Page 379 of Off Limits: The Firsts

I lean back in my seat and watch the swing of the flashlight as he walks, curious how he’s going to play this. We still have a lot to say to each other, and the side of the road isn’t exactly the place to do it.

Then again, he’s the one who pulled me over.

I squint when the flashlight hits my eyes.

“License and registrat—ah, so we meet again,” the officer says, startling me. It’s the same officer who pulled me over before. The one who started the whole Tampax adventure.

“Hello, Officer.”

“Do you happen to have lead in that foot of yours, Ms. . . .”

“Reeves. Emerson Reeves.”

“Ah, yes. Emerson. Where’s the fire tonight?”

I stare at him for a second, ready to bullshit my way through it but don’t. “You know what? I had a really crappy day. That’s it. No excuse. Sometimes there’s nothing better than an open road and the windows down.”

He chuckles. “Honesty. I like that.” He nods as he leans his forearm on the top of my window. “So, what am I supposed to do with you—”

“Officer Roberts, what’s your 10-20?” His radio interrupts.

“I’m out on Highway 43.”

“We have a situation that needs assistance out on 12662 Serenity Court.”

That address.

How do I know it?

“What’s the 10-13?” he asks as he steps back from my door and walks a few feet toward the front of the car so he can watch me and also have some privacy.

“Malone and Nunez are on scene. The situation is escalating.”

The minute I hear Malone, my heart jumps in my throat. “Grant.” I don’t know if I say his name aloud because all I hear is “situation is escalating” and dread drops like a lead weight through me.

“10-4. En route.”

Is he okay?

“What’s your ETA?”

What does escalating mean?

“Five minutes.”

Please let him be okay.

Officer Roberts strides back to my window. “Today is your lucky day. Try to keep it below seventy.”

I watch the beam from his flashlight as he jogs back to his car. The siren joins the lights as he pulls away from the shoulder and screams down the asphalt.

Grant.

My hands tremble on the wheel as I turn down Serenity Court where blue and red lights explode in their dizzying array of patterns. They flash over the houses and cars and people gathered to watch the activity at the end of the street.

It’s been nine minutes.

Nine minutes where I don’t even remember purposefully taking the turns to get here.