And still, I was still restless.
I flicked off my lights and rolled silently into the parking lot nearest the football field. According to Leroy a call from a passerby said there was loud music playing.
Hot summer nights and nothing to do was a recipe for trouble.
Usually, the kids were smarter about where they partied. I checked my vest for my flashlight, cuffs, and Taser in case there was actual trouble before quietly checking in with Leroy.
“I’m at the school. I’ll check back in ten.”
“Got it, boss.”
There were no cars, just a handful of bikes laying on the grass.
I leaned against my door, then flicked on my takedown light which illuminated the entire middle field.
“Cops!”
The shout had everyone scattering, bike chains clicking as they took off over the uneven pavement.
“Get on home,” I yelled out. It wasn’t worth hunting them down. They were out having some innocent fun.
Once they were gone, I checked the field for damages. In their haste they left a small speaker and battery-operated lantern behind. With a shake of my head, I collected them and hit my shoulder mic. “Just some kids hanging out. They scattered. I’m going to do a patrol then I’ll be back.”
“Understood.”
I strode back to my car and tossed my spoils in the passenger seat.
The rest of my night was uneventful. I was still itchy and restless when I clocked out for the night and returned to my house. I was so tired I almost missed the shadow in the driveway of the house across the street from me. I parked my car and hopped out, hurrying to the end of my driveway.
It was a man in a camping chair, music floated out from his phone. His long legs were kicked out, crossed at the ankles and the buzz started under my skin.
“Cash?”
He lifted a bottle. “Chief.”
“What the hell are you doing over there? Are you following me?”
“Pretty sure I bought my house first.” He took a sip and nudged a cooler at his feet. The only light came from a candle at his feet. “Beer?”
I looked at my house, then back across the street. Annoyed that I wanted to say yes.
“C’mon. We can call a truce, can’t we?”
I sighed. “A beer sounds nice actually.” I jogged over to my shed along the side of my house for one of my own camp chairs.
The air was heavy and still. The humidity left my uniform feeling like a wet blanket. I dropped my chair on my lawn then let myself in my house. I was tempted to toss myself in theshower and ignore the pull to go over and sit with him, but I was tired of the endless loneliness each night.
Nora was busy with Sully, and my parents were always working or involved with one another. They were still insanely in love with one another. One of the reasons I had yet to find a man who lived up to that kind of relationship. Todd sure as hell hadn’t. And he was only one of a half dozen relationships I’d sleepwalked through.
Cash Murdock annoyed the hell out of me, but he sparked something in me too.
Something flashed outside my window. I hurried over and saw Cash sitting in his chair with a sparkler making trails in the deep darkness of the late hour.
Laughing, I flipped my blinds open and closed to let him know I saw him. Then I closed them and peeled my uniform off, took two minutes to rinse the salt off my body. I quickly dried off and took a minute to spritz myself with my rarely used perfume before I pulled on a tank, underwear, and cutoffs.
“Too much?” I asked myself in the mirror. “Yes, Parker. You’re doing way too much. He’s probably already back in the house for fuck’s sake.” Iclipped my curls at the top of my head in a messy bun and shoved my feet into a pair of flips.
If he wasn’t there, I’d just go back upstairs and go to bed.
