Author's Note: So...I know I've set up a cliffhanger a couple of chapters back, and I'm dragging out the conclusion for such just to be evil. Muahahaha! It'll be well worth the wait. At least, I think so. During writing this chapter, I've come to realize that attempting to write a southern accent is incredibly difficult, and I hope it makes sense when you guys read it. I tried. I really did. On a separate note: thanks to all my readers and reviewers :) I love seeing that I have so many people interested in it if the amount of favorites and alerts are to go by, especially the reviews I'm receiving. One such reviewer is extremely enthusiastic. If you do enjoy my story, or if you don't, please leave a review or hell, even a message if you're shy. Feedback keeps me going :) and I'm more apt to posting sooner with the more reviews I receive. Thanks again, you lovely people!
Chapter Nine
Shane was driving to work in his police cruiser, windows down to let the passing breeze flit through the windows. The sun was high in the sky beating down onto all unprotected by shade, his arm a victim as it hung out the driver side window. As soon as he felt his skin start to burn, he pulled it inside the car, resting it atop the steering wheel and moving his right to rest on the middle console between the front seats. The skin of his arm had turned a slight shade of pink protesting the pain.
Shit's gonna start peeling tomorrow, he thought.
When he was younger, Shane's momma always made him and his brother lather on a thick layer of sunscreen before they even thought about stepping outside.
"Sunburns ain't nothin' ta mess with, y'here? Skin'll peel and blister, and ya'll wanna scratch, but if ya touch it. It'll make it worse. Best ta 'void it from even happenin'."
And when he got older and into his rebellious phase, Shane stopped with the skin protection habits his mom pushed onto him. But every time he got burned, which was incredibly often, he'd regret turning away the sunscreen. But he'd either forget or just not care enough to go pick some up.
As he walked into the King County Sheriff's office, Shane noticed Rick sat atop their conjoined desks with a suspiciously conspiratorial smirk on his face.
"What's that look for?" he asked his best friend.
"Just a li'l curious is all," Rick responded hopping off the desk. Shane gave him a look that told him to continue. "You come in this morning a bit disheveled: buttons skipped on your shirt and your belt missing a few loops on your pants. Then when we send you for coffee this mornin', you jump on the chance and race outta here. Figure you're just jonesin' for some caffeine, but you're gone for a helluva long time." Rick paused for dramatic effect allowing the smile on his face to grow. "Don't see no coffee, so where were ya?"
Shane threw Rick a look of annoyance. "I don't know what ya mean."
"Like hell. Something has you all goofy an' un-Shane-like."
"Shut up, and get ta your paperwork." Rick chuckled before sitting at his desk and focusing on his computer screen. Trying to ignore his friend, Shane soaked a paper towel with ice cold water from the water cooler and wrapped it around his forearm.
Shane and Rick remained working in silence, only sharing a word or two when climbing into the cruiser and finding a place to sit and catch speeders and await any alerts over the CB.
"So..." Rick began, earning a deep sigh from Shane. "Does your new mood have anythin' ta do with the girl you went home with last night?" At Shane's look of irritation, Rick continued. "Bobby and Joe told me."
"Come off it, man."
Rick took a moment to stare at the man in the passenger seat. "Brother, you're never like this. Usually, you're all talk, waiting to share all the dirty details of the night with any girl, while I'm always tryna getcha to shut up. Now, you're all tight-lipped, I'm over here tryna getcha to spill. What's got ya?"
Loudly exhaling, Shane prepared to tell the story.
"I met her earlier this week. Eva. She's the one I told ya 'bout: the girl with the tire at the coffee shop?" Rick nodded in agreement. "Well, I gave her mah number, but she never called."
"Wait," Rick interjected, "a girl turned you down?! I didn't think that was possible."
"Go fuck yourself. But yeah. Then last night, I run into Sherry, and th'girl was too persistent at comin' onto me."
"Which one was Sherry?" Rick interrupted again.
"The blonde one before Heidi that started in on me meetin' her family and makin' dates with her friends." Rick made a sound of understanding. "Anyway, Sherry was tryna chat me up, and then outta nowhere, Eva walks up and acts like ma girl, and she saves me from crazy. We end up talkin' the resta the night, and this chick then asks ta come over to mah house. I take her back with me, and we don' make it past the couch 'fore we're all over each other."
"Remind me to never sit on your couch again."
"You've probably sat on worse before," Shane offered with a shrug.
Rick shot him a look of disgust but gestured for him to continue.
"This girl, summa the best sex I ever had, but get this: she sneaks out in the middle of the night. I wake up this mornin' in a tizzy 'cause this girl pretty much used me for mah dick then left once she got what she wanted."
"So, you're angry that she did what you usually do?" Rick posed with a chuckle.
"I wasn't angry. I just wanted another taste."
"Wanted?" Rick repeated, turning slowly to look at Shane. "Do you not want to see her again? 'Cause if this morning is anythin' ta go by..."
Shane lifted a hand to his head and started scratching behind his ear. "About that: I ran into her at the coffee shop, and we got a bit distracted."
"Say no more. I think I can figure it out from there."
"Right there in the parking lot," Shane continued disregarding his friend's refusal at hearing more. "And she tasted so fuckin' good, and she was drippin' all over mah chin like a meltin' popsicle."
"And the old Shane Walsh is back," Rick joked.
"This girl, I don' know what it is 'bout her, but I want more. Hell, I've got her comin' over tonight. If this don' quench mah thirst for her, I think I'm gonna ask her to be on retainer."
"Shane, brother, I think ya just want her because she gave you a dose o' your own medicine," Rick provided. "Besides, need I remind ya of all the other bed buddies you've had in the past. You were never happy for too long, complainin' how they wanted more than y'were willin' ta give in the whole emotional department."
"Like ya said, she did ta me what I woulda done ta her, so I think she may actually be on the same page as me," Shane asserted to his partner. "I've gotta pretty good feelin' 'bout her."
