Chapter One
Nicole Haught. Police officer.
Waverly Earp's gaze traced along the lines of the letters on the business card in her hand. Her gaze tracked next to the number below, to the now familiar string of digits and she lifted her cell phone from where it lay on the bed beside her and swiped it unlocked with her thumb, but took no further action, simply staring at the screen until it grew dim and then dark, the phone timing out and locking again. She dropped the phone back onto the bed and returned her attention to the card.
"Officer Haught," she whispered, testing the words in her mouth. Tasting them. "Nicole."
It had been two days since Officer Haught, since Nicole, had given her the card. Two days that Waverly had waffled back and forth on what to do with it. She wasn't naïve. She knew what it meant that the other woman had given it to her. She had been flirted with enough times to know what it looked like, even if she had never been on the receiving end it from a woman before.
It should have been off putting, the same way it was when random guys did it. Whether it was Shorty's patrons stumbling up to the bar and spouting lame pickup lines or construction workers wolf-whistling at her as she walked by or the produce guy at the grocery store who was always just a little too attentive. It made her feel vaguely uncomfortable and nervous, edgy.
But when Nicole had looked at her with those wide, dark eyes, shimmering with attraction, with interest that she didn't even try to hide, had smirked that charmingly smug smile at her, Waverly had felt a fissure of excitement. Her stomach fluttering and her heart racing in a way that was both concerning and enticing.
It wasn't something she should be pursuing. The wisest course of action would be to simply throw away the card and go about her daily life as if the interaction hadn't happened. She was with Champ, after all. Even if his gaze meeting hers hadn't made her breath catch in her throat in a very long time. Even if his simple touch no longer set her skin on fire.
They had been together for awhile now, maybe the fireworks had faded, but what they had was comfortable, familiar. They shared an ease, an understanding. What their relationship lacked in excitement it made up for in security, stability. She shouldn't risk throwing all that away because she got a little thrill when a beautiful stranger smiled at her.
Not to mention that it wouldn't be fair to Nicole, to lead her on, to let her think that she was interested when she was with someone, and nothing could happen between them. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to toss the card away. She had been very clear with Nicole that she had a boyfriend, and still Nicole had been undeterred. So really, what was the harm in giving her a call? Nicole was new in town, maybe she was just looking to make some friends.
Waverly knew she was rationalizing to get what she wanted, but that didn't stop her from picking her phone up once again. This time when the screen lit up, she didn't let it fade to black, she tapped the phone icon with her thumb and dialed from memory.
The line rang twice on the other end, and when Nicole picked up Waverly realized she should have rehearsed what she was going to say before dialing, because at hearing Nicole's voice she found herself speechless. She scrambled for words as the silence stretched out over the line.
"Hello?" There was a tinge of annoyance in Nicole's voice as she repeated her greeting.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry I…" got tongued tied by the sound of your voice was not an explanation she should offer. "Hi."
"Waverly? Hey." The soft tones returned to Nicole's voice, and maybe she was imagining it but Waverly could swear, even from those two words, that Nicole was happy to hear from her. "How are you?" she asked, sounding genuinely interested in the answer.
"I'm good. Just…" laying in bed, thinking about you. No, she couldn't say that. "I'm good," she repeated lamely, her cheeks heating up in a blush at how awkwardly she was navigating this conversation. She hadn't been this nervous making a phone call since she was thirteen. "You?"
"I'm doing all right. Did some chores, ran some errands, nothing super exciting or anything y'know?"
Waverly laughed softly; her comment relatable. "Yeah. I get it."
There was another pause, slightly less awkward than the last one, but still somewhat uncomfortable.
"So, what's up?"
Waverly flushed again at the gentle prompt, uncertain as to why she was doing so horribly at this. "I was just wondering if you still wanted to get that cup of coffee?"
"Yeah?" She could swear that she could hear the smile in Nicole's voice. "I'd love to..like to," she said, teasing Waverly a little with her reply, not that Waverly minded. She found a grin tugging at the corners of her lips at the thought of the two of them having an inside joke already.
"So, when's good for you?" Nicole asked after another lengthy silence.
Waverly resisted the urge to smack herself in the forehead, she had no idea why she was being such a dolt. "Um…now?" She had no real plans for the day, and she had a feeling that if given the time to overthink she'd either talk herself out of going or work herself up into a nervous state.
"Now? So spontaneous, from a planner such as yourself."
