The Cop Next Door

ten

My contact with Dax was few and far between. Knowing my schedule so well, he'd call about information on my case while I was at work or during my busy times of the day. He was playing phone tag and winning. But ever since Riley had become aware of my situation with the escaped convict that I shared a link to, he'd spent all of his free time with me. I loved that he cared so much about my safety, but part of me felt like I couldn't breathe. 

"Do you want anything to eat?" Riley called from the kitchen of his inner-city apartment that he shared with his two roommates. 

"I'm okay, thanks." I said, flipping a page in the romance novel I had started. 

There was no other woman for me. She was everything. The wind, the soil, the sun. Her voice was like liquid gold against my eardrum. But alas, as the closer to loving me she grew, the more she would grow further. I tried to love her slowly, I tried to love her fast. But she never loved me to the end - her heart belonged to another.

Riley popped something into the microwave before plopping down on the couch cushion beside me. I smiled gently before my eyes returned to the words on the pages in front of me. 

"I know I've been a little overbearing..." Riley chuckled, biting his lip softly. 

"No..." I said, a little too unconvincingly as I watched him grimace. 

"I just really care about you, Janie. We've been going out for two months now and I feel sure enough of myself, of us, to say this and mean it-"

"Riley..." 

"I love you, Janie." He took my hand in his. "You don't have to say it back yet, I just thought you should know, especially when so much is going on in your life right now." My stomach twisted and turned at his words. We sat in silence for awhile. "Say something. Please." He fiddled with his fingers in his lap. My heart clenched. 

"I really care about you Riley, that means so much to me." I pulled him into a tight hug, burying my face in the crook of his neck. His arms slowly wrapped around me, his thumb rubbing softly against the exposed skin below my lifted shirt. Riley pulled me into his lap, my legs now cradling his waist as he continued to rub my back. Closing my eyes, I sighed in comfort, feeling almost sleepy. Suddenly his hand lifted, trailing up the length of my spine until it landed on my baby blue Nike sports bra. His fingers first smoothed over the fabric before attempting to slip inside. Something inside me snapped and I jumped to the other side of the couch.

"Um, Riley-" I breathed, my hands shaking. "I can't." Riley's jaw clenched for a moment before he nodded. 

"Okay," He mumbled, looking at the clock suddenly. "I'll take you home." The car ride was silent; neither of us speaking until he pulled up in front of my house. "I'll call you later." He said, staring straight ahead at the road. I nodded and silently left the vehicle. His car sped away and I felt relieved with his absence. Without realizing, my head automatically turned to my neighbor's home. Dax came into view as he stepped out of his car. Black hair slicked back, tattoo covered muscles showing from the grey v-neck tee he was wearing, lips in a furrowed straight line. A woman followed suit, silky black hair falling down the length of her back, long jean clad legs and a white blouse fitted to every curve of her body. She was breathtaking. My heart seemed to plummet as I watched the pair turn to the sight of me. 

"U-Uh, hey." I waved awkwardly, biting my lip. Dax looked between the girl and me, obviously unsure of what to do. The woman's eyes were dark brown and warm, her tanned skin glowing in the sunlight of the afternoon. 

"Hola, mi nombre es-" The girl began to speak.

"Jane, this is-" Dax put his hand on the woman's shoulder and I flinched.