Chapter 5

Jamie sat at the far end of the bar nursing a beer and grateful the night would soon come to an end. It had been a long, painful evening and, for once, he was certain it wasn't his doing. Halfway through his bottle, he decided to take one last swig. He was ready to head home until he suddenly had company.

"Hey, you're back!" Eddie said as she filled the empty stool next to Jamie.

Jamie's face brightened as he brought his bottle down onto the bar top, turning to greet the blonde. "Oh, hey, Eddie."

Eddie squinted as she gave him a once over. "What's with the suit?"

Jamie looked down at himself, hoping that the dim lighting in the bar hid the blush rising on his face. "Uh, nothing," he said.

Eddie didn't believe him. "Nothing, huh? This how you dress after a long tour?" she asked and took a sip from her glass.

Jamie smirked and focused on his beer. "No, I'm more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy," he said. He only wore the suit because of where he had to go earlier in the evening. He'd been hoping for something semi-casual, but somehow had been given instructions to show up at a fancy restaurant where the over-priced food only came in tiny, child-size portions.

"Hot date?" she inquired as she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Jamie's eyes widened for a second before turning to her. "That was supposed to be the plan," he confirmed.

Eddie grimaced sympathetically. "Didn't work out that way?"

"No, not really," Jamie said with a quick shake of his head. "She was more interested in getting the scoop on my sister." He'd gone into this date with a positive attitude and an open mind and had even ignored the fact that they were one letter away from sharing first names. He also appreciated that the attorney thing would give them something in common right off the bat.

So much for that. He didn't think he'd ever go on a date with a woman and have her be more interested in hearing about his sister and her stellar law career than him. As a new member of the DA's office, Janie seemed to want information on Erin and the inner workings of their office, which he assured her - twice - that he had no knowledge of. She couldn't stop talking about it no matter how many times he tried shifting the conversation. Thinking back, he realized that she had probably been taking mental notes at the beginning of the date when he'd innocently answered a few questions about his sister. Once he was clear on the theme of the evening, he'd shut down, politely feigning ignorance about Erin's career.

Eddie's eyes widened and a grin appeared on her face. "Sounds kinky," she commented.

A laugh erupted from Jamie's mouth, surprised and delighted by Eddie's sense of humor. "No, not like that. She works with my sister at the DA's office," he explained. "She was more interested in finding ways to impress my sister, Erin, and get noticed at the office, than getting to know me." That explained Erin's call a few days before to let him know how excited Janie was to meet him.

"Too bad," Eddie replied. "Guess you didn't pick up on that vibe when you asked her out," she assumed as she turned in her stool and leaned against the bar.

"I didn't ask her out," Jamie corrected.

"She asked you?"

Jamie shook his head.

Eddie gave him a pained expression. "A set up?"

"Yeah," admitted.

"You don't strike me as the type of guy that needs to be set up," Eddie commented and considered him for a moment. Jamie was a really good-looking guy and he didn't seem like a jerk - another reason that his date the other night with the French wine snob was baffling. That date seemed like a set up too, now that she thought about it. Her brow creased as she wondered what his deal was.

"I'm not - at least I don't think I am. Although, everyone else seems to think I am," Jamie explained as he turned his bottle between his hands.

"Why's that?" she asked, taking in his almost guarded demeanor.

Jamie looked down at his drink, not sure of how to respond.

Definitely guarded, Eddie thought. "Sorry, none of my business. I often get accused of being too nosey," Eddie apologized.

Jamie turned to face her. "No, don't worry. Just not sure how to answer," he said, his lips forming a tight line.

Eddie's eyebrows crinkled, seeking an explanation.

"I haven't really dated anyone in a while," Jamie confessed, unsure about why he was discussing this with someone he barely knew.

Understanding flashed across Eddie's face. "Bad break up?" she guessed.

"No," Jamie replied, hoping to hide his discomfort with another pull from his bottle. He always found it difficult to talk about Sydney. It brought up painful memories for him and seemed to make some people uncomfortable, so he usually avoided the topic when he could.

"Then what? You taking an oath of celibacy?" Eddie joked, smirking in his direction.

Jamie knew - or at least he hoped - that she was kidding, but still couldn't stop the frown that flashed across his face. "No," he repeated more sharply than necessary. Eddie didn't seem to want to lay off, but Jamie also didn't want to bring himself or her down. Although considering how the night began, he figured it probably couldn't get any worse.

Eddie narrowed her eyes. "Well, now I'm curious. Come on, Jamie, spill or I'll keep guessing - she just wasn't that into you and broke your heart?"

Jamie shook his head, staring at his hands. "My wife died a while back," he said just loud enough for her to hear.