Waverly felt her cheeks burn at the gentle teasing and was grateful for the phone line between them, preventing Nicole from seeing her face. She opened her mouth to reply, hoping that some witty, flirty comment would magically come out, but of course nothing came to mind. God, what was it about this woman that made her so flustered?
"Now works," Nicole continued, moving smoothly past the moment when it became clear that Waverly wasn't up to bantering back. "I'm still learning my way around, do you know a good place?"
"Do you know the coffee shop on the corner of Main?" Waverly asked, pleased to finally be able to contribute something substantial to the conversation.
"The one with the flower boxes in the window?"
"That's the one. Want to meet there in…half an hour?" She didn't know where exactly Nicole lived, but there wasn't anywhere in Purgatory that you couldn't get to in about ten minutes.
"Sounds good to me."
"Perfect," Waverly said, feeling inordinately excited about the prospect. "It's a date," she added with thinking. "I mean, it's not a date, date. It's…it's…"
"It's coffee," Nicole said, making it sound so simple even as Waverly knew that there was nothing simple about it. "I'll see you later Waverly."
Waverly's heart was pounding so loudly in her ears that she was surprised that the pedestrians she passed on the street as she made her way up the block to the coffee shop couldn't hear it. Her hands were shaking so much as she reached for the door handle that she couldn't get a grip, her fingers sliding off the cool metal, her hand falling back to her side.
She stepped out of the doorway and took a deep breath, attempting to steady her nerves.
"It's just coffee," she muttered to herself, pacing in small circles on the sidewalk, ignoring the curious glances she received from passersby. "Just coffee. No need to be nervous. It's not like it's a date or anything."
Except it wasn't just coffee. As much as she tried to convince herself that this meeting was completely innocuous, just two people getting to know each other, she knew that it was much more weighted than that. And while part of her was frightened of what that could mean, a larger part of her was excited, eager even, to explore where it might lead.
She shook her arms, as if she might be able to shake off some of this nervous energy, and paced few more times, breathing deeply in through her nose and then puffing out her cheeks, exhaling slowly.
After a couple minutes she began to feel calmer, more centered, and she made her way over to the door once again. Her grip, when she reached for the handle was still shaky, but she got a hold on it and pushed, with maybe a little too much force. The heavy glass door swung inward, almost knocking her off her feet. She stumbled forward but managed to maintain her balance. Once she had rightened herself Waverly glanced around, checking to make sure nobody, especially not Nicole, had noticed her less than graceful entrance. Luckily none of the other patrons in the coffee shop seemed to have, too caught up in their novels or conversations or placing their orders to pay her any mind.
She slipped into place at the back of the line and then surveyed the crowd. It didn't take her long to who she was looking for. Nicole had selected a table for two along the far wall, by the window. She sat with her back to the wall, one hand curled loosely around a mug, a book open in front of her.
Waverly had a moment to observe her as she read, so totally immersed in her novel that she didn't notice the two pre-teens tousling in the booth to her left, rattling the cups and condiments on their table until their Mom barked at them to settle down, or the waitress dropping a mug as she cleared the table behind her, the ceramic shattering on the linoleum with a sharp crack.
She didn't register any of that, but within seconds of Waverly's eyes landing on her, she glanced up and met Waverly's gaze with almost unerring accuracy, as if she had somehow sensed her eyes on her. Immediately her face lit up in a dimple flashing grin.
Waverly felt her own lips turn up in an answering smile. She flipped her hand in a wave before gesturing to the counter. Nicole waved back and nodded her understanding. Waverly thought that the other woman would return to her book while she waited for her to get her coffee, but her gaze lingered. The intensity of it, even from across the room, making her cheeks heat in a blush. There was no way Nicole could see that from so far away, and yet, her smile turned mischievous.
Waverly dipped her head, and when she peeked up through her lashes, Nicole was still staring at her, the smile on her face softer now. She spun around, ignoring the prickly feeling on the back of her neck that came from eyes on her, and focused her attention on the menu board in front of her, trying to settle on an option before she made it to the front of the line. Suddenly coffee didn't seem like such a good idea, the addition of caffeine to her already rattled nerves would only be a recipe for disaster.
When it was her turn, Waverly ordered chamomile tea, hoping that it's soothing properties would help keep her calm. She gripped the cup like it were a lifeline as she made her way across the room. Nicole stood as she approached, a smile once again alighting her face.
"Hey." She wrapped one arm around Waverly in a brief, loose hug. The simple contact stirring up butterflies in her stomach.
