Coletti ships it and Justin hates that fact more than any other.

Chapter 2

Justin resisted a snarky remark when Coletti asked him about the sunglasses. The man who'd been on a first name basis with the girls in a brothel should not be allowed to judge him for being hungover.

"I was suppose to be off today, remember?" Justin gestured out in a wide shrug and clenched his jaw when Coletti started laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing kid, nothing," Coletti waved him off, smile still clinging to his face as they walked out of the station. It was a simple beat today, just patrolling the docks. Nothing ever happened at the docks.

Well, nothing ever happened at the docks that Coletti was willing to stop. Policing was all about picking battles according to the Tao of Coletti. And given that everything tended to stay isolated at the docks and out of town, Justin guessed it was all working as intended.

"Oh look, there's your girlfriend," Coletti teased as they drove up to their usual spot. The sun hadn't even risen yet, but the boats were heading out and Priscilla was pushing a cooler around the bed of her truck. She had her apron on over her jacket and there were more than a few red streaks on the brown fabric.

"She's not-" Justin started, but Coletti waved him off.

"Yeah, yeah, you're not interested," Coletti
snorted and elbowed him in the ribs before pushing open his door, "Might wanna tell your eyes that kid."

Justin huffed and followed Coletti. Given Justin had in fact been watching Priscilla's body as it bent over in her truck to secure the coolers… well, arguing with Coletti was never worth it.

The man, being the meddling and nosy ass that he was, walked right towards Priscilla as Justin got out of the patrol car. She straightened up when she noticed them. She smiled, nodding at them both, "Officer Coletti. Justin."

"Hey Priscilla," was out of his mouth before he could even think of calling her Miss Connolly like he had been the last month. Her smile widened. Justin cleared his throat, looked away from her freckled face and chapped lips, "How's your sister doing?"

"Cleaning the puke off her sheets," Priscilla huffed, head shaking with exasperation as she stepped down off her truck.

Coletti raised a brow at the comment, "Eh, she alright?"

"She's fine," Priscilla nodded, lips pursing. Her eyes shifted towards Justin and her mouth split into a grin, "She told me Paulie was keeping you in your cups too, surprised to see you out here so early?"

Priscilla's head tilted to the side as she smiled at him. Some of her hair escaped her braid and caught on the wind.

"Paulie's not nearly as convincing as he thinks is," Justin chuckled, head ducking as he ruffled the hair on the back of his head. He nodded towards Coletti, "And I'm only out cause somebody signed us up for some last minute duty."

Coletti's booming laugh startled Priscilla and he shook Justin's shoulder playfully, "It's good practice for the future. You'll thank me when you got yourself a screaming baby at home and need those double shifts for diapers."

Priscilla and Justin both shifted their feet. A slight blush rose on their cheeks that wasn't from the cold air. Coletti clocked it. A smirk spread across his cheeks.

"I gotta check with Declan about something," Coletti clapped Justin's shoulder as he walked between the two. He winked at Justin, "I'll be back in a minute."

"So, uh," Justin gestured towards Priscilla, her brows raised, "What brings you out here so early? You do pick up at the evening catch right?"

The corner of her lips twitched up, "You, uh, you know my schedule?" She pushed some stray hair behind her ear beneath her hat.

Justin flushed and stammered out, "Just, you know, observing the docks. Usual police stuff." He winced and Priscilla laughed.

It was a beautiful smile. Her lips spread wide and her teeth had just the slightest gap between the top and bottom. Justin shook his head to stop from staring as Priscilla bit lightly on her bottom lip.

"I…" Priscilla sighed, arms wrapping around herself, "I took a job from Declan, cutting and sorting fish from the night catches." She shrugged her shoulders, eyes on his shoes, "It's not great pay, but he gives me my pick for the shop and it doesn't cut in to my hours at the store."

"My nan said you were picking up some extra work," Justin nodded and watched her eyes flicker back up to his face. He smiled, "Trying to keep the house and send Mary Beth to college in the fall right? That's real noble of you Priscilla."