Eddie's eyes widened, suddenly feeling like she wanted to crawl into a hole after pushing for an answer. She was stunned into silence for a few moments before she found her voice again. "I'm so sorry," she squeaked. "I may need a minute while I try to pull my foot out of my mouth." She was expecting anything but that.

Jamie smiled sadly. "Don't worry. It's not something you would have expected to hear, I guess."

Eddie had never felt worse than she did at that moment. "No, I guess not," she agreed. "I'm really sorry for your loss."

"Thanks," Jamie replied with a quick glance back.

They were both quiet until Eddie's curiosity got the best of her again.

"What happened?" she asked gently.

Jamie took a deep breath before he replied. "Car accident," he admitted as he met her blue eyes again. "Sydney, my wife, was an attorney. We took a car service to this Bar event and got hit by a drunk driver on the way there. She died a few days later," he shared.

Eddie looked away. "Jesus, Jamie. I'm so sorry."

Jamie pressed his lips together and subconsciously rubbed at the long scar that ran across the top of his right hand - the only remaining visible scar from the accident. He knew Eddie was being sincere and he appreciated that, but what else was there to say? Jamie wondered if there would ever come a day where he wouldn't feel like running away at the mention of that horrible night.

"So let me guess, now everyone's after you to get out there?" she surmised, her voice gentle.

"Pretty much," he nodded.

"You ready for that?" she asked softly.

Jamie shrugged and glanced at her. "I guess. It's coming up on two years, but it's just...weird," he admitted.

"I can understand that." Eddie played with her own glass before looking back at Jamie. "So an attorney and a cop, huh?"

"Yeah," Jamie smiled. "We went to law school together," he revealed.

Eddie's head snapped back in surprise. "Wait, you went to law school?"

"Yeah, Syd and I graduated together from Harvard Law."

Eddie laughed and playfully smacked his arm. "Yeah, and I graduated from Yale."

Jamie looked back at her with a half smirk, but said nothing.

That was when Eddie realized he wasn't lying. "Oh, you're serious?"

"Yeah," Jamie confirmed.

Eddie was surprised. "Harvard attorney turned NYPD cop? How did that happen?" she asked.

"Family business," he said, as if Eddie would have known what he was talking about.

Eddie gave him a questioning look.

"I come from a long line of cops - grandfather, father, brothers. I always wanted to be one, I guess. My mom, however, wanted to keep me out of it and I followed my sister into law, but some stuff happened and I knew it wasn't for me."

"How'd she take the change - your mom I mean?" Eddie asked.

"She'd already passed by the time I made the switch," Jamie told her.

Eddie deflated a bit and mentally slapped herself. "Wow, sorry. I'm batting a thousand tonight, huh?" she said, thinking that she needed to quit hitting the wrong topics. "So how are the Jets shaping up this off season?" she asked lightly.

Jamie chuckled. "You really are on a roll, Eddie."

Eddie blushed and she laughed in return. "So you graduated from Harvard Law? Bet you graduated top of your class at the academy, too," she guessed.

Jamie smiled back.

"I knew it!" she declared.

"How's the academy going for you, by the way?" Jamie asked.

"Good. A lot of work and studying. I kind of figured I'd be done with the books after college, but here I am, back again with cramming for tests. And let's not forget all of the training."

"You ever need a study partner, just say the word," Jamie offered before he even realized what he was saying.

"Yeah?" Eddie asked hopefully.

"Sure," Jamie confirmed. The look on Eddie's face and the prospect of hanging out with her some more made his stomach flutter - or maybe he was just queasy? Jamie wasn't sure.

"I may take you up on that," Eddie replied.

"Hey, Reagan, you need another one?" the bartender asked.

Jamie looked in his direction. "Yeah, Rick, I'll take another," he replied before turning to Eddie, his urge to head home now gone. "You want another?" he asked her while motioning to her glass.

"Sure," Eddie said, secretly pleased that they were having another round. She'd learned a lot about Jamie so far, and while some of it was tragic, she had a feeling there was more to learn.

"Make it two," Jamie ordered as the bartender walked away to ready their drinks.

"Reagan?" Eddie asked suspiciously.

"Yeah," Jamie answered.

Eddie's eyes widened, understanding spreading across her face as she finally took in his previous words. "As in 'Commissioner Reagan' Reagan?"

"That's my dad." Jamie nodded.

"Woah."

Jamie's eyes narrowed. "Something wrong?"

"Wrong? No. Just a surprise," she clarified. "So what's it like being a cop when your dad's commissioner?"

"Like being a cop when your dad's not."

"Really?" she asked doubtfully.

Jamie nodded. "My dad is not about special treatment, especially with his kids. No one's cutting me any slack out there, I promise you."

"Interesting," Eddie replied as she eyed him again.

Jamie shrugged and glanced back at her. "I guess."