Monday April 11th 2022

A couple days later

Taylor and Joe spent the night together. She called him, he told her to come over. It wasn't a booty call but ended up kinda turning into that.

She called out "sick" to work which wasn't a complete lie, she had a hangover. Joe was fine though, he had to go to work in a couple hours, he didn't drink too much.

"I know what you need." He got out of bed and got dressed.

"Hm?" Taylor held the pillow over her face, the light was killing her.

"I'm gonna run down to this place on the corner, they make the best egg sandwich with avocado and cheese. It's the best." He got dressed, grabbed his wallet, phone, and left.

When he got back Taylor was still laying in bed still. He took her the sandwich and sat with her while she ate it.

"You drank more then me, how do you not feel like shit?" She asked.

"Maybe you're just a light weight." He said laughing.

"No, you should've seen me in college, I was the girl everyone was jealous of, because I could drink a lot without it affecting me."

"I'm sure your parents are proud." Joe said laughing.

"My parents are dead." She replied, now it was awkward.

"Sorry." Joe said.

"My mom died during childbirth with me. And my dad…was in the twin towers when they went down."

"That's awful. I'm sorry." Joe felt terrible, Taylor kept eating.

"Yeah. So what about you?" She wondered.

"Well I never met my dad. He was a cop, got killed while working undercover."

"Sorry."

"My mom is who raised me, she lives in Yonkers"

"That's good, my grandma raised me, she died 2 years ago." Taylor said.

"I wish I would've known you had such a life sooner."

"Why?" She asked.

"I don't know. I just feel bad." Joe said shrugging.

"Don't." She told him. Nothing else was said, Joe had to get ready for work, he told Taylor she could hang here until she felt better.

——

While Joe was at work he couldn't stop thinking about Taylor's upbringing and how different yet similar they were in that way.

He decided to go home for lunch, check in and see how she was. But when he got home she had left already, Joe was a little bummed. He decided to call her, just to check in and make sure she was feeling okay.

"Hello?"

"Hey, you left already I see, guess that sandwich did the trick?" He asked.

"Ha, your home from work already?" She asked. Joe put his phone on speaker and set it down on the counter so he could make himself a sandwich.

"No, I just came by to eat lunch with you but it's all good." He said getting his sandwich stuff out of the fridge.

"Yeah sorry, I'm actually meeting someone for lunch today." She said.

"Oh nice. Well tell her I said hi, even though she doesn't know me." Joe said laughing.

"It's a guy." She said.

"Oh…well then, tell him I said hi." Joe took a hard swallow to that news. He wasn't expecting it but tried to not react with feelings.

"I will. I gotta go now, he's here. Hey!" She hung up just as she saw him. Joe was mad but knew he couldn't be. He's the one who said no strings attached. He was kicking himself now though, being on the other side sucked.

——

After he had lunch he headed over to the 5-4 to interrogate a suspect Danny and Baez brought in the night before. Same M-O as the perp he's been trying to bust since he got away from him 6 months ago, in a shootout.

"I had this guy 6 months ago for THE SAME THING!" Joe was yelling on the phone at Danny's desk. He was starting to draw attention, Maria was sitting at the desk across from him looking around at everyone staring. Danny had went to get them coffee.

"So I'm calling YOU because I NEED A WARRANT!" he was getting louder.

"Uh…Joe…" Maria was trying to tell him to calm down but he wasn't paying any attention to her.

"FINE you know what!? I'LL JUST FIGURE IT OUT THANKS FOR NOTHING." He slammed the phone down.

"The hell was that? I hope that wasn't Erin." Danny said making eye contact with Maria, and setting the coffee down.

"Nope, calling her next." He said dialing.

"Woah woah woah. Hold on. You can't just jump down everyone's throat." Danny hung the phone up.

"Let me have a try at him." Maria wanted a try at interrogating.

"Fine." Joe said and they headed for the box. Maria went in while Danny and Joe observed through the 1 way mirror.

"What's got you all pissed off?" Danny asked him now that it was just them two.

"Like this sort of thing doesn't piss you off too? I just need a warrant, so I can go in, raid his place, get the gun and match it to the 4 homicides from East Harlem. Something so fucking simple has to be the hardest damn thing to actually get done!" He exploded. Danny understood he was frustrated but knew it had to be something else making it worse. Joe took a breathe and relaxed.

