Three
Erica
What is Captain Montgomery doing in my house? I think I have an idea, but I hope I’m wrong. I don’t want him thinking just because I won’t be working for him anymore that he and I can hook up. I’m not interested in giving up my virginity for a one-night stand, even if it is with Colten Montgomery.
As I take off all my gear and place it on my dresser, I can’t help the sadness and relief I feel knowing this will be one of the last times I get to do this. When I first started thinking about quitting the force, I felt terrible that I was letting Jacob down. After thinking about it for a few weeks and visiting his grave, I came to the realization that what he’d want most is for me to be happy. So, I did what I knew would make me happiest.
When the Captain asked me what I was going to do after I left, I had no idea what to tell him. I really don’t want to travel or move. I love Caraway like it’s a piece of me. This tiny small town tucked into the mountains of Colorado is where I was born and raised. It’s hard to stay when you feel like you have nothing keeping you here.
I take my shower, not lingering even though the hot water feels great on my chilled bones. Having him out there, being in my space, looking at my things is just weird. I get out and put on a pair of black leggings and a long sleeve Caraway County PD t-shirt. I leave my long dark hair, down around my shoulders.
I stare at myself in the mirror doing my best to gain the strength to walk out there and not let things be awkward. I hear the doorbell ring, and I know that I need to get out there because the pizza is here. I can’t believe he ordered my favorite pizza and brought my favorite beer. I wonder how he knew.
I meet him in the kitchen just as he is setting the food on the counter.
“Where are your plates babe?”
I point up to the cabinet on the left of the fridge and say, “up there.”
He pulls down two plates while I grab a stack of napkins. This pizza is greasy as hell, but it’s delicious.
“Do you want to watch a movie or something? I have Netflix. I am about to restart The Office if you’re interested.”
“The Office it is. My sister keeps telling me that I need to watch it. She’s always sending me these gifs from the show, but I have no idea what she’s talking about.”
“You have a sister? What’s her name?”
“I do. She’s around your age, maybe a few years younger. I believe you two went to high school together. Her name is Gemma Montgomery.”
I think about it for a minute. “I knew of her. She was a freshman when I was a Junior I think. I pretty much kept to myself.”
“Ah, I see. The lone wolf?”
“Something like that,” I say. Not wanting to get into the fact that I had no friends. I can’t help but wonder why the Captain is being so kind to me. I’ve done nothing to deserve it, then again, I did nothing to deserve the harsh treatment at work either. I grab my remote and switch it to Netflix and start the first episode of the show.
I am eating my delicious pizza in silence when I can’t help but blurt out, “Why are you really here Captain? This is weird right?” I pause the tv and stand up, taking my plate to the sink. Standing with my back to counter, I wait for him to answer.
“It would be weird if I hadn’t accepted your resignation. I just want you to know that there is something worth staying in Caraway for.”
“What would that be? A job, that I basically quit today. Friends I don’t have? My family is dead! What the hell should I stay for?” I am angry. Tears threaten to let loose, but I can’t cry in front of this man. He is just staring at me. Unnerving me, even more than before.
“Erica, you should stay here for me.” He looks up from his plate, and when his eyes meet mine, my knees almost give out.
“Captain-” I begin, but he cuts me off.
“My name is Colten, Erica. I expect you to use it. I am not your Captain anymore.”
“Colt,” I say. Letting it settle in my mind.
“Colt,” beginning again. Nope, still weird. “I can’t stay for you. I don’t want to go, but I can’t stay for something that isn’t real.”
“You think this isn’t real Erica?” He says while standing up and walking over to me and grasping my arms with his much larger hands.
“You think I haven’t had to curb every desire and impure thought I’ve had about you over the years you were under my command? I know you felt that jolt between us earlier. I feel it every damn day. I have been waiting patiently for you to come around, but I can’t wait anymore. Your resignation sealed your fate. I will spend every day for the rest of my life trying to keep you by my side.”
“Wow,” I say because I don’t know what to say. He leans down and kisses me. It is my first kiss, and I am desperately grabbing onto the back of his neck and digging my nails into his skin. Once he ends the kiss, I am reeling. I grab the edge of the counter for support and again “Wow” is the only thing I can manage.
“You like me?” I ask.
“We can go with that for now.” He says with a smile.
“How about I make you dinner tomorrow? My place? Do you like pasta? No, wait we just had pizza.”
“I love pasta. Tomorrow is good. My boss gave me the weekend off.” She says cheekily.
“You saucy girl. You, me and pasta at 7’oclock tomorrow night. My place.” He places a light kiss on my lips again.
“Come on. I want to finish watching this show. I hate when Gemma is right. I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t finish it. It’s funny.”
“It’s my favorite show. Dwight is hilarious with all of the weird stuff he says.”
When I sit back where I was, at the other end of the couch, I feel so alone. Instead of sitting where he was, he sits down in the middle of the couch where his large, warm body is pressed next to mine. When he drops his hand down to my hip, and his thumb begins making circles under my shirt, I feel a thumping in my core I’ve never felt before, and my body is like a live wire aware of every single touch. I feel strangely complete for the first time in years.