Step Two

23:26 Hours

I walked down the sallyport ramp, fumbling with my keys. I would meet Keegs at Cohan's, have a few shots, and call it a night. It never fails that when things get nasty on the streets, they get worse in the locker room. And for whatever reason, it blew up on Max.

I clutched onto the file that Uncle Mike had entrusted to me, containing crucial details about X-4 and the body discovered tonight.

I wasn't in any rush to meet Keegs, so when I got to my Range Rover Defender, I leaned against the hood and looked over the file.

A wind threatened to put the documents to flight, but I pressed my hand on the folder. When I looked around, I saw an empty back parking lot. The Vampire Ops only ran eight RMPs with a supervisor, and by now, Third Watch was home, at Cohan's or deep into someone else's flesh.

I'll look at this later. Time for a drink.

An uneasy feeling washed over me as I opened the door and sat in the front seat.

I thought about the priest outside of 7-11 on Max's first training day. The way he spoke and prophesied about us. His words resonated with me, and I prayed they were true, but something felt off. I know he was an old-world priest in every way, but how he flexed his wrist, almost demanding that I bow and kiss the ring, didn't seem right.

Just as I was about to start the engine, I noticed Maxine walking down the sallyport ramp, engrossed in the phone against her ear. As she approached her two thousand and ten BMW, her hand flailed at her side, gesturing with intensity, and she paced back and forth, unable to stand still.

She paused, looking at her windshield, and then covered her mouth. Her eyes wrinkled and tightened as she turned in hast,h her backside leaning against the driver's side fender.

Her voice bounced off the square brick building, the Six-three, but I couldn't understand what she said. When she touched her forehead and flung her arm to the side, it drew me away from X-4 and the file.

The argument at the pre-school meant shit had gone south with the Handsome Jeremy Hwang. And that's what bothered her more than my snide comments to some asshat clown who thought he was better than us.

Oh, man, Kelly. Don't regret this. Jesus. What the hell? If you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly.

I grabbed the keys from the ignition and took a deep breath. When I opened the door, a chilly wind hit me, and I realized the temperature had dropped. I returned to the truck and pulled the Boston Red Sox sweatshirt off the passenger side seat.

After fumbling with the arms and getting it right side out, I pulled it tight. Tissues and a few dollar bills fell from the pocket as I leaned down, taking them from the seat and ground.

Okay, asshole. Be her comforter.

I closed the door and stepped off, navigating behind several RMPs, quiet for the night. The closer I got, the more I heard snippets of the argument.

"He cheated on me. And you...Are you kidding me? Yeah—and what is your problem with him?"

When I got two car lengths away, and she saw me coming, I wanted to run and hide. I felt awkward and flushed. My fingers shook.

I watched her hold her hair back, prop the phone against her ear, and put her hand on her hip.

"You know what? I don't want to listen to—. It's time you grow up."

She slammed the phone down on the car and fought the tears. I watched as her lips quivered and her cheeks creased from her frustration. With her back now pressed against the driver's side door, she crossed her ankles and folded her arms into a tight hug.

"Hey," I said.

I stepped closer and saw what had disgusted her pinned beneath a wiper blade on the windshield.

"Okay. This is lovely," I snapped.

It was a used condom with all of the trimmings. I took the tissues from my pocket, put them against the rubber, and folded it within so she couldn't see it anymore. After wrapping it in a tight ball with what tissues I had left, I threw it over the hood of the car, losing it in the darkness of the parking lot.

"Hwang and Fessenden?" I said. "I'll take care of that for you. Keegs and I."

"No, please," she snapped. "I'll do this myself. Besides, I don't think Keegan would help. He's the one that—"

I leaned beside her, our shoulders and hips touching. I was careful with my tone, choosing words that were not abrupt or clumsy.

"You've had a tough day, huh?" I asked. She took hold of my sweatshirt with her fingers.

"Can you stay with me for a bit? I don't want to be alone right now."

Max shivered with each gust, wearing only jeans and a cable knit dress.

She picked up her phone from the car and swiped the screen to check for a rebuttal. I took off my sweatshirt and held it out. She sighed.

"Freaking Gary. He doesn't even like Jeremy, so why jump on my shit?" She stammered before catching her breath. "My father, Jeremy, Bongiovanni, Martinez, and Gary all hate you, Kelly. They've done nothing but chastise and ridicule me for riding with you. Like it was my fault, or I chose it."

I stood still, holding out the sweatshirt. She frowned.

"I'm sorry," she said. "That's not what I meant."

As she put on my sweatshirt, I shrugged it off. She freed her hair with a quick adjustment to her hood and couldn't resist smelling the collar. As I stepped back, trying to comprehend the situation, she gripped my pant's front pocket and pulled me closer.

"I'm sorry, Max. But getting another boot is not on my wish list. You are the best I've ever trained and will be a fantastic cop, much better than I am. Plus, I'm invested in you. Maybe more than I should be—"

I caught my breath as her hand slipped from my pants, and our fingers intertwined. My emotions were in disarray. I could feel the softness of her touch on my palm, and her hurting brown eyes sparkled despite the tears.

"Before you say but," she whispered. Her voice was tender and sincere. "Don't drop me. Not as a boot and not from whatever this is becoming. Please."

With that, please, her voice changed. It had an adamant and whispery quality with a lingering sweetness. I lowered my gaze, refusing to meet her eyes.

Waves of arousal crashed over me, causing a rosy blush to bloom on my cheeks and my heart to race. Each passing moment made it harder to breathe.

"Maxine," I whispered.

Think about what you're about to say. There's no turning back. It's all in or nothing.

I sighed, feeling the coolness of the air as I breathed in and out. In a fleeting moment, my nightmare flashed before my eyes. I saw her again, standing, calling, and waiting for me to emerge from the pool.

I had prayed with much fervor, my heart racing and the priest's voice resonated, somehow confirming the depth of my affection and overwhelming feelings for her. And when she took my other hand, and I felt her warm and gentle touch, I was in.

"I've started down a different path with you that doesn't include being your FTO," I said and breathed. "I can't help it, and there's nothing I can do to stop it."

When I looked at her face and caught her gaze, she enchanted me. Her eyes had the power to convey both love and longing with a single glance. At that moment, through the tears of her breakup, she communicated a sentiment that echoed throughout my entire being.

"Kelly," she said. "Hold me." She stepped into my arms, putting her forehead against mine. I wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around the middle of her back. I could feel the warmth of her breath on my face. As our noses touched, our lips parted. She clenched her jaw but didn't touch me at all.

Our noses met again, creating a tense moment. I brushed my lips against hers, a tantalizing sensation. As they met, it ignited a surge of desire in me.

"I think I'm going to kiss you," I said. I could hear the steady rhythm of Max's breath, signaling her readiness. And when our tongues met, the taste of desire lingered on our lips, fueling the intensity of our kiss. As she leaned on me, I could feel the rapid thump of her heart. The warmth of her skin and body sent a primal response that awakened long-forgotten emotions.

She let go of my mouth and stared into my eyes.

Our lips and tongues touched before smiling.

"You, my FTO corporal, should require a warning label." And we kissed again.

What did I just do?