"Sorry man. Gotta lot of shit going on personally." He made an excuse.

"I could tell." Danny sipped his coffee.

"Ever wanna talk about it let me know." Danny added.

"Thanks." He said and they proceeded to watch Maria interrogate this guy.

——

Later that day, he decided he definitely needed to talk to Kelsey, and explain everything. He would hopefully feel better and not so uptight. He did have a really good time with her, interested in seeing her again if she was up for it. Especially now that Taylor was also seeing other people.

"Hey Kelsey, it's Joe. I want you to know that I know the other night looked bad but I'd really like to explain. It's really not what you think at all. I cleared things up with Taylor too, so don't worry, she's not gonna interrupt again. I had a lot of fun with you and been thinking about you a lot. Anyway call me back, or text me, bye." He hung up leaving the voicemail.

Kelsey texted him back 20 minutes later, wanting to see him and hear what he had to say. He was happy she was willing to hear him out. She told him he'd be over at his place in 30 minutes.

——

Finally there was a knock at the door. He opened it, excited to see Kelsey again but a little nervous if this would be a fun night or they'd argue and she'd never want to see him again.

"Thanks for coming and hearing me out." He said letting her in.

"Course." She followed him to the couch and got explaining.

"I'm sorry about the other night. Nothing is exclusive, I'm just putting myself out there like everyone else."

"I know. I'm sorry I left. I should have not reacted that way." She said.

"It's okay. I want you to know me and Taylor are now on the same page too, no strings attached. She thought it was more then that."

"Well good. Maybe one day we can become exclusive, we have to play each other out a little. I can't just jump into a relationship. I get burned when I do." Kelsey said.

"I hear ya. So we're good? No strings attached, let's just have fun." Joe said.

"100%"

"Awesome." He was happy. Everyone was finally on the same page, he no longer felt like he was cheating on anyone. They ordered a pizza and got to know each other the rest of the night. They didn't get to talk much on their date beings it was during movie.

It was around 10pm

"Huh, I gotta get going. I got an early day at work." She set her glass down and got up.

"Yeah, I work late tomorrow night, but maybe this weekend we could go do something?" He offered.

"I'm going away with some friends this weekend but maybe next?" She said.

"Sounds great, maybe a hike or something." She said, getting her purse

"I'd be down for that." He stood at the door with her, watching her get her shoes on. He wanted to kiss her. He held out the whole night waiting for the right time but there wasn't one, they talked non stop.

"Alright so I'll see ya next weekend." She faced him and initiated a hug.

"Yes you will." He said hugging her back. She smelled good, and he didn't want to let go. He wanted to kiss her bad.

When she let go he didn't hesitate and kissed her passionately. His one hand stayed on her upper back, his other slowly lingered down to her lower back and side.

Kelsey pulled away and they stared at each other for a second.

"I gotta go now." She said softly. There lips just inches apart.

"Right." Joe said softly back. He wished she could stay, but he reminded himself he was going to try and take this relationship slow and not jump into everything all at once. He was catching a lot of feelings for her in this moment.

———

After Kelsey left Joe got ready for bed and had seen a text from Taylor once he laid down.

"If you could call me later tonight, I have some things to say." Her text read. Joe called her right then, not knowing what to expect.

"Hey, got your text." He said.

"Hey. So I'm just gonna say it. I think you're a good guy, but truth is, my ex is who I went out to lunch with today and we're gonna give it another try." She said, Joe got out of bed and walked around his apartment while he talked.

"Uh alright…Didn't you say he cheated on you?" He asked.

"Yeah, and I shouldn't be with someone like that but we have a lot of history. And It's just hard to let go."

"Understandable, I guess."

"Thanks…" she said.

"Alright, so I guess no more sleepovers"

"Yeahhh no more sleepovers. I really enjoyed the couple of nights together but I promised him I would be all in with only him. But who knows maybe in a couple years, we'll meet again…if things don't work out with him that is." She suggested, Joe kept it short, he thought she was stupid for going back with him.

"Leave it to fate." Joe agreed. They said goodbye and hung up. Joe was a little disappointed, he liked Taylor but maybe this was good. Maybe just focusing on Kelsey was good for him, after all he had a lot of fun with her tonight.

———

Dang these girls are really taking him on a wild goose chase! For now I guess he's just gonna see how Kelsey works out, doesn't have much choice if Taylor called it off with him. Leave your thoughts and suggestions.