"Hey." She winced at the breathiness of her reply as she stepped back. "Thanks for meeting me." She winced again, certain that such a greeting was lame.
"My pleasure," Nicole said, reaching for Waverly's chair and pulling it out for her. And, was that a wink, or was she just imagining things?
Waverly settled into her seat and wrapped her hands around the mug in front of her, Nicole across from her, mirroring her position. Silence settled between them, panic slowly sinking in as Waverly racked her brain for something to say.
"How are you liking Purgatory so far?" She grasped at the first thing that came to mind, figuring it was a safe enough subject.
"It's been an adjustment," Nicole said with a little laugh. "I spent the last five years living in the city, first for college and then while at the academy. I got so used to the hustle and bustle, city noises at night and all that. My first week here I couldn't sleep because it was so quiet. I had to run the dishwasher just for some noise." She dipped head and offered up a small, almost sheepish smile at the admission. This was another side to the confident, bordering of cocky, officer, one that Waverly couldn't help but find endearing. She felt her nerves still, just a little, even as butterflies stirred in her stomach.
"Try living above a bar, plenty of late night noises to lull you to sleep," Waverly said, remembering the first few weeks after she had moved into the little apartment above Shorty's and how the muffled din of laughter and music and conversation had kept her up at night, and the street traffic had woken her up in the morning, until she had become accustomed. "I grew up out in country," she added with a vague gesture towards the farmland that stretched out in all directions around the downtown core. "Moving into town was a shock to my system."
Nicole hummed softly and nodded. "I'll bet," she said with a light laugh. Not making fun, not the way some people did, assuming that Waverly was some kind of country bumpkin because she'd grown up on a farm, instead merely appreciating the contrast in their situations. "You've always lived in Purgatory?" Nicole asked, picking up her coffee and taking a sip.
"Born and raised," Waverly said. "I thought about going away for school…but it's pretty expensive."
She had applied to several universities and had been accepted by all of them but hadn't wanted to burden her Aunt Gus and Uncle Curtis with the expense of her tuition. She knew they would have sacrificed their savings and retirement for her, and she didn't want them to do that. The online courses she took weren't nearly as pricey as living on campus would have been, and she had been able to contribute thanks to what she made at Shorty's. Being a bartender wasn't exactly a life-long goal, but for now she enjoyed the job. It got her out of the house, it let her be social, the money was good, and she could work her hours around her coursework.
"Yeah." Nicole nodded her understanding. "I went to school on a basketball scholarship. If it wasn't for that, no way my parents could have afforded it. They helped me out when they could, but I'm the youngest of three so…" she shrugged, and this time it was Waverly's turn to nod her understanding.
"What did you study at school?"
"I majored in sociology, but it was a toss up between that and history. I don't know if I should admit this, but the only reason that I chose sociology is because it didn't have any morning classes in the first semester of junior year."
Waverly couldn't help but laugh at that. "Not much of an early riser I take it?"
"Not when I was twenty. I've gotten used to it, over the years, but I don't think I will ever truly consider myself a morning person. And from the look on your face right now, I'm guessing you are?"
Waverly tried to school her expression, even though she hadn't realized she'd been doing anything with it. "Oh yeah. I don't even need coffee or anything." She couldn't help but grin at the faint groan that issued from Nicole's throat at her comment.
As nervous as Waverly had been about this meeting, she was finding Nicole to be very easy to talk to. There was something about her, an open, easy manor, that soothed her nerves. She found herself relaxing into the other woman's company, into the conversation, as they chatted about anything, everything. From school, to families to embarrassing childhood moments, nothing was off limits.
What's more, Nicole actually listened when she spoke. Waverly was so used to seeing people's eyes glaze over, their attention wandering as they fidgeted in place whenever she talked about the things she was passionate about, like art, or history. But not only did Nicole give her undivided attention, she asked questions, not merely indulging Waverly, but engaging. It was refreshing, the feeling of truly connecting with someone.
That's not to say that there weren't moments when Waverly found herself flustered. There was just something about the way Nicole looked at her. She'd be in the middle of a sentence and would glance up, catching the other woman's eye and her breath would catch in her throat and her train of thought would derail. And Nicole knew what she was doing to her, in those moments. She would grin, a twinkle in her eye and reach out to Waverly, laying a hand over her own, and urge her to continue. The soft, gentle touch short circuiting her brain in a way that was both frustrating, and exhilarating.
