Page 21 of No Take Backs
“Because Nia doesn’t drink,” he whispers back. “It’s one of those things that’s known around the department. And when she does, it’s hilarious and someone has to be the one to watch out for her because she’s likely to do something crazy like try to go swimming in the middle of the night.”
“I got it,” I say at the exact same time as Stryker.
“What?” He stares across the table at me with a grimace. “You don’t even know her.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I hedge. “I’m not drinking, and neither is Kevin. She can ride with us.”
Nia huffs, clearly not enjoying the way we are making plans for her. “I can take an Uber.”
“If you want.” With a shrug, I order a sweet tea. “Or you could ride with us and save a few bucks. Choice is up to you.”
She debates it for less than a second before nodding her head. “Thank you,” she says quietly. “But I don’t get wild or anything.”
“Trust me, we know.” Logan Pierce, another cop from BPD, walks up to our table and hands Vi a piece of paper. “Here. I got everyone else’s orders so that we can get this show on the road and not annoy the shit outta you. But if you get the top one done first, I’ll double your tip.” He points his thumb blindly at his wife over his shoulder. “Poppy’s hungry.”
“You have always been the sweetest,” Vi says with a laugh. “I got it.”
“He’s not sweet. He’s a cold-blooded Marine who’ll eat your bones for breakfast.” Kevin leans back and smiles broadly before winking. “Just kidding. I know better than to flirt with someone who could cut out my liver and feed it to me.”
Vi leans forward and knocks him out of his chair by pulling on the back of it. After the loud crash fills the dining hall, she holds out a hand and helps him up. “I wouldn’t need to,” she says as he sputters and gasps for air while taking her offered help. “I already know how to knock you on your ass. Why make it harder on myself or get caught up in a murder charge.”
With a wave, she walks off to put our order in with the bar, and within a few minutes, there are other servers bringing out drinks and appetizers.
During the course of eating and drinking, people get up and wander around, and eventually it’s just Nia, Kevin, and me at our table. At least for a minute.
Unable to help myself, I lean forward and spear Nia with my eyes. “You don’t seem like a lightweight.” I try to keep the fact that we know each other a secret. “I’d say you can handle your liquor pretty well.”
Nia, the minx, winks at me before downing the entire drink in her hand. “Sometimes,” she says almost conspiratorially. “It’s easier if people underestimate you. Especially when you have to work with them.” She watches the people around us dancing and laughing and having an amazing time, but she isn’t watching them with envy. “I like being able to, I dunno, have fun and not have to be responsible all the time.” She eyes Kevin warily, like she is trying to figure out if she can trust him or not. “You know what I mean?”
Kevin, in a surprising turn of events, at least to me, laughs. “You don’t have to say anything to me. You know what I went through. Everyone, including my sister, is acting like I’m going to break. This asshole is my roommate.” He nods toward me. “And he’s the only one who doesn’t treat me like I’m about to shatter. At least, not until I’m in the middle of an episode and trying to hold him hostage for the release of prisoners in the middle of the night while he’s trying to sleep.” He laughs dispassionately.
In the entire six months that he’s lived with me, Kevin hasn’t opened up once to anyone about what he is going through. At least not outside of his therapist or me. The fact that he does it, while laughing and in public, no matter how sarcastic or self-loathing he is, has me speechless.
Nia cocks her head to the side. “I like you,” she declares before burping loudly. “But you should know, I can’t like you too much. I slept with your roommate, and I don’t knowingly help anyone break the bro code.”
With that, she gets up and walks away with a small wave. “Don’t worry about giving me a ride home, guys. I’ll get my sister and her husband to drop me and my car off. I have to work tomorrow.” The crowd of people seem to swallow her whole, and I’m left with nothing but the image of her ass swaying in those leggings to keep me company.
Again.
“You slept with her?” Kevin snaps me out of my memory of the way her body felt under mine that night. “You slept with a goddess like Nia Davidson, and you never said a single word to me about it? I’m a little bit heartbroken, you know.” Despite his words, Kevin laughs.
I shake my head, wishing I had something a little stronger than tea to drink, and file away her last name so I can find her on social media and maybe send her a friend request. “It was right before you moved in, and honestly, I wouldn’t have said anything anyway. I was in Belfast for the weekend when I met her. She disappeared into thin air, and I didn’t even have a way of finding her.”
“And now that you know she lives here in Birch Harbor?” Kevin sips his soda like it is the most expensive bottle of champagne he’s ever encountered. “What are you going to do?”
I watch her dance around the restaurant, mingling with men and women that I’ve known for years, and think about his question.
What am I going to do?
Nia said she doesn’t date cops.
Well, then it is a damn good thing I’m not a cop anymore.
9
NIA
“Mom, I have to go.” My voice is firm, but there’s a slight edge of impatience that I can’t quite hide as I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s ticking down the minutes faster than I’d like, and though I still have ten minutes to spare, the weight of my new job looms over me like a heavy cloud. The truth is, I’m not as concerned about the roll call starting on time as I am about escaping this conversation before it veers into familiar, unwanted territory.