way more time on than I cared to admit. Thankfully, Bishop arrived shortly after I’d sat down, saving me from my own boredom.
“Okay, what gives?” Bishop snapped.
“What do you mean?” Wow, what the hell? Why was he pissed at me?
“Like I said earlier, all of a sudden you want to be buddies. What’s up? Are you dying or something? Lonely? Because if that’s the case, forget it. I’m not hooking up with you.”
“What the actual fuck. No. No. No.”
“You have barely tolerated me thus far and now all of a sudden you want to be friends after work? So tell me what it is you want to know.” Bishop stopped and stared at me from his position in front of the window.
“Forget it. Go do what it is that you do after hours, and I’ll go pick up our reports from Sheriff McCoy’s office.” Fuck, he was right though.
“You’re not going to change the subject and get away with it this time. You’re always pulling that shit.” Bishop pointed an accusing finger at me. I was certainly guilty of changing the subject and then dealing with shit myself instead of including my partner in on things.
“Fine. I’m trying to be nicer. I got to thinking that maybe you needed a friend or something.”
“Fuck that. I’m not a kid, I can take care of myself. Have been for twelve years. I don’t need you to all of a sudden want to be my friend. It would have been nice a year ago when I first got assigned here.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I’ve been in a pissy-ass mood for years now and I’m not the friendliest. I get it. I was trying to change that though. We spend an ass-ton of time together. My mistake. I won’t make it again.” I got up from the couch, and after grabbing my keys and phone off the counter, I started toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“I told you, I'm going to Crooked Bend to pick up the reports." I paused. "Then I was thinking of wandering around the carnival for a bit and see what's going on." And hopefully I’d run into a certain brown-eyed man I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about.
“Seriously? What the fuck’s gotten into you?” The shock on Bishop’s face was evident. What? What’d I say?
“Yeah, seriously. Why?”
“You’re not the carnival type. You sure that’s the reason why?”
I couldn’t keep a serious look on my face with the way he was looking at me.
“Holy shit! You’ve got a date?”
That caused me to roll my eyes. I wish I had a date, but no. I shook my head but was more than willing to elaborate. “My sister said a certain pastry chef that I’m interested in would be at the carnival with his friend.
“Wait. Are you…you’re talking about the guy we saw at Five Guys, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. I was told he’d be at the carnival. I wanted to see if I could find him.”
“Man, you’re going stalker on him or something.”
I was shocked, hoping like hell that wasn’t the case. I simply knew he was going to be there and hoped to maybe get a chance to chat with him for a few minutes. And if things looked promising and I happened to ask him out again, so be it.
“I’m not stalking him. I actually haven’t seen him since that night at the restaurant. If I was stalking him, I’d have seen him every day since.”
“Fine. How do you know he’ll be at the carnival?”
“My sister said so.”
“How does she know?”
“They both work out at Knotty Springs Resort and Spa.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Fine. Let’s go, then. I want to see your moves. Maybe I’ll come up with some pointers for you or something.”
“That’s not even funny. I don’t need pointers; I know how to ask someone out.”
“But yet you’ve already struck out with this guy once.”
“Shut up.” I gave Bishop a gentle shove, which caused him to laugh as he walked to his SUV and climbed in. We quickly left my place, me following behind his SUV in mine, and headed to Crooked Bend. In no time we were pulling into the designated parking lot for the sheriff’s department.
“I still can’t get over how much this town goes all out for the various holidays,” Bishop said as we were walking in. He had a point, but I understood all too well just how small-town life could be.
“They depend on the tourists for the majority of their income. Luckily for Crooked Bend, they have the ski resorts not far from here and they have tourists year-round.”
“True. Austin doesn’t have to worry about that. It’s so different it’s crazy.”
As we entered the office, we were greeted by a smiling deputy I’d never seen before. But I’d only ever been in the office a few times.
“Can I help you?”
“Sheriff McCoy called earlier letting us know the final report involving us and your deputy Hamilton was available if we wanted a copy. We thought we’d swing by and pick it up on our way to the carnival.”
“Oh. You two must be the US Marshals, then?”
“Yes,” Bishop supplied, holding out his hand. “I’m Bishop, and you are?” The deputy shook hands before smiling at the two of us.
“Deputy Cruz. But call me Gavin. Jacob said you would be by. I have your report here on my desk.” I watched as he quickly picked up a manila envelope and handed it to me. “Was there anything else either of you needed?”
“No, this will do. We were going to check out the carnival and I’m sure eat too much junk, but otherwise, I appreciate the report,” I told the deputy as I nodded at him.
“It’s no problem. Jacob had to go, but he did say you might be in. If you have any questions, just give him a call. He’s at the carnival somewhere, so maybe you’ll see him.”
“Possibly. Thanks again,” I said before smiling and turning to leave. Bishop was right behind me, and after locking the report in my SUV, we agreed to walk to the carnival. It was only a few blocks away, and the SUVs were already parked, so why not?
“You know you didn’t have to drive your own vehicle.”
“What if you get lucky and your guy decides to go home with you? It’s a complete mood killer if you have to drop off your work partner first.” I sighed, but Bishop was right.
“Fine. Anyway, what do you want to do first?” I asked, looking at the carnival as we approached.
“I want to watch your game. Look.” Bishop tapped me on the chest before pointing to the reason I was there in the first place.
“Shit. I’d hoped to have more time to come up with something.”
“Nope, now get to it. Let’s go say hi. That’s always good.”
I watched as my partner walked off toward the two young men like he didn’t have a care in the world. Begrudgingly, I followed behind, but at a much slower pace. When I caught up, I was met by the smiling face of Hawke, if I remembered his name correctly.
“Hey, you two. Fancy meeting you here. So tell me, Deputy, you look like you’re a good shot. Care to win me a giant purple unicorn?” Hawke asked as he wrapped his arm through Bishop’s and pulled him away.
“He’s not very subtle, is he?” I asked as I watched them leave, chatting like they were old friends.
“No. But I’m used to it. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, why do you ask?” I turned and looked into those chocolate-brown eyes I could stare at all morning some lazy Saturday.
“Last time I saw you, you had to leave in a hurry.”
“Oh. That actually turned out okay. There was an issue earlier that morning, but it’s resolved now.”
“Cool. Does that happen often?”
“What?”
“Issues with work?”
“From time to time. How about you? What’s been going on with you?”
“Not a whole lot. I should go find Hawke. I told Trace I’d keep an eye on him,” Cody said before he started to walk away.
“Cody, wait.” I watched him stop and turn, a hesitant look on his face.
“Is it still a no to dinner?”
“It was a no to dancing, and it’s definitely a no to dinner. Why would you want to have dinner with me? I’m a lot younger than you.”
“So age is an issue for you?”
“It’s not going to happen. I’m not what you want.”
“How do you know if you won’t even have dinner with me?” I asked, frustrated.
“You need someone your age. Someone with things figured out.”
“I already did that once, and it didn’t work. Now I’m ready to try something else.” I knew I’d said the wrong thing as the words left my mouth. Shit. “Cody, that came out wrong.”
“Nope. It came out just right. Go find another boy toy. I’m not interested.”
I watched as he walked away. Damn. Why did it seem I was destined to always mess up where he was concerned?