She should be annoyed; the other woman was blatantly flirting with her even though she knew Waverly was in a relationship. If it had been a guy doing it, Waverly would have lost it on him by now. But there was just something so…genuine about the way Nicole did it that she couldn't find it in herself to be mad. And maybe a part of it was that she was enjoying the attention, the flattery of knowing that Nicole wanted her, and wasn't afraid to show it. Admittedly that was shallow, wasn't a part of herself that Waverly was particularly fond or proud of, but she couldn't deny that it felt good. She knew, at some point, she was going to have examine that more closely. But for now, she was just enjoying being there, with Nicole, and getting to know the other woman.
So caught up in the conversation, Waverly didn't realize just how much time had passed until the alarm on her watch, the one she kept set to wake her from the nap she usually took before a late shift at Shorty's beeped, drawing her attention down to her the time.
"Oh, my gosh, I can't believe we've been here for over three hours," she said, glancing up and looking around the coffee shop, noticing that they were two of only a few people left, the mid-day crowd having left. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to monopolize your whole day."
"Hey. No, don't apologize." Nicole leaned forward and lay her hand over Waverly's, where it rested on the table between them and gave it a little squeeze. The pads of her fingers were rough, calloused, and scraped lightly against her skin, sending a shiver coursing up her spine. "I had a great time. Nowhere else I'd have rather been." She shot Waverly a grin that was somehow both sweet and smug at the same time. "I'd be happy to sit here with you for another three hours, but I'm guessing you have somewhere you have to be?" She nodded towards Waverly's wrist, and the now silenced alarm.
"Unfortunately." Waverly pulled a face that she hoped expressed how genuinely regretful she was to have to cut their coffee short. "Work," she added, to make it clear that it wasn't some other plans that she was choosing over time with Nicole. "I have to start in an hour."
Nicole nodded. "I guess we should be going then."
"I guess so," Waverly agreed, reluctantly.
She stood, and Nicole stood with her, immediately reaching around to the back of her chair, pulling it out for her. "Let me walk you out."
It was just a few more minutes, but Waverly would happily accept any extra time with Nicole. The other woman trailed a step behind her as they wove their way around the tables to the door, she felt her presence at her back, as well as the light touch of her hand a few times, guiding her around corners or across uneven patches of the worn floor. When they reached the door, Nicole leaned around her and pushed it open, allowing her to step through in front of her. It occurred to Waverly that she had been more gentlemanly in the few hours that they had spent together than Champ had been for the duration of their relationship.
They fell into step as they made their way down the street. Waverly's apartment was only a half-block from the coffee shop and all too soon they had reached the side door that she used to get inside.
"I had a really nice time this afternoon," Waverly said, realizing as she did how very much like an end of date thing to say that was. Even though this was not a date. This was the point where she should turn around and go, but she couldn't quite bring herself
"Me too." Nicole nodded, and shifted in place, her gaze darting to Waverly's lips before falling away.
Waverly's heart seized in her chest before picking up in pace. A part of her willed the other woman to cross that line, to lean down and brush their lips together, even as the larger, more rational part of her hoped she wouldn't. So far Nicole had been skirting the edge of inappropriate. She had made her intentions clear, but hadn't pushed, hadn't made any actual moves or applied any pressure. And even though every nerve in Waverly's body was taut with anticipation, she knew that she would lose respect for the woman if she actually tried anything.
They stood in the street, staring at each other, the comfort and ease of the coffee shop gone as the air between them turned charged, expectant.
"We should do it again sometime. Soon," she added, resisting the urge to head smack herself at how lame she sounded.
"Yeah?" Nicole's lit up, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I'd like that."
"Me too."
Again, silence stretched out between them, Waverly once again cognizant of how much like the end of a date this felt like. Even though it was definitely not a date.
"Uh, well I guess I should get going," she said, gesturing to the door behind her for emphasis. "But maybe we could get together this weekend?"
That was only three days away, that wasn't too soon to make plans again was it? Didn't make her look to eager? She could go that long without seeing Nicole again, couldn't she?
"Yeah. Yeah. That'd be nice," Nicole said. "I'll let you go get ready for work. You have my number. Maybe don't wait so long to use it this time?" She said with a wink. Waverly let out a breathless laugh and squeaked out a promise that she wouldn't.
Nicole leaned in and wrapped her arms around Waverly in a loose, light hug, pulling away before Waverly really had a chance to return it. And then she was gone, striding back down the street towards the coffee shop, hands shoved deeply into her pockets. Waverly sagged against the side of the building, breathless and mind whirring in confusion as she watched her walk away.