Couple days later

Friday April 29th 2022

Joes been at the precinct all day, with Jamie, Eddie, and Taylor. Her crazy ex was back and they were trying to get him before he got away again.

"Are you sure you don't wanna bait him out and then-" Eddie started to ask Taylor.

"No Eddie. She's not doing that." Joe interrupted her.

"He's right. That's a bad idea." Jamie agreed.

"But why? It's her he wants." She said.

"I can't see him again." Taylor shook her head.

"Exactly, keep her out of this." Joe told them and they tried to work up another plan.

——

After a few hours, Jamie and Eddie were able to get him when he finally stopped at a gas station to fill up. Joe wasn't allowed to go because it was too personal.

"They got him. Bringing him in now." Joe said to Taylor, getting of the phone with Jamie.

"Thank god. It's been the longest couple of days of my life." Taylor said sighing relieved.

"I know, it's over now, you can hopefully sleep soundly."

"I don't sleep soundly alone, never have." she said getting up and putting her purse on her shoulder.

"Why's that?"

"My therapist thinks it's because two traumatic things happened in my life when I woke up, like my dad dying on 9/11. I was home sick that day, I woke up to my grandmother crying over the phone learning my dad was gone. And then fast forward, 2 years ago, I found my grandma in bed on a Monday morning, passed in her sleep."

"So your scared to fall asleep…something terrible happens."

"Pretty much, now I have to add, boyfriend assaulting me in the middle of the night to that list."

"I'm sorry Taylor I had no idea it was that severe." He couldn't help but feel bad, no wonder she was as clingy as she was when they were seeing each other. No wonder they slept together as much as they did, she was guaranteed to wake up with someone.

"Don't worry about me. I got friends I bunk with sometimes, when I go through a rough patch."

"Alright, well we'll…call you if we need anything else from you." He told her.

"Okay…I hope it's you…that calls."

"Taylor don't. You know I have a girlfriend. That kiss we shared-"

"I shouldn't have done that." She admitted.

"I should've seen it coming and stopped it." He told himself.

"Still my fault. I hope it didn't cause tension." She said.

"No, it's all good." He lied, he still never told Kelsey about the kiss they shared a couple nights ago, and he didn't know when or how.

They were interrupted by the CO and both went on there way. Joe sent her off in a cab. He enjoyed spending the day with her, she was fun, aside from the whole ex situation they were putting to rest finally. Maybe they could still be friends.

——

Later that night, Joe held Kelsey's hand as they approached his moms house for dinner, it was the first time they were meeting each other.

"Don't worry, she's gonna love you." Joe told her as they walked up the steps to the house. Kelsey was all but shaking.

"Oh my god wait, I feel like I'm going to puke." She was so nervous and panicked.

"Babe seriously relax, we're gonna go sit down, eat some dinner, then we'll go back home to my place and have more fun." He told her flirtatiously, rubbing his thumb over her hand he held.

"I could use that form of relaxation right about now." She teased back sighing.

"Don't tempt me with a good time" he chuckled and then opened the front door.

"Hey mom? We're here." He called out shutting the door behind Kelsey.

"Hi! Come on in! It's great to meet you, I'm Paula." She introduced herself.

"Kelsey, same to you!" She said. She was relaxed more, her urge to throw up due to anxiety had subsided. Paula gave Joe a hug and they went into the kitchen to sit down and eat.

"Alright so I poured water but if you want beer or wine I have that too." She said getting food out of the oven.

"I'll probably get a beer, you want?" He asked Kelsey after she sat down at the table.

"I think I'm good with water for now." She said.

"This is Joes favorite dish." Paula said setting it on the table.

"Yum, looks delicious. Is that ravioli?" Kelsey asked.

"Yes, it's chicken ravioli, with cheese and sauce and stuff. I'll have to teach you how to make it sometime!" She told her.

"Woah mom. You must like her already." Joe laughed and sat down next to Kelsey.

"Well it's not very often you bring home a girl. I take it's more serious when you do." She said, they laughed and got started eating.

Kelsey and his mom hit it off, Joe loved that. But he couldn't get his mind of Taylor from earlier, she had no family to surround herself with like he did.

———

I think Joe is starting to have mixed feelings with Kelsey…but he doesn't wanna own up to them. Things are going so good with Kelsey but as soon as Taylor comes around that changes. Leave your thoughts!