She grins. “You know how I love to complain. Count me in.”
43
TAKE IT BACK
Jack: I’m expecting at least a little souvenir.
Jack: I did not need to go through my sister’s underwear drawer and will be scarred for life.
Nate: I’ve been through that particular drawer,you haven’t seen anything.
Jack: I’ve seen them in your hand, that was enough.
Jack: You can buy me anything, really, I just like opening gifts.
NATE
I smile as I step out of the small room the LAPD lends me to treat their agents, getting a smirk from Denis as he walks out next to me.
“What’s putting that smile on your pretty boy’s face?” he asks as I close the door behind him.
“None of your business, old man.”
He chuckles. “Did you snatch another detective’s wife?”
He’s lucky I know he’s only joking, but I give him a pointed look nonetheless.
“Oh, come on. You know I’m on your side in that particular story…”
Meredith never approachedhim, but his partner was one of the few she tried to seduce. Good thing he already knew she was Ortega’s wife, or he would have ended up in the same place that I was…
“It was just a joke,” he continues, rolling his shoulders to test the pain. “Although, he’s been on a warpath these last few weeks… Are you sure youhaven’t slept with his wife again?”
“Certain,” I grunt as we start walking towards the open space.
I’m not sure what his problem is. For the last couple of years, we’ve been fine ignoring each other every time our paths crossed. Is he an asshole because he’s back with Meredith, or could it have to do with Prudence somehow? We don’t talk much about it, but from what I’ve gathered, they met randomly when she was in Seattle, and never saw each other again before she spotted him at Tipsy Turtle the night before she signed her contract here.
She did tell me that he asked her to request a transfer.
Like it’s her fault he can’t assume his own actions.
I do know that Meredith is making herself scarce around here, and except when we all go for the occasional drinks at our favorite bar and run into the LAPD crew, we don’t see her much.
And that’s good.
I don’t want her breathing too close to Prue or me.
What we have is so good that I’m terrified it might burst because of some stupid shit like this. And after wanting Prudence for so long, I won’t let people like Raphael or Meredith poison what we have.
My steps quicken and I frown when I hear the voice I came to crave talking angrily to someone.
“Shit, here we go again…” Denis says, stopping me with his arm. The only reason I don’t rip it off his body to run to her is the sight of Matthew, standing next to her with his arms crossed over his chest in a defensive stance.
“Give her a fucking break, Ortega.”
My frown deepens. They are friends, if Matt is talking to him like that he’s—
“I would, if she was doing herjobproperly.”
