Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“There’s something about watching the TV or reading on this boat that just throws off my equilibrium,” Nico explained, giving his wife a tolerating look. “So when we weren’t doing shit, we were taking fucking naps. Laziest week of my fuckin’ life.”
Tobias started to chuckle.
“I probably gained ten pounds,” he said to nobody in particular. “Shittiest food I’ve ever had in my life, but it didn’t stop me from fucking eating it.”
I slapped his arm.
“Language,” I told him, looking at the old woman two tables away with an apologetic look.
He looked at me.
“You’re wearing a ‘Fuck Your Gun-Free Zone’ shirt, which might I add I still want back, and you’re telling me to hush?”
Georgia started to laugh.
“I had to have something long to pull off the leggings I bought from that Lularoe chick who was selling them at that vegetable carving contest.” I waggled my finger at him. “I didn’t have one, and this shirt was the only one that looked good with the bright pink hearts.”
He just shook his head and turned his attention back to Nico.
“What do you do at KPD?”
Tobias didn’t quite dismiss me, though. Instead, he wrapped his arm tighter around my shoulder and pulled me in until I was resting my head against his chest.
“I work as a patrol officer,” he answered.
“He’s also on the SWAT team,” Georgia added.
Nico rolled his eyes. “I’m also on the SWAT team.”
Tobias’ grin was devilish.
“I was on the SWAT team when I was younger,” he said. “I saw a bullet land in the wall behind my head, missing me by a mere half an inch, and decided that I liked my head where it was.”
Nico started to chuckle.
“Our town is small, and we don’t run too many SWAT calls. But I also know that it’s not for everyone,” he said. “What do you do now?”
“I’m a patrol officer for Alabama Highway Patrol,” he answered.
“Eww,” Nico said. “Bunch of drugs?”
Tobias shrugged. “A few.”
Something passed in between the two men, and I wondered what I was missing.
“Here,” Georgia said, claiming my attention. “I’d love to keep in contact with you,” she said. “I can’t believe that we’re already home. I wish I’d gotten the chance to spend more time with you. You seem like a girl I’d love to commiserate with.”
The fact that someone wanted to commiserate with me, a cop’s wife to another cop’s girlfriend, was enough to make me almost giddy.
Then I remembered those three little words. Words, that on their own were innocuous, but said together, made an entire world of difference.
Though, he hadn’t said them again since then and neither had I. But he showed me in the way he wrapped his arm around me, or dropped a kiss to my forehead or the top of my head while he was having a conversation. Badass to badass, like he was doing right then.
“I’d like that,” I said, passing her my cell phone. “Here, just put it in there.”
She took my phone, smiled over my cell phone’s screensaver, and dialed her number.
Her phone rang and she sighed.
“It’s so nice to hear that again,” she said. “I think we spent a small fortune on calls back home this week. I’m so glad to be back in civilization and not in ship jail.”
The big man at her side grunted.
“Amen to that.”
“Emerald Diamonds!” a woman called. “Now disembarking!”
Tobias and I stood up.
“That’s us!”
The couple with us stood as well. “Us too.”
But the moment we stepped off the ship, we went our separate ways, and Georgia and I waved goodbye as if we were long lost friends being separated against our wills.
“I really like her,” I told Tobias.
He grinned down at me.
“Something tells me that you’ll see her again,” he said. “Cop wives are nice like that. There’s a secret club that only cop wives and girlfriends belong to, and they never let you go once you’re in it.”
I smiled, somewhat excited by that fact.
It was nice knowing that someone would always be at my back if I ever needed them.
And Tobias? Well, he was definitely always going to be there. At least if I had any say in the matter.
***
Four hours later, we arrived at Tobias’ house and immediately froze at what we saw.
“Were you expecting a party?” I whispered.
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“Then what’s with the full house?”
He drove up to the carport, parked underneath the awning just to the right of the door and got out.
Rounding the car, he opened my door and offered me his hand, which I took. Guiding me to the door, he led me inside, and we were faced with a wall of people.
“What’s going on?” Tobias barked.
The men of The Dixie Wardens were there, as well as some handsome men who could only be Tobias’ real life brothers.
The moment I stepped fully inside, I was pulled into my brother’s embrace.