This was just the way it should be. Walking with Liv, talking with Liv, hearing about her day and all the gross medical details of it that used to make him secretly sick and now were just … part of life these days, telling her about his day. He'd always had to edit a fair amount in order to avoid breaking the confidences of the boys, so that was nothing new, either. As long as he avoided mentioning anything about Max Rager, he should be fine.
They would be fine. He knew that now, and a smile spread across his face.
"What's that smile for, Mister?"
"Just thinking about this girl I met. She was … well, I think I may be smitten."
"That better be the Starbucks mermaid you're talking about, or I'm going to have to fight her."
He laughed and tugged her closer. "The way you're going after that ice cream, I may need to fight it."
Liv glanced at the cone. "I think it could take you. This is some serious vanilla."
"Come on, vanilla's not a serious flavor. It's the flavor that takes the place of all the other flavors."
"Right … when they run away. Duh. Vanilla's tough. Besides, you're eating vanilla, too." She looked over at someone who was waving at her, and lifted her hand to wave back just as Major recognized the man as her partner, Clive.
"Oh, no." Clive was still after Major for more details about the Meat Cute situation, and no one wanted that. "Abort. Just turn around."
"I'm already waving. That would be incredibly weird. Nut up." As they approached the bench, Clive and the pretty blonde woman he was with stood up. "Hey, you!" Liv said brightly. "Didn't know you existed outside the station. I thought you were just put back inside your Detective Clive box. Pull his string and he says, 'Ms. Moore. Please!'"
Everyone laughed awkwardly.
Clive looked between the two of them and then at the blonde. "Liv, Major, this is Agent Bozzio from the FBI."
Major went cold. He might as well have been made of vanilla ice cream, for the chill that went through him. What was Clive doing having dinner with the FBI?
"Dale," Agent Bozzio clarified. She looked at Liv. "It's nice to get a name. In my head you've been 'girl from the morgue who somehow makes goth work'."
"That is her Native American name." Major gestured to himself with the ice cream hand. It was melting; he still felt frozen. "Hi, I'm 'barely employed arm candy'." But he couldn't keep her from knowing his name, he realized, belatedly remembering that Clive had just said it anyway. He reached out his non-ice cream hand. "No, I'm Major."
Bozzio gave him a quick look-over. "You certainly are."
It was nice to be appreciated. It was even nicer to see the faint lift of Liv's chin out of the corner of his eye. He loved jealous Liv. She was feisty.
"So, the FBI sent you to Seattle?" Liv asked Bozzio. "How are you finding it?" Clive was trying to throw out a napkin, but it was sticking to his fingers. Liv stared at him for a moment. "Ten bucks says you miss."
Ah, the gambler brain. He'd have to see how he could make that work for him later.
"What, from here?" Clive frowned. "I'm automatic at this distance."
"Put your money where your mouth is, then." Liv grinned as Clive crumpled the napkin, ready to object. "Now you're thinking about it. I'm in your head."
"All right, seriously. Ten bucks."
Liv grinned at Bozzio. "That is the sound of a man's sphincter shrinking."
"Well, it's your money," Clive said, and made the shot easily. Left-handed, Major noted, wondering if the detective was a lefty or just a good shot. Maybe he could use some help coaching the kids' team. They could get close, cozy up, Major could find out more about the Meat Cute situation … Major could let slip something about Vaughn du Clark and the missing zombies, Clive could recognize Minor … No, not a good idea at all, then. Clive grinned at Liv. "Pay up."
"What? I just made you look good in front of your date. You should be paying me."
Clive gestured wildly around, loudly disclaiming the possibility of this being a date, while Bozzio gave Liv an admiring look. Because she'd ducked out on paying the bet, or because she'd broken the news to Clive that Bozzio was into him, Major wondered. Or maybe both.
Bozzio looked at Clive, mock serious, as he denied being on a date. "It's not? Why did I pay, then? You're saying that I'm not … getting any, or …?"
If Clive could have turned twelve shades of red, he would have. Major couldn't help enjoying the moment. He thought, if she wasn't FBI and didn't represent all sorts of problems, he might like this Bozzio.
Recovering, Clive carried war into the enemy's camp. He gestured at Major. "It's good to see you two together. Last I heard, you were broken up."
Major moved protectively closer to Liv, putting his arm around her. "And now we're not." He and Clive looked at each other, each completely aware that there was unfinished business between them.
Liv, either oblivious or doing a good job pretending, leaned into Major's shoulder and smiled. "Seems like romance is in the air."
Clive glanced at Bozzio, who was still amused by the whole thing, but let the rest of it go.
"Nice to meet you," Liv said, with some finality, and she and Major turned to go.
Once they were out of earshot, Major sighed. "He's not gonna let the Meat Cute thing go. He's got the FBI involved now?"
But Liv shook her head. "No, that's not why she's here."
"Oh. Okay. Well, good."
But any relief Major may have felt was short-lived, killed to death by Liv's next words. "No, she's looking into all those abduction cases."
"Abduction cases?" he said instantly, pretending not to know what she meant.
"All those rich guys that keep disappearing. It's all over the news. The Feds think it's some Manson-y 'kill the rich' nut."
Major glanced back at Bozzio, sorry now that he had liked her. Sorrier still that she seemed so sharp.
"Anyway …" Liv tucked her arm through his. "What do you say we go back to my place and bet on some football."
The last thing he felt like right now was having fun. But if he let the news that the FBI was coming for him get him down, Liv would notice, and eventually she would put two and two together. He forced a smile. "I can't tell whether I find these brains disturbing or I kind of love them."
"Well, in case there's any question, all my brains kind of love you."
Major kissed the top of her head. "That's good to know."