Page 49 of American Sweethearts

“She hasn’t disclosed and he’s not saying anything. We have nothing. At least that’s what Chase is saying.” His frustration was only ratcheting up my own anger. “They keep tiptoeingaround it. But I think you and Bri are onto something. The home situation…something’s not right there.”

I breathed through my nose and reminded myself that getting agitated with J in the car was just going to mean more shit I didn’t want to deal with later. “He hasn’t confessed because no one thinks he did anything. That child is being abused, all the signs are there, Joseph. She had a fucking miscarriage for God’s sake. She’s twelve.” So much for not screaming.

“I know things are definitely not right, which is why we have her with her aunt for now. But arresting someone without a confession or even a disclosure is not going to stick.”

My head was pounding hard, and again I tried not to vent my frustration on Sanchez, who really was doing me a favor by looping me in. “They’re not asking him the right questions. Chase doesn’t work these kinds of cases. He doesn’t know what he’s fucking doing. They keep treating this like some kind of innocent mix-up. That man is preying on that child. Who knows for how long it’s been going on?”

“We will keep our eye on him and on April. Nothing’s going to happen to her. She’s safe.”

I was so fucking tired of all this. “We really need to rethink our definition of safety when it comes to children.” Even as I said it, the frustration from earlier seemed to boil over into something dark and ugly. “I’m going over there.”

As soon as I said it, J shifted in his seat, his eyes like saucers as he looked at the heavy snowfall.

“I wouldn’t do that, Priscilla. You’re not on this case anymore, and I won’t appreciate it if you let the lieutenant know I called you about this.”

That wasn’t a suggestion, but I was feeling reckless and fed up. “Thanks for calling, I appreciate it.”

I ended the call and turned to find Juan Pablo looking at me like I was a ticking time bomb. “Looks like I’m going to have to go in after all.”

“Was that about that case you got taken off of?” I bit the inside of my cheek and stared at him as he waited for the answer he already knew.

“They have the perp there for questioning and I’m going to try to talk to him.” He was not backing down from the stare down, but I wasn’t either.

“But they took you off the case, it’s not safe to drive, and we were in the middle of something important, Priscilla.”

Something about his tone hit me the wrong way and I almost snapped at him. “Juan Pablo, I have to do my job.”

He didn’t answer, but it was obvious he was thinking,What job? You’re off the fucking case.

“Pris, please. I was about to tell you something. Please let them handle this, you’re not even on duty.”

With every word out of his mouth, I got more defensive. I wanted to tell him that it was fine for him to take the day off if he needed to, but he wasn’t the one with a job where you literally had lives on the line. That I couldn’t just switch off my responsibilities. But I didn’t, I didn’t want to be cruel or petty. And in the end, he was right. This wasn’t even my case anymore.

“Okay, why don’t you tell me whatever you were going to say.”

He looked around the car as if he was suddenly confused with what was happening. “You’re not coming up?”

I sighed, pushing my head to the headrest, tired as fuck and resentful that once again, what had seemed to be a perfect fucking day was now ruined with a single phone call. Because I knew this conversation would only end in a fight.

“J, please. Just tell me.” I kept my eyes closed, but my lids could’ve been a movie screen. I could clearly see his face. Tense, his lips pursed, frustrated with me.

But there was more to his silence, whatever he was going to say worried him. “You know my friend Yariel?”

My eyes snapped open at the question, because he really thought he was slick. “You mean the shortstop you were fucking for like a whole year?”

He cleared his throat and his neck turned red, but his face stayed serious. “Yes. He’s a friend. He, uh.” His eyes kept looking away, and before he opened his mouth I knew things were about to get worse. J could keep it together, but when he felt against the wall, when he was desperate, his heart always was faster than his head.

“I told him about your blog and your podcast and he mentioned it to his agent.” He was talking so fast I was having a hard time following, but as soon as the wordagentleft his mouth, I felt a surge of anger in the pit of my belly.

“His what?”

More fidgeting and eyes everywhere but on me. “He’s writing a memoir, about coming out in the majors, and his boyfriend now, their life together. He has a book deal and an agent. He said she loved your blog and your content and she wants to talk to you about a book deal, Pris.”

“You didwhat?” I wasn’t even pissed; I was freaked out. This felt like too much. I was okay with options, taking my time with things. But I didn’t want to know this. I didn’t want to have to make this decision right now.

“Pris, I didn’t show anyone anything. I just mentioned to Yariel thatmy friend—” he really emphasized the word, as if to remind me who he was. What we were “—is an awesome columnist and that you’re kicking ass on your podcast, and that Ithought you could write a really hot book about sex and wellness from a really bomb point of view.”

“I didn’t need you to push me on this, J.”