That smile returned, along with some crinkling around her eyes. Justin's stomach just about fell out the bottom of itself. A slight breeze came up from behind her and Priscilla's hair flew forward. Long, thin strands scattered across her face, connecting the dots for her hundreds of freckles.

Justin swallowed, voice cracking as he spoke, "Not that I'm real surprised. You've always been real proper like that."

"I don't know if that's always such a good thing," Priscilla pushed her hair out of her face. A nervous chuckle escaped her lips. Justin watched her throat bob as she looked up at him. Her eyes were wide and her jaw steeled, "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, of course," Justin shrugged, shoulders rolling back as he watched her square hers. Priscilla licked at her lips and Justin's eyes followed the movement closely. A shiver ran up his spine.

Priscilla took a breath, hands clasping together, "Well, it's… Mary Beth said a few other things about you last night." Her hands wrung together, even gloved. "And I was wondering if she was, ya know, pulling my leg or something," Priscilla's eyes narrowed on him slightly.

His uniform suddenly felt a whole lot warmer as he stood there. Justin tugged on his collar. The chilly breeze did not help. Justin cleared his throat, smile tight, "What'd she say?"

Mary Beth had been drunker than any skunk and Paulie'd liquored him up enough to start rambling about Priscilla long before the woman herself had turned up to drag her sister home. In dancing fish pajamas.

What was wrong with him that the dancing fish pajamas had gotten his palms sweating? Justin wasn't sure whether Paulie'd called Priscilla just to mess with him or not, but he didn't even care when he saw her walk in.

"Oh! Uh…" Priscilla's laugh was high pitched and a tad squeaky as she tugged her hat lower in the back, "Well, she said, uh, that you were talking to Paulie…" Her eyes stopped flicking around to stare at his face, "…about me."

Justin's face felt hotter than if he was sitting inches from an actual fire. Priscilla was looking at him, waiting. She bit down on her bottom lip and Justin found himself licking his.

"Yeah." Justin croaked out. He rubbed a hand over his face and turned his head to look at the cove. The waves were crashing something fierce against the rocks. There were two boats chugging closer to the dock, another two on the horizon. He glanced back at Priscilla out of the corner of his eyes, "I might've mentioned you a few times."

Priscilla's eyes fluttered and her body stood a little straighter. She breathed out, her breath a visible wisp as it left her lips.

"Didn't say nothing bad, if that's what you're worried about," Justin offered, ruffling the back of his hair again. His fingers didn't sooth him and only proved to make his annoyingly messy hair worse.

"I didn't think you would," Priscilla smiled, ducking her head as a smile spread across her face. He was positive he saw her cheeks reddening some too. She tossed her head back suddenly. "Would you… would you want to…" Priscilla bit her lips, eyes closing in a scrunch.

Justin shuffled his feet, he glanced towards the dock. He could see Coletti's figure making his way back towards them as Declan walked towards the incoming boats.

"Could I buy you a meal sometime?" Justin asked before he could second guess himself. Priscilla's eyes flew open. He raised his brows, "I know your busy, so, uh, open invitation - lunch, dinner…"

"Breakfast?" Priscilla's head tilted to the side. She blushed as she watched the implications of that word unfold over Justin's face. His brows rising. "I meant," Priscilla cleared her throat, "Maybe next time you and I both have an early day… like this."

Her smile was as hesitant as her words and Justin found himself nodding, "I'd like that."

"Great!" Priscilla's hands clapped together once and then her head turned towards the dock. She turned back, smile nervous, "I, uh, better get to work."

"Yeah! Of course!" Justin startled, cleared his throat, "Me too." He watched her walk away, she turned back to look at him twice.

Justin's mouth had never felt so dry. He rubbed his hands together, more to dry his palms than to keep warm.

"How'd ya do kid?" Coletti clapped him on the shoulder as he walked up, "You finally ask her out?" Justin's jaw clenched as he grimaced.

Why did Coletti, of all people, have to be the one encouraging him?

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